Back in the mid-1970s, when Cindy Williams and the late Penny Marshall stepped into their iconic roles as Shirley Feeney and Laverne DeFazio on the beloved ABC sitcom Laverne & Shirley, their relationship wasn’t exactly the picture of Hollywood besties. But over the years, their bond transformed into something truly special. "We went through everything — friendship, not friendship. There were times when we were adversarial, and then we'd be friends again," Cindy, now 71, reminisced in Closer Weekly’s latest issue, currently available on newsstands. "But no matter what, we always knew how to make the audience laugh. If it made us laugh out loud, we knew the audience would too."

From Screen Partners to Lifelong Friends

Even with their ups and downs, Cindy and Penny shared an undeniable chemistry that shone brightly onscreen. "We both thought in cartoon terms when it came to comedy. We were physically agile and expressive, and we just clicked from day one," Cindy explained. Their ability to connect and work together seamlessly was a key ingredient in the show's success. Despite their differences, they always managed to bring the house down with their hilarious antics.

Behind the Scenes: The Hard Work and Creativity

Cindy has often spoken about the incredible experience of working on Laverne & Shirley for eight seasons, from 1976 to 1983. "We had so much fun with such a creative group of people. It was a great, albeit grueling, time because it was such hard work. We were constantly on the move, never sitting down," she shared. The show was a whirlwind of creativity and energy, and Cindy and Penny were at the heart of it all.

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Work Ethic and Dedication

Eddie Mekka, who played the beloved Carmine "The Big Ragoo" Ragusa, noticed the impressive work ethic of the duo. "Cindy and Penny wore many hats. They had to ensure their scripts worked perfectly. They were under a lot of pressure — when the rest of us went home, they stayed late to write and rehearse. We’d go home to our lives and come back the next day at 10 o'clock, but they’d been there since 1 or 2 in the morning," the 66-year-old actor recalled. Their dedication was nothing short of extraordinary.

Michael McKean, who portrayed Lenny Kosnowski on the series, also fondly remembers Cindy and Penny. "It was great to see these two women, so different yet always supporting each other," Michael, 71, said. Their camaraderie was evident both on and off the screen.