Where are they now and who died

1950s themed sitcom happy Days was a hit for ABC in the 1970s, and spawned more than half a dozen spin-offs, including Laverne and Shirley, a show about two young women juggling the demands of life, love, and work in 1950s Milwaukee. The show originated in 1975 happy Days An episode in which Laverne DeFazio (Penny Marshall) and Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams) go on a double date with The Fones (Henry Winkler) and Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard). Response to the episode was so positive, ABC quickly developed a spin-off that premiered on January 27, 1976. Laverne and Shirley It ran for eight seasons and 178 episodes and made its stars household names.

The series featured Laverne and Shirley working on the bottling line at Shotz Brewery in Milwaukee, living in a downtown brownstone basement apartment, and spending their evenings at the pizza parlor and bowling alley owned by Laverne’s father (Phil Foster). Their noisy upstairs neighbors, Lenny and Squiggy (Michael McKean and David Lander), provided frequent comic relief, as the girls struggled to make ends meet and find the men of their dreams.

Cindy Williams left the series during its eighth season to have a child, and it was soon cancelled, with the final episode airing in 1983. Thanks to reruns and steam, the show remains among the most popular TV comedies of all time, with cast members forever associated with the characters they played. in the series. Below are the main cast members Laverne and ShirleyAnd where are they now.

Penny Marshall (Laverne DeFazio)

to Penny MarshallPlaying the daredevil, Laverne was just one chapter in the story of a very successful career. She gained fame in 1972 playing Myrna, the goofy secretary to Oscar Madison (Jack Klugman), in The odd couple. Unforgettable guest starring role in The Mary Tyler Moore Show She followed, and her brother, Garry Marshall, cast her and Cindy Williams in a 1975 episode of his own sitcom happy Days. The response to their characters was an inspiration, and the rest is television history.

After the series ended, Marshall shifted her professional focus behind the camera. She made her feature film directorial debut with the 1986 comedy Whoopi Goldberg Jumpin’ Jack Flashbut her next movie, 1988 big With Tom Hanks, it was a smash hit and made it one of the best directors. She followed that up with the Academy Award nominated drama in 1990 awakening With Robert De Niro and Robin Williams. She is best remembered for directing the 1992 classic a league of their own, And keep guiding Preacher’s wife And Car rides with the boys.

After suffering from brain and lung cancer, she passed away on December 18, 2018, at the age of 75, from heart failure due to complications from diabetes. She is survived by a daughter and three grandchildren.

Cindy Williams (Shirley Feeney)

Cindy Williams She played the two-shoes-toothed Shirley Feeney to TV stardom, but was already a movie star when she joined the show in 1976. She had a cameo role in the 1973 George Lucas classic American Graffiti This was followed by a pivotal role in Francis Ford Coppola’s Best Picture nominee Conversation (1974). happy Days And Laverne and Shirley This soon followed, earning Williams a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Television Comedy in 1978.

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After leaving the series during its final season in 1982 to have a child, Williams continued acting, appearing in films such as bingo And More American Graffiti. Most of her acting roles have been guest spots on television, incl Touched by an angelAnd Lewis and ClarkAnd 7th heavenAnd Law & Order: SVU. Williams passed away peacefully on January 25, 2023 at the age of 75, and was survived by her two children, Zack and Emily Hudson. The cause of death was not announced.

Michael McCain (Lenny Kosnowski)

Michael McCain His first major role was playing Lenny in Laverne and Shirley, appearing in 149 episodes. During his run on the show, he also appeared in a Steven Spielberg movie 1941Beside used cars And Young doctors in love. After the show ended, he worked continuously on film, including writing and starring in the classic thriller This is Spinal Tap In 1984 AD an ideaAnd Planes and cars trainsAnd short circuit 2And foreheadsAnd The X-FilesAnd Nick nameAnd Good omen. He also had a cameo in the directorial debut of Penny Marshall Jumpin’ Jack Flash.

In 2004, he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for his work on the film Great wind. The nyc native recently had a prominent role in Too bad spin off Better Call Saulwho played Charles McGill, the brother of Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), and received an Emmy nomination for Best Actor (Drama) for the role in 2019. He is currently married to actress Annette O’Toole.

David L. Lander (Andrew “Squiggy” Squiggman)

David Lander He and Michael McCain met while attending Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and upon graduation, they joined a comedy group together, a partnership that would eventually lead to Laverne and Shirley Pour. Lander had some minor roles on television in the early 1970s, including a voice-over role as Jerry Lewis on the short-lived animated series. However, his role as the scene-stealing Squiggy made him one of the most popular characters on television at the time.

After the series ended, Lander made several films and television appearances, including Who framed Roger Rabbit?And Star Trek: The Next GenerationAnd Bug’s lifeAnd Scary movieand a cameo as an announcer in Penny Marshall a league of their own. In 1999, he revealed in his autobiography that he had been battling multiple sclerosis since the 1980s but kept it a secret. Although he remained professionally active, his MS symptoms eventually worsened, and he died on December 4, 2020, in Los Angeles, with his wife Kathy Fields, daughter Natalie, and husband Jared at his side. He was 73 years old.

Eddie McCa (Carmine ‘The Big Ragoo’ Ragusa)

Born in Massachusetts in 1952, Eddie Mecca She worked as a voice teacher before hitting Broadway and was nominated for the 1975 Tony Award for Best Actor (Musical) for Lt. Soon after, he was chosen Laverne and Shirley As Carmine, an ex-boxer turned singer and dancer has an on-again, off-again romance with Shirley. He joined the show in the second episode of the series and appeared in 150 of the 178 episodes.

After the series ended, Mecca appeared in the films beaches And dream girls, And Penny Marshall cast him in a memorable cameo in her movie a league of their own, dancing with Madonna in a nightclub scene. He has made guest starring appearances on shows including 24And ERAnd love boatAnd family affairsAnd many series. Eddie McCa passed away on November 27, 2021 at the age of 69 at his home in Newhall, California. The cause of death was not officially announced, but he was suffering from blood clots. He survived his daughter Mia.

Phil Foster (Frank DeFazio)

Phil Foster He began acting on stage during the Great Depression, eventually making a living as a stand-up comedian. He played and appeared in nightclubs across the country The Ed Sullivan Show Before longtime friend Garry Marshall cast him as Laverne’s grumpy father Frank DeFazio, a role he is best remembered for. He died on July 8, 1985, of a heart attack in Rancho Mirage, California. He was 72 years old.

Betty Jarrett (Edna DeFazio)

multi-talented artist, Betty Jarrett She played Laverne and Shirley’s landlady, Edna DeFazio, in 97 episodes. She began her career in a number of Hollywood musicals beginning in the 1940s. She has made several television appearances, including a recurring role on Everyone in the familybefore casting it Laverne and Shirley. She continued acting after the show ended, including roles in The golden girls And instinct anatomy. She died in Los Angeles on February 12, 2011, of an aortic aneurysm at the age of 91. She survived her two children.

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Leslie Easterbrook (Rhonda Lee)

Leslie Easterbrook He starred as Rhonda Lee in 51 episodes of Laverne and Shirley. When the series’ setting moved to California for season six, Easterbrook joined the cast as the attractive neighbor who is always on the lookout for Mr. Right. When the series ended in 1983, she joined the cast of the classic 1980s comedy police AcademyHe plays the gun-crazed Sergeant. Callahan. She went on to appear in five more sequels, as well as a recurring role on the series Hope Ryan. She continues to act, and in recent years has turned to appearing in horror films, including 2005’s Satan refuses.

Carol White (Rosie “Paige” Greenbaum)

Carol Etta White She appears as “big” Rosie, and high school rivals Laverne and Shirley, who still make their lives miserable as adults. Although she only appeared in 13 episodes, she was a popular character during the second and third seasons. She continues to act consistently in various TV shows and movies.

Boo Boo Kitty (herself)

True fans of the show know Boo Boo Kitty as Shirley’s favorite stuffed animal, which often provided comfort. It became a running gag of the show after Williams found it among the props during rehearsal and gave it the same name her mother had given her cat. Williams revealed in an interview that she kept the stuffed animal after the show ended, and it resided in her underwear drawer.