The Real Reason Cindy Williams Walked Away From ‘Laverne & Shirley’

When Cindy Williams left Laverne & Shirley in 1982, the exit felt abrupt to viewers and confusing even to those working on the show. Shirley Feeney was half of one of television’s most beloved duo, and suddenly she was gone halfway through the series’ California years. Over the decades, fans have often wondered whether the sitcom ever seriously considered continuing without Shirley, or even reinventing itself entirely around Penny Marshall‘s Laverne. In later interviews, both Penny and her brother, series creator Garry Marshall addressed what really happened behind the scenes, and their comments reveal how uncertain and emotionally complicated that period truly was.