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Cindy Williams, who portrayed Shirley alongside Penny Marshall's Laverne in "Laverne & Shirley," one of the most successful US TV sitcoms of the 1970s and 1980s, died at the age of 75, according to the Associated Press, citing a statement from her family.
Williams died on Wednesday in Los Angeles after a brief illness, according to her children, Zak and Emily Hudson.
"The loss of our wonderful, humorous mother, Cindy Williams, has left us with immeasurable pain that can never properly be described," they said.
"It has been a delight and honour to know and love her. She was one of a kind, attractive, and giving, with a wonderful sense of humour and a sparkling attitude that everyone adored."
Williams, who was born in Los Angeles, began her acting career in TV advertisements before obtaining roles in films produced by Hollywood legends such as George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola.
In 1975, she and Marshall debuted as Shirley Feeney and Laverne DeFazio in the hit "Happy Days" sitcom. From 1976 through 1983, "Laverne & Shirley" was a spinoff that lasted eight seasons and 178 episodes. (Reuters)
