Williams, Cindy 1947-

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Williams, Cindy 1947-

PERSONAL

Full name, Cynthia Jane Williams; born August 22, 1947, in Van Nuys, CA; daughter of Bechard J. (an electronics technician) and Frances (some sources cite Francesca; maiden name, Bellini) Williams; sister of Carol Ann Williams (an actress) married William Louis "Bill" Hudson (an actor, musician, and producer), May 1, 1982 (divorced December 13, 2000); children: Emily Taylor, William Zachary; stepchildren: Kate (an actress), Oliver (an actor). Education: Attended Los Angeles City College; trained at Actors Studio, Los Angeles. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Roman Catholic.

Addresses:

Manager—Bette Smith Management, 499 North Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

Career:

Actress, producer, and writer. CW Productions, Inc., president, producer, and director; Actors Studio, member; appeared in commercials for Jenny Craig weight loss products and Foster Grant sunglasses. Also worked as a waitress. Affiliate of Feed the Children.

Member:

Actors' Equity Association, Actors and Others for Animals, Greenpeace, Nature Conservancy.

Awards, Honors:

Film Award nomination, best supporting actress, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, 1975, for American Graffiti; honorary commendation medal, U.S. Marine Corps, 1977; named honorary citizen of New Orleans, LA, 1977; Golden Globe Award nomination, best television actress in a musical or comedy, 1978, for Laverne & Shirley; named honorary member of Milwaukee local Teamsters Union, 1979; award of appreciation, Blinded Veterans Administration, 1979; named honorary Texan, Office of the Governor of Texas, 1987; TV Land Award (with Penny Marshall), working stiff of the year, 2003, for Laverne & Shirley; received star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, 2004.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Young wife, The Funny Side, NBC, 1971.

Shirley Feeney, Laverne & Shirley (also known as Laverne & Shirley & Company and Laverne & Shirley & Friends), ABC, 1976-82.

Voice of Shirley Feeney, The Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour (animated), ABC, 1982-83.

Lisa Burke, Just like Family, Disney Channel, 1989.

Anne Harlow, Normal Life, CBS, 1990.

Cathy Hale, Getting By, ABC, 1993, then NBC, 1993-94.

Herself, Strip Mall, Comedy Central, 2000-2001.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Betty, The Migrants, CBS, 1974.

Regina Malloy, Suddenly, Love, NBC, 1978.

Susan Matthews, When Dreams Come True, ABC, 1985.

Heather Drew, "The Leftovers," Disney Sunday Movie, ABC, 1986.

Lisa Burke, "Help Wanted: Kids," Disney Sunday Movie, ABC, 1986.

Becky Dale, Save the Dog!, Disney Channel, 1988.

Catherine, Tricks of the Trade, CBS, 1988.

Connie Mann, Menu for Murder (also known as Murder at the PTA Luncheon), CBS, 1990.

Rita Sue Bliss, Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen (also known as Perry Mason: The Case of the Murder Mystery Murder), NBC, 1990.

Judith, Earth Angel, ABC, 1991.

Wanda Walden, Escape from Terror: The Teresa Stamper Story (also known as Crimes of Passion: Escape from Terror—The Teresa Stamper Story), NBC, 1994.

Caroline Knox, The Stepford Husbands, CBS, 1996.

Sue Ellen, The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights (also known as Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights), CBS, 1999.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Female team member, Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes, CBS, 1977.

Ringmaster, Circus of the Stars #2, CBS, 1977.

Gabriel Kaplan Presents the Small Event, ABC, 1977.

Host, Happy Birthday, Las Vegas, 1977.

Disco Fever: "Saturday Night Fever" Premiere Party, 1977.

The Magic of David Copperfield, 1978.

ABC's Silver Anniversary Celebration, 1978.

Gene KellyAn American in Pasadena, CBS, 1978.

General Electric's All-Star Anniversary, ABC, 1978.

Andy's Funhouse (also known as The Andy Kaufman Special), 1979.

The Donny and Marie Christmas Special, ABC, 1979.

The Magic of David Copperfield III: Levitating Ferrari, 1980.

The All-Star Salute to Mother's Day, NBC, 1981.

Magic with the Stars, NBC, 1982.

Cohost, The National Family Safety Test, Disney Channel, 1989.

Happy Birthday, Bugs: 50 Looney Years (also known as Hollywood Celebrates Bugs Bunny's 50th Birthday), CBS, 1990.

Judge, The 1992 Miss America Pageant, NBC, 1992.

Kathie Lee Gifford's Celebration of Motherhood, ABC, 1993.

The Cindy Williams Comedy Special, The Family Channel, 1994.

The Laverne & Shirley Reunion, ABC, 1995.

(In archive footage) 50 Years of Funny Females, 1995.

The Making of "American Graffiti," 1998.

American Graffiti: Then and Now, VH1, 1998.

Harrison Ford: America's Leading Man, The Learning Channel, 1999.

Andy Kaufman's Really Big Show, Arts and Entertainment, 1999.

Entertainment Tonight Presents: TV's Greatest Scandals, 2000.

TVography: Laverne & Shirley, 2001.

Intimate Portrait: Cindy Williams, Lifetime, 2001.

TV Guide's Truth behind the Rumors 2, Fox, 2001.

Laverne & Shirley, Arts and Entertainment, 2001.

Classic TV Bloopers, ABC, 2001.

Entertainment Tonight Presents: Laverne and Shirley Together Again, ABC, 2002.

ShirleyMania, Fox Movie Channel, 2002.

Intimate Portrait: Kathy Ireland, Lifetime, 2002.

Intimate Portrait: Penny Marshall, Lifetime, 2003.

Great Women of Television Comedy, NBC, 2003.

ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration, ABC, 2003.

A Life of Laughter: Remembering John Ritter, ABC, 2003.

Playboy's 50th Anniversary Celebration, Arts and Entertainment, 2003.

Host, TV's Greatest Sidekicks, Lifetime, 2004.

(In archive footage) Empire of Dreams: The Story of the "Star Wars" Trilogy, Arts and Entertainment, 2004.

Happy Days: 30th Anniversary Reunion, ABC, 2005.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

"I Love You Charlie … I Love You Abbie," Room 222, ABC, 1970.

Agnes, "The Marriage Proposal," Barefoot in the Park, ABC, 1970.

Second co-ed, "The Art of Relationships," Nanny and the Professor, ABC, 1971.

Cathy, "Cathy's Clown," Getting Together (also known as The Bobby Sherman Show—Getting Together), ABC, 1971.

My World and Welcome To It, NBC, 1972.

"Love and the Face Bow," Love, American Style, ABC, 1973.

"Love and the Time Machine," Love, American Style, ABC, 1973.

June Bowers, "The Stalker," Cannon, CBS, 1974.

Sue Reynolds, "Secret Witness," Hawaii Five-0 (also known as McGarrett), CBS, 1974.

Shirley Feeney, "Two Angry Men," Happy Days (also known as Happy Days Again), ABC, 1975.

"Somewhere Before," Insight, syndicated, 1975.

Joanna, "The Test of Brotherhood," Police Story, NBC, 1975.

"Spanish Class," Police Story, NBC, 1976.

"Survival," Petrocelli, NBC, 1976.

Dinah! (also known as Dinah! & Friends), 1976.

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1976.

The Mike Douglas Show, 1976, 1977.

"Live from Mardi Gras," Saturday Night Live (also known as SNL), NBC, 1977.

Fernwood 2-Nite, syndicated, 1977.

Donny and Marie (also known as The Osmond Family Show), 1977.

America 2-Night, 1978.

(Uncredited) Herself, "Roller Disco: Part 2," CHiPs (also known as CHiPs Patrol), NBC, 1979.

Shirley Feeney, "Shotgun Wedding: Part 1," Happy Days (also known as Happy Days Again), ABC, 1979.

(Uncredited) Herself, "The Great 5K Star Race and Boulder Wrap Party: Part 2," CHiPs (also known as CHiPs Patrol) NBC, 1980.

Omnibus, 1980.

Voice of Private Shirley Feeney, "Invasion of the Booby Hatchers," Laverne & Shirley in the Army (animated; also known as Laverne & Shirley), ABC, 1981.

The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour, 1982.

Guest host, The Late Show, Fox, 1987.

Storytime, PBS, 1994.

"The Fame Show," Night Stand (also known as Night Stand with Dick Dietrick), syndicated, 1995.

Voice of Gerri Poveri, "Ups and Downs," The Magic School Bus (animated; also known as Scholastic's "The Magic School Bus"), PBS, 1995.

Wandamae Waldecker, "A Bolt from the Blue," Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (also known as Lois & Clark and The New Adventures of Superman), ABC, 1995.

The Charles Grodin Show, CNBC, 1995.

Claire, "Jacob's Ladder," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1996.

Connie Carlucci, "Come Back Lil' Tina," Hope & Gloria, NBC, 1996.

Hollywood Squares (also known as H2 and H2: Hollywood Squares), 1999.

The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1999.

Ronnie, "The Egg Timer," For Your Love, The WB, 2000.

Ronnie, "The Talented Mr. Ripoff," For Your Love, The WB, 2000.

Beggars and Choosers, Showtime, 2000.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, ABC, multiple episodes, 2001.

Bobbi, "Grand Prix," Son of the Beach, FX Network, 2001.

"Classic TV Stars," Weakest Link (also known as The Weakest Link USA), NBC, 2001.

The Test, FX Network, 2001.

Ronnie, "The Affair of the Heart," For Your Love, The WB, 2002.

Vice Principal Val, "The Enemy Within," 7th Heaven (also known as Seventh Heaven and 7th Heaven: Beginnings), The WB, 2002.

Mrs. Joan Casey, "Meet the Folks," Less than Perfect, ABC, 2002.

"American Graffiti," VH-1 Where Are They Now?, VH1, 2002.

Judge, Pet Star, Animal Planet, 2002, 2003.

Mary Ellen Doyle, "Premiere," 8 Simple Rulesfor Dating My Teenage Daughter (also known as 8 Simple Rules), ABC, 2003.

Mary Ellen Doyle, "Donny Goes AWOL," 8 Simple Rulesfor Dating My Teenage Daughter (also known as 8 Simple Rules), ABC, 2003.

Nora Hodges, "Sick," Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (also known as Law & Order: SVU and Special Victims Unit), NBC, 2004.

Lisa James, "New York Bound," Girlfriends, UPN, 2004.

Today (also known as NBC News Today and The Today Show), NBC, 2004.

Lisa James, "P.D.A.-D.O.A.," Girlfriends, UPN, 2005.

"Mascot Prep," Shorty McShorts' Shorts, Disney Channel, 2007.

House mother, "Partners," Drive, Fox, 2007.

House mother, "No Turning Back," Drive, Fox, 2007.

House mother, "Rearview," Drive, Fox, 2007.

Appeared as Queenie in an episode of Norm, ABC; also appeared in episodes of Instant Comedy with the Groundlings, F/X Network, and The Neighbors, ABC.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

The Last Detail, ABC, 1976.

Joanna Weston, Joanna, ABC, 1985.

M'ynn Eatenton, Steel Magnolias, CBS, 1990.

Lydia Maguire, Girls Across the Lake, The WB, 1997.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

Presenter, The 28th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, ABC, 1976.

The 34th Annual Golden Globe Awards, NBC, 1977.

The 24th Annual TV Week Logie Awards, 9 Network, 1982.

The Sixth Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1992.

Presenter, The 1998 Primetime Creative Arts Emmys, TV Land, 1998.

TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV (also known as 1st Annual TV Land Awards), TV Land, 2003.

The 5th Annual TV Land Awards, TV Land, 2007.

Television Director; Episodic:

"Sing, Sing, Sing," Laverne & Shirley (also known as Laverne & Shirley & Company and Laverne & Shirley & Friends), ABC, 1981.

Television Executive Producer; Specials:

The Cindy Williams Comedy Special, The Family Channel, 1994.

Film Appearances:

Marissa, Gas-s-s-s! (also known as Gas! or It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It and Gas-s-s-s, or It May Become Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It), American International Pictures, 1970.

Manager's girlfriend, Drive, He Said, Columbia, 1971.

Tooley, Travels with My Aunt, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1972.

Randy's girl, Beware! the Blob (also known as Beware of the Blob, Son of Blob, and Son of the Blob), Jack H. Harris, 1972.

Laurie Henderson, American Graffiti, Universal, 1973.

Lori, The Killing Kind, 1973.

Ann, The Conversation, Paramount, 1974.

Jamison, Mr. Ricco, United Artists, 1975.

Rosie, The First Nudie Musical, Paramount, 1976.

Laurie Bolander, More American Graffiti (also known as Purple Haze), Universal, 1979.

Herself, Sois belle et tais-toi, 1981.

Annie McHugh, The Creature Wasn't Nice (also known as Naked Space and Spaceship), 1983.

Arlene Stewart, UFOria, Universal, 1985.

June, Rude Awakening, Orion, 1989.

Diane Girard, Big Man on Campus (also known as The Hunchback Hairball of L.A.), Vestron Pictures, 1991.

Natalie Devlin, Bingo!, TriStar, 1991.

For Goodness Sake, 1993.

Emily Preston, Meet Wally Sparks, Trimark Pictures, 1997.

Herself, The Joy of Natural Childbirth, 1997.

Debbie's mom, The Biggest Fan, Quick Feather Pictures, 2002.

According to some sources, appeared as a child in a bit part, The Blob, Paramount, 1958.

Film Coproducer:

Father of the Bride, Buena Vista, 1991.

Father of the Bride Part II (also known as Father of the Bride 2), Buena Vista, 1995.

Stage Appearances:

Mrs. Tottendale, The Drowsy Chaperone (musical), Marquis Theatre, New York City, 2007.

Also appeared in a production of Moon over Buffalo.

Major Tours:

Myra, Deathtrap, U.S. cities, late 1990s.

Miss Lynch, Grease (musical), U.S. cities, 2000.

RECORDINGS

Videos:

From Dollars to Donuts: An Undressing of the First Nudie Musical, Image Entertainment, 2002.

WRITINGS

Television Specials:

The Cindy Williams Comedy Special, The Family Channel, 1994.

About this article

Williams, Cindy 1947-

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