Did Laverne & Shirley in a round-about way, ruin Cindy Williams' career

[TMC]

Don't get me wrong, L&S was undoubtedly the peak of Cindy Williams' career. However, it's safe to argue that the one big drawback is that so was no longer going to be taken seriously as a dramatic actress. Before L&S, Cindy was in American Graffiti, where she was the female lead and The Conversation. But because of the stigma behind starring on L&S, she was now considered strictly a comedy actress, and it may have limited her chances for different kinds of roles.

[PracTz]

I think you could be correct. However; I'm not sure Miss Williams was interested in doing dramatic roles after this.

[CosmicCharlie]

I don't see Cindy as a Big Screen dramatic draw - and it seems H-Wood & viewers didn't either - and I enjoy her tv character very much

[cbikle]

Originally Posted by CosmicCharlie

I don't see Cindy as a Big Screen dramatic draw - and it seems H-Wood & viewers didn't either - and I enjoy her tv character very much

There's ALWAYS pressure to not leave a hit TV show, but back then, even more so (especially for actresses).

The exception to the rule was if there was so much heat on a TV star, they could break gravity and successfully transition to movies (Like John Travolta and Bruce Willis).

Were indie films a thing back then, I suppose she could have tried those.

IMO, maybe if as part of her contract negotiations, she could have gotten lead roles in dramatic made for tv movies (?)

[TMC]

One suggestion that I read is that Cindy's "American Sweetheart" image was not popular in 1970s movies, which were moving more towards ballsy (Jane Fonda) and quirky (Diane Keaton). She was also considered for the Princess Leia role in Star Wars, but Cindy was apparently, a bit too matter-of-fact in her audition.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by CosmicCharlie

I don't see Cindy as a Big Screen dramatic draw - and it seems H-Wood & viewers didn't either - and I enjoy her tv character very much

Cindy was probably far too old to pursue films when she left L&S in 1982. She had also had very young children and she was far too associated with Shirley Feeney by that point. She in theory, could have pursued films after American Graffiti and The Conversation, but after the Happy Days guest spot and L&S, that was that.

To put things into some perspective, during the time that Cindy was doing a sitcom from 1976-82, Sally Field was making some of her best work in films. And bare in mind that Sally herself, was able to go onto film stardom after starring in a TV series where she wasn't being taken seriously (Gidget and later The Flying Nun) and was only about two years older than Cindy Williams.

[CosmicCharlie]

Somehow Sally Field got the opportunity to show her dept and reach ...
Was Hollywood responsible for that ? or was it the talent ?
I would say the Hollywood MACHINE is more responsible for Stardom in most cases.
Ask Weinstein among 100's of others

[TMC]

Top 10 Times One TV Show DESTROYED an Actor’s Career

5. Cindy Williams - Laverne & Shirley (1976-83): Another “Happy Days” spin-off that ended in acrimonious circumstances, “Laverne & Shirley” was a success in its own right, peaking as the top-rated show on TV. And yet, Cindy Williams didn’t benefit from the success she contributed to. During her pregnancy, Williams stated production failed to accommodate her, reportedly refusing to sign a new contract upon learning she was scheduled to work even on her due date. The actress ultimately parted ways with the series, filing a $20 million lawsuit that was settled out of court. Although she remained a screen presence for decades afterward, Williams never regained the same visibility or mainstream success as her time on “Laverne & Shirley.” It would also be many years before she would reconcile with co-star Penny Marshall.

Top 10 Times One TV Show DESTROYED an Actors Career | Articles on WatchMojo.com