Where the ‘Laverne & Shirley’ Cast Is Today and Who Passed Away

The popular 1970s sitcom Happy Days led to several spin-off shows, one of the most successful being Laverne & Shirley. This show followed two young women as they navigated life, love, and their jobs in 1950s Milwaukee. Laverne DeFazio (Penny Marshall) and Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams) first appeared in a 1975 episode of Happy Days, going on a double date with characters The Fonz (Henry Winkler) and Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard). Because audiences loved the episode, ABC quickly created a spin-off series, which debuted on January 27, 1976. Laverne & Shirley ran for eight seasons and 178 episodes, turning its stars into well-known celebrities.

Laverne & Shirley followed the adventures of two friends working at Shotz Brewery in Milwaukee. They lived in a basement apartment and spent their free time at their father’s pizza parlor and bowling alley. Their often-irritating neighbors, Lenny and Squiggy, always provided laughs as Laverne and Shirley tried to manage their finances and find love.

Cindy Williams departed Laverne & Shirley during its eighth season to start a family, and the show was canceled shortly after, with the last episode airing in 1983. Despite ending its original run, the series has remained incredibly popular through reruns and streaming, and the actors are still well-known for their iconic roles. Here’s a look at the main cast of Laverne & Shirley and what they’re doing now.

Penny Marshall (Laverne DeFazio)

Penny Marshall’s iconic role as the outspoken Laverne was just one part of a remarkably successful career. She first became well-known in 1972 as Myrna, the funny secretary on The Odd Couple. She then appeared on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and her brother, Garry Marshall, featured her and Cindy Williams in an episode of Happy Days in 1975. The positive reaction to their characters led to a spin-off series, and that’s how TV history was made.

After the show wrapped up, Penny Marshall decided she wanted to direct, and it was amazing to watch! She started with the fun Whoopi Goldberg movie, Jumpin’ Jack Flash in ’86, but things really took off with Big in ’88 – seriously, that movie with Tom Hanks was huge and made her one of the top directors around. She kept the momentum going with the powerful drama Awakenings a couple of years later, starring Robert De Niro and Robin Williams. But honestly, I think she’ll always be remembered for A League of Their Own – it’s a classic! She continued to make great films after that, like The Preacher’s Wife and Riding in Cars with Boys, but A League of Their Own is what everyone talks about.

She died on December 17, 2018, at the age of 75, after a fight with brain and lung cancer. The immediate cause of death was heart failure brought on by complications from her diabetes.

Cindy Williams (Shirley Feeney)

Everyone remembers Cindy Williams as Shirley from Laverne & Shirley, but what always struck me is that she wasn’t a TV newcomer when she took that role. She’d already made a splash in some truly iconic films! I first noticed her in George Lucas’ American Graffiti back in ’73, and then she delivered a really compelling performance in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation the following year. Of course, Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley launched her to even greater fame, and rightfully so – she even earned a Golden Globe nomination in ’78 for her comedic work.

After deciding to focus on raising her family in 1982, during the last season of her show, Williams continued acting in films like Bingo and More American Graffiti. She primarily appeared in guest roles on popular television series, including Touched by an Angel, Lois & Clark, 7th Heaven, and Law & Order: SVU. Williams passed away peacefully on January 25, 2023, at the age of 75, leaving behind her children, Zak and Emily Hudson. The cause of her death has not been publicly shared.

Michael McKean (Lenny Kosnowski)

Michael McKean started his career with a significant role as Lenny on Laverne & Shirley, appearing in 149 episodes. While on the show, he also acted in films like Steven Spielberg’s 1941, Used Cars, and Young Doctors in Love. After Laverne & Shirley ended, McKean continued to work steadily in film, famously co-writing and starring in the mockumentary This is Spinal Tap in 1984. He’s also appeared in numerous other films and TV shows, including Clue, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Short Circuit 2, Coneheads, The X-Files, Alias, and Good Omens. He even made a brief appearance in Penny Marshall’s first directed film, Jumpin’ Jack Flash.

He received an Academy Award nomination in 2004 for his original song in the film A Mighty Wind. More recently, this New York City native played Charles McGill on Better Call Saul, the brother of Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman, and was nominated for an Emmy Award for his performance in 2019. He’s also reprising his iconic role in the 2025 film Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. He is married to actress Annette O’Toole.

David L. Lander (Andrew “Squiggy” Squiggman)

David Lander and Michael McKean became friends while studying at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. After college, they teamed up in a comedy group, which ultimately led to both of them being cast in Laverne & Shirley. Before that, Lander did some small TV roles in the early 1970s, including voice work as Jerry Lewis in an animated show. But it was his hilarious portrayal of Squiggy that really made him a household name.

Following the conclusion of the series, Lander appeared in many films and television shows, including memorable roles in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Star Trek: The Next Generation, A Bug’s Life, and Scary Movie. He even made a brief appearance as an announcer in Penny Marshall’s A League of Their Own. In 1999, Lander publicly shared in his autobiography that he had been privately living with multiple sclerosis since the 1980s. Despite continuing to work, his condition gradually worsened. He died in Los Angeles on December 4, 2020, at the age of 73.

Eddie Mekka (Carmine ‘The Big Ragoo’ Ragusa)

Eddie Mekka was born in Massachusetts in 1952 and initially worked as a vocal coach. He gained Broadway recognition in 1975, receiving a Tony Award nomination for his performance in The Lieutenant. He’s best known for his role as Carmine on Laverne & Shirley, where he played an ex-boxer who becomes a singer and dancer and shares a sometimes-romantic relationship with Shirley. Mekka joined the show early on, in the second episode, and appeared in 150 out of the total 178 episodes.

After The Facts of Life wrapped up, I was thrilled to see Eddie Mekka pop up in films like Beaches and Dreamgirls. Penny Marshall was clearly a fan, giving him a fun cameo in A League of Their Own – I always loved that nightclub scene where he danced with Madonna! He was a consistent presence on TV too, guest-starring in shows like 24, ER, even The Love Boat and Family Matters, plus a bunch of soap operas. It was so sad to hear he passed away on November 27, 2021, at his home in California. He was only 69. While they didn’t officially say what happened, I read he’d been dealing with blood clots. He leaves behind his daughter, Mia, and a lot of fond memories for those of us who grew up watching him.

Phil Foster (Frank DeFazio)

ABC

Phil Foster started his career as an actor during the Great Depression and later became a successful stand-up comedian. He performed in clubs nationwide and even appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. Most people remember him for playing Frank DeFazio, the grumpy father of Laverne, a role his friend Garry Marshall gave him. He died of a heart attack on July 8, 1985, in Rancho Mirage, California, at the age of 72.

Betty Garrett (Edna DeFazio)

Betty Garrett was a versatile entertainer best known for playing Edna DeFazio, the landlord on Laverne & Shirley, appearing in 97 episodes. Her career began with musicals in Hollywood during the 1940s, and she had many television roles, including a recurring part on All in the Family. After Laverne & Shirley ended, she continued acting, with appearances in shows like The Golden Girls and Grey’s Anatomy. She passed away in Los Angeles on February 12, 2011, at age 91, due to an aortic aneurysm, and is survived by her two children.

Leslie Easterbrook (Rhonda Lee)

Leslie Easterbrook is best known for her role as Rhonda Lee on Laverne & Shirley, appearing in 51 episodes. When the show moved to California in its sixth season, she became a regular cast member, playing a charming neighbor always looking for love. After Laverne & Shirley ended in 1983, Easterbrook joined the cast of Police Academy, famously portraying the enthusiastic Sgt. Callahan. She continued with the Police Academy franchise through five sequels and also had a recurring role on the soap opera Ryan’s Hope. Easterbrook still acts today and has recently focused on horror films, including a part in the 2005 film The Devil’s Rejects.

Carole White (“Big” Rosie Greenbaum)

ABC

Carole Ita White played “Big” Rosie on Laverne & Shirley – a former high school rival who continued to cause trouble for the girls even as adults. She was a fan favorite during seasons two and three, appearing in 13 episodes. White continues to work steadily in television and film, often in supporting roles.

Boo Boo Kitty (As Itself)

Dedicated viewers of the show will remember Boo Boo Kitty as Shirley’s beloved stuffed animal, a source of comfort for her. The name actually came about unexpectedly when actress Jenifer Lewis discovered the toy on set and playfully named it after her childhood cat, turning it into a recurring joke. Lewis later shared that she cherished the stuffed animal so much she took it home after filming and kept it in her lingerie drawer.

2025-11-19 06:36