Laverne is your basic plain-Jane with an attitude. She
is outspoken and lacking formal education, though she is pretty street-wise.
Laverne is a bit of a hot-head, too, but that's her natural defense mechanism.
More than anything, she wants not to be a "bimbo," and to find some nice
guy who will take her away from her workaday existence as a bottle-capper
at Shotz Brewery. She is Shirley's oldest and best friend, and there is
nothing she wouldn't do for her (except, maybe, stop drinking milk and
Pepsi).
Shirley is the more naive of the two bottle-capping
roomies. Shirley is cute, and has a constant male companion in Carmine,
but won't let anything interfere with her staunch values. She is on the
prissy side, and is very concerned about her reputation. Shirley will
share her bed with no one but her Boo-Boo Kitty doll until she is married.
The yin to Laverne's yang, in a lot of ways, Shirley is Laverne's conscience,
keeping her best pal out of trouble by reminding her of how to be a "lady."
Lenny & Squiggy
They are the male counterparts to Laverne and Shirley. Lenny and Squiggy
have known each other practically their whole lives, and share an apartment
up above Laverne and Shirley. They're a couple of greaser types who always
have some sort of scheme up their sleeves. Lenny is not unlike Shirley,
and is the more naive of the two; not too bright, but sincere and caring.
Squiggy is a little bit like Laverne; outspoken and hot-tempered. Lenny
and Squiggy have a rough exterior, but are great pals who also help Laverne
and Shirley into and out of a lot of jams.
Carmine Ragusa
Also known as "The Big Ragoo," Carmine is a big part of Laverne and Shirley's
life. Shirley is his "best girl," and although he is frustrated that Shirley
will not commit, he also enjoys his freedom to date other women. He is
always there for the girls, whether he is helping them out of a jam or
singing for them with his fabulous tenor voice. Carmine really shines
when he performs -- either with the girls in a Shotz Brewery talent show or while
singing at the Pizza Bowl.
Frank DeFazio
Frank is Laverne's loving father. He raised Laverne on his own after
his wife died, and did his best to raise his little girl right. He's no
Harvard graduate, but he is smart in matters of the heart, and always
looks out for his "Little Muffin." He is the owner of the Pizza Bowl,
which makes him an honest and decent living.
Edna Babbish DeFazio
When we first meet Edna Babish, she is the widowed manager of Laverne
and Shirley's apartment building. A bit cynical, she always forces her
optimistic tenants to look at things realistically. Edna eventually falls
in love with Laverne's pop, Frank, and they ultimately move to Los Angeles
and open their own Western bar, Cowboy Bob's.
Rhonda Lee
Rhonda is one of the first people Laverne and Shirley meet when they
move to Los Angeles. She is a self-centered wannabe starlet, and a bit
of a thorn in Laverne and Shirley's sides. She's blonde and beautiful
and more than a little obnoxious.
Back to Cowboy Bob's!