Real-Life Couples of 'Laverne and Shirley': Who Married Who?

In its third season, Happy Days was a ratings juggernaut and one of the biggest shows on television. But things were destined to get even bigger when the show aired "A Date with Fonzie," which had the Fonz (Henry Winkler) and Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) double date with Laverne DeFazio (Penny Marshall) and Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams).

"It proved to be one of Happy Days' most impactful episodes," observes Brian Levant and Fred Fox Jr. in their new book, 50 Years of Happy Days: A Visual History of An American Television Classic. "The studio audience went wild for the raucous humor and physicality of Laverne and Shirley. [Creator/executive producer] Garry Marshall immediately pushed Paramount and ABC to commit to shooting a short pilot 'presentation.'"

It worked, and Laverne and Shirley, looking at the comic misadventures of its leading ladies, aired from 1976 to 1983 and spent two of its eight seasons as the highest-rated show on television. It also introduced a new ensemble of characters, including Michael McKean as Lenny, David Lander as Squiggy and Eddie Mekka as Shirley's sometimes boyfriend, Carmine Ragusa. Through it all, the characters not only found themselves in outrageous situations, but pursued romance to varying degrees of success. Well, the latter was true of the show's cast as well, and what follows is a look back at their real-life relationships and marriages.

From what 1960s sitcom would you like to meet the real-life couples?

Penny Marshall and Michael Henry

Penny Marshall (Laverne DeFazio) met her first husband, college football player Michael Henry, while in college. She left school at the age of 20 and married Henry in 1963. The following year, she gave birth to their daughter, Tracy (who would eventually be adopted by the actress' second husband, Rob Reiner). The marriage only lasted three years, with the couple getting divorced in 1967. It's been reported that Henry worked in education and would go on to serve as the executive director of the Special Olympics. He passed away in 2009.

Penny Marshall and Rob Reiner

On April 10, 1971, Marshall married Rob Reiner, an actor, writer and director and, of course, the son of comedian and producer Carl Reiner. This was the year that Reiner began playing Mike "Meathead" Stivic on All in the Family, and she would star in Laverne and Shirley several years later. Reiner would, as noted, eventually adopt Tracy, but the marriage unfortunately ended in 1981. They were  the grandparents of five.

1977

(Original Caption) Rob Reiner and his wife, Penny Marshall, are shown at a belated wedding reception for his TV wife, Sally Struthers. Sally Struthers and Dr. William C. Radler were married on December 18, 1977. Reiner and Ms. Struthers play husband and wife in the TV series, All in the Family. Penny Marshall co-stars on the TV series, Laverne and Shirley.

1980

In the mid-1980s, Penny Marshall and Art Garfunkel (formerly partnered with Paul Simon as Simon & Garfunkel) engaged in a brief romance. At the time, Garfunkel was dealing with a severe bout of depression and has credited her with helping him through it. Penny Marshall died on December 17, 2018, at age 75.

Cindy Williams and Bill Hudson

In 1982, Cindy Williams (Shirley Feeney) married musician and actor Bill Hudson (formerly of The Hudson Brothers band, for which he collaborated with his two younger brothers). In 1982, she gave birth to their daughter, Emily Hudson; and in 1986, their son, Zachary Hudson. On top of that, she became stepmother to Hudson's children with Goldie Hawn, Kate and Oliver Hudson. They divorced in 2000, and Williams died on January 25, 2023 at 75.

Michael McKean and Susan Russell

In 1970, actor Michael McKean (Lenny Kosnowski) married Susan Russell, who he had been dating for about a year before they did so. Together until their divorce in 1993 they are parents to Colin McKean, born in 1976, and Fletcher McKean, born in 1985. Tragically, Colin died of a heroin overdose in 2012 at the age of 36.

Michael McKean and Annette O'Toole

McKean met actress Annette O'Toole when the two of them co-starred in Final Justice, a movie made for Lifetime. Drawing closer throughout production, they began dating and got married in March 1999, his becoming stepfather to O'Toole's two children from a previous marriage. Beyond Final Justice, the duo appeared in episodes of Boy Meets World (1999), Law & Order (2000) and he appeared in an episode of the series Smallville, portraying future Daily Planet editor Perry White, while O'Toole had a regular role as Clark Kent's mother, Martha.

2012

Annette O'Toole and Michael McKean attend the opening night of A Streetcar Named Desire at The Broadhurst Theatre on April 22, 2012 in New York City.

2024

Michael McKean and Annette O'Toole attend the New York Premiere of Netflix's The Diplomat Season 2 at The Plaza Hotel on October 28, 2024 in New York City.

David Lander and Kathy Fields

David Lander (Andrew "Squiggy" Squiggman) was married twice. His first wife was Thea Markus, who he wed in 1970. They were only together for six years before divorcing, and there's not a lot known about their relationship.

In March 1979, he married actress Kathy Fields, who he was with until the time of his death in 2020 at the age of 73. They have a daughter named Natalie, who also became an actress. By all reports, Kathy helped Lander through his struggles with multiple sclerosis, which he was diagnosed with in 1984, but didn't mention publicly until 1999.

Eddie Mekka and DeeLee Lively

Eddie Mekka (Carmine Ragusa) was married twice, the first time to Broadway actress and singer DeLee Lively. They were married in 1983 and were together until 1992, the two of them having been united by their mutual love for the arts.

Eddie Mekka and Yvonne Grace

Yvonne Marie Grace became Eddie Mekka's second wife in 1994, and the couple became parents to daughter Mia Mekjian, who would be inspired by her father to become a singer, actor and dancer in her own right. Mekka and Young were together until the time of his death in November 2021 at 69.

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