American actress who starred as Shirley Feeney on the series Laverne and Shirley from 1976 to 1983. She also portrayed Laurie Henderson in the hit 1973 coming of age film American Graffiti.

Before Fame

She debuted as an actress through a variety of commercials for Foster Grant sunglasses. She made her big screen debut in the 1970 Roger Corman film Gas-s-s-s.

Trivia

She co-produced the 1990s Steve Martin comedies Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride Part II.

Family Life

She married Bill Hudson in 1982, and the couple had a daughter in 1982 and a son in 1986 before separating in 2000.

Associated With

She auditioned for the role of Princess Leia in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, George Lucas' follow-up film to American Graffiti. Lucas, however, ended up casting Carrie Fisher for the part.