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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallLaverne & Shirley began as a spin-off from Happy Days and became one of ABC’s defining sitcoms of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The series premiered on January 27, 1976, ran for eight seasons and ended on May 10, 1983, after 178 episodes.
Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams led the show as Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney, two working-class friends whose lives moved from Milwaukee to Burbank. Several members of the cast later built substantial careers in film, television, theater and music. Six principal cast members have died, while Michael McKean, Leslie Easterbrook, Carole Ita White and Ed Marinaro have current evidence of being alive.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Laverne & Shirley: The Complete Series | $40.84 | Buy on Amazon |
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![Happy Days Seasons 1-6 / Laverne & Shirley Complete Series / [2-DVD Boxset]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51pwsdtDvOL._SL160_.jpg)
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Happy Days Seasons 1-6 / Laverne & Shirley Complete Series / [2-DVD Boxset] | $97.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Laverne & Shirley: The Complete Series | $59.53 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Laverne & Shirley: The Complete Series | $64.37 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Laverne & Shirley: The Complete First Season | $9.09 | Buy on Amazon |
The principal cast of Laverne & Shirley
| Actor | Character | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Penny Marshall | Laverne DeFazio | Died in 2018 |
| Cindy Williams | Shirley Feeney | Died in 2023 |
| Michael McKean | Lenny Kosnowski | Living and active professionally |
| David L. Lander | Andrew “Squiggy” Squiggman | Died in 2020 |
| Eddie Mekka | Carmine “The Big Ragoo” Ragusa | Died in 2021 |
| Phil Foster | Frank DeFazio | Died in 1985 |
| Betty Garrett | Edna Babish DeFazio | Died in 2011 |
| Leslie Easterbrook | Rhonda Lee | Living |
Penny Marshall — Laverne DeFazio
Penny Marshall died on December 17, 2018, at her Hollywood Hills home. She was 75. Her publicist attributed her death to complications of diabetes.
Marshall’s success after Laverne & Shirley was not limited to acting. She became one of Hollywood’s best-known female directors, directing films including Big, Awakenings, A League of Their Own and The Preacher’s Wife. Her work behind the camera gave her a second major career after the sitcom had made her famous.
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Cindy Williams — Shirley Feeney
Cindy Williams died on January 25, 2023, at age 75, following a brief illness. Her children announced her death through a family spokesperson.
Before becoming Shirley, Williams had appeared in films such as American Graffiti and The Conversation. She and Marshall later appeared together in a 2013 tribute episode of Nickelodeon’s Sam & Cat.
Williams left Laverne & Shirley during the eighth season. She appeared in its first two episodes, after which the show continued without Shirley. The often-repeated explanation that she simply left because she was pregnant leaves out the dispute behind her departure. Williams sought reduced working hours during her pregnancy; the disagreement ultimately led to her exit and a lawsuit.
Michael McKean — Lenny Kosnowski
Michael McKean is living and remains active as an actor, writer and musician. His career after the sitcom has included This Is Spinal Tap, A Mighty Wind, The X-Files, Smallville and Better Call Saul.
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McKean has continued working in television, film and theater. His professional biography identifies him as an actor, writer and musician, and his recent stage work includes Are You Now or Have You Ever Been, presented in New York in 2026. He lives between Los Angeles and New York with his wife, actor Annette O’Toole.
McKean and David L. Lander developed the Lenny and Squiggy characters before the television series, when both were students at Carnegie Mellon University.
Rank #2
- Laverne & Shirley Complete Series
- Happy Days: Seasons 1-6
- Drama
- Comedy
- Television
David L. Lander — Andrew “Squiggy” Squiggman
David L. Lander died on December 4, 2020, at age 73. His wife confirmed that he died in Los Angeles after living for decades with multiple sclerosis.
Although Squiggy made him recognizable to television audiences, Lander worked in several fields after the show. He became a voice actor, author and baseball scout, and he advocated publicly for multiple-sclerosis awareness.
Eddie Mekka — Carmine “The Big Ragoo” Ragusa
Eddie Mekka died on November 27, 2021, at age 69, in Santa Clarita, California. He played Carmine Ragusa, Shirley’s persistent boyfriend, throughout the show’s eight-season run.
Mekka continued performing after the sitcom. His later credits included appearances in A League of Their Own, 24, ER, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful. He also remained involved in stage work.
Phil Foster — Frank DeFazio
Phil Foster died on July 8, 1985, at age 72, after a heart attack or heart failure. Foster played Frank DeFazio, Laverne’s father and the owner of the Pizza Bowl.
Foster was already an experienced nightclub comedian before joining the series. He had also appeared in films and television programs during a career that predated his best-known sitcom role.
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Betty Garrett — Edna Babish DeFazio
Betty Garrett died on February 12, 2011, at age 91, from an aortic aneurysm. On Laverne & Shirley, she played Edna Babish, the girls’ landlady. Edna later married Frank DeFazio.
Garrett’s career stretched back to MGM musicals including On the Town and Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Television viewers may also remember her as Irene Lorenzo on All in the Family. She left Laverne & Shirley before its final season and continued teaching and performing in theater.
Leslie Easterbrook — Rhonda Lee
Leslie Easterbrook is living. She joined the series during its later California period, when the story moved from Milwaukee to Burbank, and played Rhonda Lee, a model and friend of Laverne.
Easterbrook later became especially recognizable as Sergeant Debbie Callahan in the Police Academy films. She also worked extensively in horror, including a role in The Devil’s Rejects. Her husband, writer-producer Dan Wilcox, died in 2024.
Recurring cast members who are often left out
Carole Ita White — “Big” Rosie Greenbaum
Carole Ita White is living and remains professionally active. She played “Big” Rosie Greenbaum, the antagonistic figure who served as Laverne and Shirley’s nemesis.
White has received credits under both Carole Ita White and Carol White. Recent listed work includes The Last Word and Wannabe: All Washed Up, both from 2023, as well as a 2025 episode of Roomies+. There is no verified death date for her. Posts or articles that include White among the deceased Laverne & Shirley performers are not supported by the available evidence.
Ed Marinaro — Sonny St. Jacques
Ed Marinaro is living. He played Sonny St. Jacques, a stuntman and Laverne’s romantic interest during the show’s California period.
Marinaro had played professional football before moving further into acting. He later became known as Officer Joe Coffey on Hill Street Blues, and he has continued to make public appearances and participate in interviews. In October 2025, he appeared on a Cornell podcast discussing his football and acting careers.
Other recurring performers
Other notable recurring performers included Vicki Lawrence as Sgt. Alvinia T. Plout, Bo Kaprall as Officer Norman Hughes and Judy Pioli as Terri Buttefuco. They were part of the broader ensemble but should not be confused with the principal cast.
Who from the main cast has died?
The verified deceased principal cast members are listed below:
| Actor | Laverne & Shirley role | Date of death | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Foster | Frank DeFazio | July 8, 1985 | 72 |
| Betty Garrett | Edna Babish DeFazio | February 12, 2011 | 91 |
| Penny Marshall | Laverne DeFazio | December 17, 2018 | 75 |
| David L. Lander | Squiggy | December 4, 2020 | 73 |
| Eddie Mekka | Carmine Ragusa | November 27, 2021 | 69 |
| Cindy Williams | Shirley Feeney | January 25, 2023 | 75 |
The claim that Michael McKean is the only surviving member of the Laverne & Shirley cast is therefore too broad. It may refer only to a particular definition of the original core ensemble, but it overlooks Leslie Easterbrook, who joined the regular cast later, along with recurring performers Carole Ita White and Ed Marinaro.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Sources and verification
Series dates and cast information are documented by Epguides. Death reporting was checked against obituaries and institutional biographies from the Washington Post, Associated Press, the Television Academy and the Los Angeles Times. Current career information was checked against Michael McKean’s official website, theater listings, TV biographies and available acting credits.
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FAQ
How many seasons of Laverne & Shirley were made?
The series ran for eight seasons and 178 episodes on ABC, from January 27, 1976, through May 10, 1983.
Did Cindy Williams leave Laverne & Shirley because she was pregnant?
That explanation is incomplete. Williams requested reduced working hours during her pregnancy, but a dispute followed. She appeared in the first two episodes of season eight, then left the series, and the disagreement led to a lawsuit.
Is Michael McKean still alive?
Yes. McKean remains active as an actor, writer and musician, with work in film, television and theater.
Who played Carmine on Laverne & Shirley?
Eddie Mekka played Carmine “The Big Ragoo” Ragusa, Shirley’s boyfriend. Mekka died on November 27, 2021, at age 69.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIs Carole Ita White dead?
There is no verified death date for Carole Ita White. Available listings show recent acting credits under Carole Ita White and Carol White.
Who played Rhonda Lee?
Leslie Easterbrook played Rhonda Lee. Easterbrook later became widely known for playing Sergeant Debbie Callahan in the Police Academy films.
The Bottom Line
Six principal Laverne & Shirley cast members have died: Phil Foster, Betty Garrett, Penny Marshall, David L. Lander, Eddie Mekka and Cindy Williams. Michael McKean and Leslie Easterbrook are living, as are recurring performers Carole Ita White and Ed Marinaro. The show’s legacy extends well beyond the sitcom itself—particularly through Marshall’s directing career, McKean’s work in film and television, and Lander’s advocacy for multiple-sclerosis awareness.
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