- Cindy Williams was an American actress with a career that lasted almost 50 years
- The mother of 2 was the ex-wife of American actor and musician, Bill Hudson; they were married for 18 years before they divorced
- She died on January 25, 2023, after a brief illness at the age of 75
Cindy Williams was a highly admirable actress whose career boomed in the 1970s and 1980s. She was famed for her roles in Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, and American Grafitti and made a fortune of an estimated $10 million.
At the age of 75 after making her mark in the entertainment industry, Cindy died on January 25, 2023, after a brief illness.
Cindy Williams’ Early Life and Background
Cindy Williams was born on August 22, 1947, in Van Nuys, Los Angeles. Her father, Beachard Williams worked as an electrician while her mother, Francesca Williams was a waitress.
Cindy had a younger sister Carol Ann with whom she was raised alongside.
At one, Cindy’s parents moved to Dallas where the late actress lived before moving back to Los Angeles when she was 10 years old.
Growing up, Williams started showing her acting and writing skills by featuring and writing dramas in church. This childhood passion for acting continued during the years she attended Birmingham High school.
As regards her education, Williams attended Los Angeles City College where she honed her acting and theater skills as a Theater Arts major.
She Started Her Professional Career in Television Commercials
Williams may have started acting at a young age, yet, when she started her professional career, it was on television commercials.
Her notable features were in the American eyewear brand known as Foster Grant glasses and the for the airline, TWA.
These adverts soon landed her small roles in television series such as Room 222 (1969) and Nanny and the Professor. After she was accepted into the Actor Studio West, it exposed her to more roles as well as pushed her toward the big screen.
By 1973, she acted in one of her greatest works, American Grafitti. Williams played the role of Laurie Henderson in the movie which was directed by George Lucas.
Subsequently, she appeared in another career-defining role in 1975 as Shirley Feeney, a bottle capper in Happy Days. The role was so popular that a spin-off was made titled Laverne & Shirley.
Despite this, she was soon in conflict with the producers of the show when she became pregnant with her daughter and her character was not. Also, they were not willing to cut down on her hours. This forced her to leave as well as sue the show.
Despite her exit from a show that had added to her stardom, she took roles on television and talk shows as well as movies. Her last roles were in the 2020 movie Canaan Land and Me, Myself and Shirley (2022), a one-woman stage show about her career.
Cindy Williams’ Net Worth
At her death, the iconic actress was estimated to have a net worth of $10 million. While she never verified the amounts she made, her successful career of almost 5 decades may have fetched her that this sum.
She earned from different sources such as being in commercials and numerous movies and series.
When it comes to her wealth and how she spent her fortune, Williams was famous for giving back to society. In her neighborhood of Desert Hot Springs, she served as an organizer and host for the Food Now bank event to help make food available to school children.
See Also: Who is Leslie Easterbrook And Has She Ever Been Married?
Her Marriage and Divorce from Bill Hudson
Williams was married to Bill Hudson, an actor, and singer with the Hudson Brothers. The pair met during the filming of Shirley & Laverne. They got married in 1982, shortly after Hudson got divorced from his first wife, Goldie Hawn.
Williams became pregnant with the former couple’s first child together while the shooting of the seventh season of Shirley & Laverne was going on. They welcomed their daughter, Emily Hudon in the same year.
Four years later, the pair had their second child, Zak Hudson in 1986. While they only had two children during their marriage, Bill had previously fathered three children during his first marriage.
Cindy and Hudson remained together till 2000 when they divorced. As it is, the reason for their divorce remains unclear.
In the years following the divorce, the Travels With My Aunt actress did not remarry. Like her, Cindy’s ex-husband, no reports were also heard about his remarrying again.
What Caused Cindy Williams’ Death?
Cindy Williams died on January 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. Her death at the age of 75 was caused by a brief illness. The news was broken on January 30 by her two children in a statement released by Liza Cranis, the family spokesperson.
They remembered their mother as kind and hilarious and whose death has brought them so much sadness.
