Ron Howard Emotionally Mourns TV Girlfriend Cindy Williams - They Had 'Chemistry' despite the Age Ga

Cindy Williams, famous for playing Shirley in "Laverne & Shirley," suddenly passed away at 75.
Her TV beloved, Ron Howard, shared an emotional tribute to her and opened up about their relationship.
Cindy's life after "Laverne & Shirley" was filled with joy even though she went through a terrible heartbreak.

The famous face of Shirley in the hit show "Laverne & Shirley," Cindy Williams, sadly passed away on Wednesday, January 25. The actress died in Los Angeles at the age of 75 after a brief illness. After acting in the "Happy Days" spinoff, Cindy became a household name, and the show became a piece of cultural history.

But besides the famous TV show, Cindy played a crucial role in many other films and TV productions as well. She had a significant role in George Lucas' film "American Graffiti" as well as Francis Ford Coppola's "The Conversation."

Cindy Williams as Shirley in "Laverne & Shirley," 1976 | Source: Getty Images

Any die-hard supporters of the show would recognize its one-of-a-kind theme song. The opening theme became a cultural phenomenon and still provokes nostalgia with its chant, "Schlemiel, schlimazel." Cindy shared her two children, Zachary Hudson and Emily Hudson, with her ex-husband, Bill Hudson. They expressed their grief:

"The passing of our kind, hilarious mother, Cindy Williams, has brought us insurmountable sadness that could never truly be expressed. Knowing and loving her has been our joy and privilege. She was one of a kind, beautiful, generous and possessed a brilliant sense of humor and a glittering spirit that everyone loved."

Ron Howard and Cindy Williams shooting "American Graffiti" in 1973 in Northern California | Source: Getty Images

The children went on to say their mother always made them proud. She was passionate about saving animals, and they admired her love of art. They also thanked the fans for their support throughout the years, mentioning that their mom loved doing what she did and adored her supporters as much as they loved her.

What Did Ron Howard Say about Cindy Williams' Death?

Over the years, Cindy made friends with almost everyone she worked with. After her death, her co-worker Henry Winkler made a statement expressing how much he enjoyed working with her. The "Happy Days" star said she had boundless talent and was exceptional in every role she portrayed.

Besides being a talented actress, Cindy was also a loving, devoted mother.

Ron Howard and Cindy Williams in "American Graffiti," 1973 | Source: Getty Images

Cindy's longtime friend and co-star, Ron Howard, also reacted to the news of her death. The two shared a close bond after working together for the first time in the film "American Graffiti." At that time, he was 18 and Cindy was 24, and he laughed when he mentioned she had to teach him to kiss.

Ron and Cindy worked together on various projects throughout their lives, including several times when he made guest appearances on "Happy Days" and "Laverne & Shirley." He mentioned that they always enjoyed working with each other, and Ron even admitted, "We had a certain chemistry together."

Ron Howard and Cindy Williams in "American Graffiti", 1973 | Source: Getty Images

Her death came as a shock for the TV veteran. The two were tremendously close, and Ron said he had seen her only a year before. When he last spoke to her, she looked healthy and happy, leaving her on-screen partner dumbfounded at her sudden passing. Ron opened up:

"It was a shocker to hear of Cindy's passing. I remember her life spark and her energy. I saw her last year in Palm Springs at an event and still saw that sparkle in her eyes. It's so hard to imagine that she's gone."

Ron Howard and Cindy Williams in "Laverne & Shirley," 1976 | Source: Getty Images

Ron gushed about her professionalism, saying she always tried to be original and keep her characters interesting and unique. He noted that one of Cindy's biggest influences was Carol Burnett, especially her character work. Ron also admired Cindy for ignoring the "Hollywood traffic" and living an everyday life.

Before she and Bill separated, the two shared a passion for creating and telling stories.

Cindy Williams, Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Penny Marshall on "Laverne & Shirley," 1979 | Source: Getty Images

Don Most also took to social media to show his support for her family. After hearing the news, the actor couldn't hold back tears, saying he had never met anyone so friendly and talented. He finished his emotional tribute by stating, "I will miss her dearly."

Cindy Williams' Life after "Laverne & Shirley"?

Besides being a talented actress, Cindy was also a loving, devoted mother. She had her first child – her daughter, Emily – in 1982 with her then-husband, Bill. In 1986, the couple had their second child together, their son, Zachary.

In 2015, Cindy delighted fans when she had a public book signing for her memoir, "Shirley, I Jest: A Storied Life."

Bill Hudson and Cindy Williams, 1982 | Source: Getty Images

Unfortunately, things between Cindy and Bill came to an end in 2000, when they decided to get a divorce. It was Cindy's first marriage but Bill's second. He had previously been married to the famous Goldie Hawn, with whom he also shares two kids.

Although Cindy was a widely known actress, she preferred to keep her private life out of the public eye. She never shared images of her children, and she only took them out to an awards show once.

Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 12, 2004 in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images

When she was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, her son and daughter stood by her side. At the time, Zachary was almost 18, while his sister, Emily, was about 22. Other than that, Cindy has always kept her children's lives private.

Before she and Bill separated, the two shared a passion for creating and telling stories. The two collaborated on "The Father of the Bride" films, and Cindy accumulated quite a few film titles to her name over the years.

Cindy Williams, Zachary Hudson, and Emily Hudson on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 12, 2004 in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images

Besides her work with George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, the actress also starred in a series of Jenny Craig commercials, and she had a guest spot on the TV show "For Your Love." Cindy also appeared with her co-star Penny Marshal again upon occasion.

In 2015, Cindy delighted fans when she had a public book signing for her memoir, "Shirley, I Jest: A Storied Life." At the signing, she met with fans, shook hands, and signed copies of the memoir at Book Soup in West Hollywood.

Cindy Williams at Book Soup on June 27, 2015 in West Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images

Cindy will be terribly missed by all those who worked with her or saw her work and appreciated it. We offer our condolences to her family and her loved ones throughout this trying time, and we thank Cindy for her dedication to her craft.