Where The Laverne & Shirley Actors Are Now — Are Lenny & Squiggy Still Alive?

The Happy Days spinoff Laverne & Shirleywas an era-defining sitcom during its 1976-1983 run, and many wonder what happened to the cast in the decades since the final episode. With a cast led by Penny Marshall as Laverne and Cindy Williams as Shirley, ever actor in Laverne & Shirley left their mark on the show - especially David L. Lander as Squiggy and Michael McKean as Lenny, the titular character’s hapless neighbors.

Given that so many years have passed since Laverne & Shirley was on the air, several of the original cast members of the Happy Days spinoff have since passed away. Many went on to have highly successful careers following the final Laverne & Shirley episode airing in 1983, whereas others stepped out of the limelight. Whether it’s Squiggy, Lenny, Laverne, or Shirley, every one of the Laverne & Shirley cast had an incredibly interesting career after the show concluded.

Cast Member	Laverne & Shirley Character	Born	Died
Michael McKean	Lenny Kosnowski	1947	-
David L. Lander	Andrew "Squiggy" Squiggman	1947	2020
Penny Marshall	Laverne DeFazio	1943	2018
Cindy Williams	Shirley Feeney	1947	2023
Eddie Mekka	Carmine "The Big Ragoo" Ragusa	1952	2021
Phil Foster	Frank DeFazio	1913	1985
Betty Garrett	Edna DeFazio	1919	2011
Leslie Easterbrook	Rhonda Lee	1949	-

Michael McKean As Lenny Kosnowski

The Only Surviving Original Laverne & Shirley Cast Member

Born October 17 1947

In Laverne & Shirley: Alongside David L. Lander as Squiggy, Michael McKean became a fan-favorite Laverne & Shirley cast member due to his hilarious performance as Lenny. An endearing oddball with a greaser dress sense, Lenny lived with Squiggy in the apartment above Laverne and Shirley’s. He appeared in almost every Laverne & Shirley episode except for season 8, which only included 5 episodes with Lenny due to Michael McKean filming This Is Spinal Tap.

Where Michael McKean Is Now: The only surviving original cast member from Laverne & Shirley, Michael McKean still has an active movie and TV career. At the time of writing, he’s working on Spinal Tap II, reprising his role as David St. Hubbins from the 1984 original. McKean has a number of notable roles beyond playing Lenny in Laverne & Shirley, including Chuck McGill in Better Call Saul (which earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2019).

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David L. Lander As Andrew “Squiggy” Squiggman

Died Aged 73 Due To Multiple Sclerosis Complications

Born June 22 1947, Died December 4 2020

In Laverne & Shirley: David L. Lander played Squiggy in Laverne & Shirley, one-half of the goofy duo with Michael McKean’s Lenny. His characteristic way of saying “hello” every time he entered a room became one of the defining running gags in the sitcom. He’s a greaser like Lenny too, and Lander’s chemistry with McKean helped to cement Squiggy as a fan-favorite character.

Where David L. Lander Is Now: After Laverne & Shirley concluded in 1983, David L. Lander had an incredibly active career on both big and small screens. While best known for playing Squiggy (a role he reprised in multiple other shows), he also had other notable roles including Elvis Kryzceswki in the 1990s crime show Pacific Blue. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the mid-1980s, David L. Lander sadly passed away from complications caused by the condition in 2020. He was aged 73 at the time.

Penny Marshall As Laverne DeFazio

Died Age 75 Due To A Cardiac Arrest

Born October 15 1943, Died December 17 2018

In Laverne & Shirley: Playing Laverne in Laverne & Shirley was a career-defining role for Penny Marshall. She first appeared as Laverne in an episode of Happy Days alongside Cindy Williams as Shirley, and the pair proved to be so popular that Laverne & Shirley was optioned as its own show shortly after. The no-nonsense Shirley was an incredibly endearing character, with viewers falling in love both with her sharp tongue and distinct Brooklyn accent.

Where Penny Marshall Is Now: Following Laverne & Shirley, Penny Marshall went on to have a hugely successful career, not only TV but in movies too. She was known just as much for her directing talents as well as acting, helming the likes of 1988’s Big with Tom Hanks and 1992’s A League of Their Own. Penny Marshall passed away in 2018 at age 75, with her death attributed to a cardiac arrest linked to cardiopulmonary failure and type 1 diabetes complications.

Cindy Williams As Shirley Feeney

Died Age 75 From A Short Illness

Born August 22 1947, Died January 25 2023

In Laverne & Shirley: Alongside Penny Marshall as Laverne, Cindy Williams’s appearance in Happy Days as Shirley helped secure the future of Laverne & Shirley as its own show. As a counterbalance to the tough-talking Laverne, Shirley was a happy-go-lucky and cheery individual (although also had a strong shy and sensitive side). Williams’s performance was especially notable when sharing scenes with Pat Carroll, who played Shirley’s mom, Lily, as the pair had impeccable chemistry.

Where Cindy Williams Is Now: Much like co-star Penny Marshall, being part of the Laverne & Shirley cast helped secure Cindy Williams a successful acting career - including on the big screen. Prior to Laverne & Shirley she had appeared in the likes of George Lucas’s American Graffiti in 1973, and Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation the following year. She was incredibly active until the 2010s, though from there she gradually took on few roles. Cindy Williams died at age 75 in 2023 following a short illness.

Eddie Mekka As Carmine “The Big Ragoo” Ragusa

Died Age 69 From Unknown Causes

Born June 14 1952, Died November 27 2021

In Laverne & Shirley: “The Big Ragoo” was the sporadic love interest of Cindy Williams’s Shirley, and the ambitious former boxing champion turned dancer was played to perfection by Eddie Mekka throughout Laverne & Shirley. While only credited as an “Also Starring” throughout the 8 seasons of the show, Carmine Ragusa was a Laverne & Shirley mainstay, appearing in 150 of the 178 episodes that aired.

Where Eddie Mekka Is Now: Laverne & Shirley was the debut role for actor Eddie Mekka, and while his career never reached to prominence of some of his co-stars, he found consistent work following its conclusion. He took on small parts in many well-known shows such as ER and It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia and also had a cameo in Penny Marshall’s A League of Their Own. Eddie Mekka died of unknown causes in 2021. 69 at the time, it’s known he was suffering from complications due to blood clots in the later years of his life, and it’s possible this contributed to him passing away.

Phil Foster As Frank DeFazio

Died Age 72 From A Heart Attack

Born March 29 1913, Died July 8 1985

In Laverne & Shirley: Phil Foster joined the Laverne and Shirley cast as Frank DeFazio, Laverne’s dad. Like his daughter, Frank had a sometimes explosive temper and is somewhat hot-headed, though he and Laverne have an incredibly close relationship due to him raising her as a single parent. Audiences also found him incredibly endearing due to being there for Shirley on multiple occasions, showing a sensitive side that his otherwise brash attitude keeps well concealed.

Where Phil Foster Is Now: One of the older Laverne & Shirley cast members, Phil Foster died only a few short years after the series concluded. He passed away due to a heart attack in 1985, and was aged 72 at the time. He didn’t take on any acting roles after Laverne and Shirley, though had appeared in multiple movies before it, such as 1955’s Conquest of Space and 1973’s Bang the Drum Slowly.

Betty Garrett As Edna DeFazio

Died Age 91 From An Aortic Aneurysm

Born May 23 1919, Died February 12 2011

In Laverne & Shirley: Betty Garrett joined the Laverne & Shirley cast from season 2 through to season 6. Lavern and Shirely’s landlady, Edna had been divorced 5 times before meeting and eventually marrying Laverne’s father, Frank. While she was a popular character, Garett had unfortunately taken on other roles when Laverne & Shirley was unexpectedly extended beyond season 6, meaning Edna and Frank’s marriage was cut short.

Where Betty Garrett Is Now: Like Phil Foster, Betty Garrett was one of the oldest Laverne & Shirley cast members. She had been an active presence on the screen and stage since 1938, and worked more-or-less continuously until she passed away in 2011. Betty Garrett was 91 when she died, with her passing attributed to an aortic aneurysm. Outside of Laverne & Shirley she was most known for playing Irene in All in the Family.

Leslie Easterbrook As Rhonda Lee

From Laverne & Shirley To Police Academy

Born 29 July 1949

In Laverne & Shirley: One of the later cast additions, Leslie Easterbrook starred in Laverne & Shirley’s Rhonda Lee from season 6 to season 8. Rhonda is Laverne and Shirley’s new neighbor after they relocate to Burbank. A somewhat airheaded and egocentric character, Easterbrook managed to make Rhonda one of the most hilarious presences on the show (especially given her tendency to refer to herself in the third person). Leslie Easterbrook appeared in 51 episodes of Laverne & Shirley, though despite not being present as long as some others, Rhonda remains one of the most memorable characters.

Where Leslie Easterbrook Is Now: Following the conclusion of Laverne & Shirley, Leslie Easterbrook moved on to her next career-defining role - Debbie Callahan in the 1984 comedy Police Academy. She went on to reprise the role in 5 Police Academy sequels, though this is far from the extent of her career. Notably, Easterbrook has found considerable success in the horror genre thanks to movies like 2007’s Halloween, 2011’s The Afflicted, and 2012’s Sorority Party Massacre.