What were Shirley's reasons for leaving Laverne and Shirley?

Shirley Feeney had multiple reasons for leaving Laverne and Shirley. The first and most obvious was because of the change to the sitcom's format. After the show’s initial five-season run, the series moved from Milwaukee to Hollywood, which caused a shift in tone and focus. The show was no longer about the two female roommates living in an apartment building, but rather about their outlandish exploits as they attempted to make it in Hollywood. This change in direction did not sit well with Cindy Williams, who portrayed Shirley, and she decided to leave the show in 1982.

The second reason Shirley left Laverne and Shirley was due to her personal life. At the time, Williams was married to Bill Hudson and had two children, one born in 1979 and the other in 1981. As her personal life and family began to take priority, she decided it was time to leave the show and focus on her family.

The third and final reason Shirley left Laverne and Shirley was due to a salary dispute. Williams and her co-star Penny Marshall were both paid far less than their male counterparts, and in 1982, Williams decided to take a stand and demand a raise. Unfortunately, the show’s producers rejected her demands and she was eventually forced out of the show. Thus, Shirley’s exit from Laverne and Shirley was due to a combination of personal, professional and financial reasons.