'Laverne & Shirley' alumns

''Laverne & Shirley'' alums -- An update on the cast, including Penny Marshall, Michael McKean, and Betty Garrett

In the decade since she left Laverne & Shirley, Getting By‘s Cindy Williams has been doing just that, starring in a string of forgettable feature films (Bingo) and TV movies (Tricks of the Trade) and playing mom to Dweezil and Moon Unit Zappa in the short-lived 1990 CBS sitcom Normal Life. But what of Williams’ erstwhile costars on Laverne & Shirley (1976-83)? Theirs has been a mixed lot:

*PENNY MARSHALL (Laverne De Fazio) has directed the feature films Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Big, Awakenings, and A League of Their Own. She’s currently developing a series based on League for CBS.

*DAVID L. LANDER (Andrew ”Squiggy” Squigman) did voices for Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, appeared in David Lynch’s television series Twin Peaks and On the Air, and played an announcer in Marshall’s A League of Their Own.

*MICHAEL MCKEAN (Lenny Kosnowski) cranked it up as Spinal Tap’s lead singer, David St. Hubbins, and has won critical kudos for his roles on the HBO sitcoms Sessions and Dream On.

*EDDIE MEKKA (Carmine ”The Big Ragu” Ragusa) has worked in dinner theater and jitterbugged with Madonna in Marshall’s A League of Their Own.

*BETTY GARRETT (Mrs. Edna Babish De Fazio) has toured the country with a one-woman cabaret show and starred on Broadway in Meet Me in St. Louis.

*PHIL FOSTER (Frank De Fazio) returned to doing stand-up comedy at nightclubs in the Catskills. He died of a heart attack in 1985 after playing a round of golf near his Palm Springs home.

Related Articles