Character Arc
Shirley Feeney is the optimistic, idealistic counterpart to her best friend and roommate Laverne. Prim, romantic, and a believer in good manners and propriety, Shirley works alongside Laverne at the Shotz Brewery while dreaming of love, marriage, and respectability. Her cheerful disposition and occasional naivety play off Laverne's tougher, more cynical streak, and the chemistry between the two leads forms the heart of the series.
Shirley is devoted to her stuffed cat, Boo Boo Kitty, and frequently finds herself entangled in the schemes and misadventures she shares with Laverne. Although kindhearted and well-meaning, she can be stubborn and easily flustered, traits that fueled many of the show's comic set pieces. Over the years Shirley pursued various romances, including a recurring relationship with Carmine Ragusa, a neighbor with show-business ambitions.
Cindy Williams portrayed Shirley from the premiere through most of the series. Williams left the show early in its final season, and Shirley was written out as having married and moved away with a military husband. Her departure marked a significant change for the program, which continued briefly centered on Laverne. The Laverne and Shirley partnership remains one of the most celebrated female comic duos in American television history.