Leslie Winston (born May 13, 1957) is an American actress best known for playing Cindy, wife of Ben Walton, on the television seriesThe Waltons from 1979 to 1981.
Winston played the part of Cindy, wife of Ben Walton (played byEric Scott), in 42 episodes through the last 3 seasons of the series. Her debut on the show was in an episode called "The Outsider" (season 7, episode 20) in which Ben surprises the family by introducing them to his new wife Cindy, who is the episode's eponymous character.[1] Winston later played Cindy in four of the series reunion TV movies from 1982 to 1993. These wereA Wedding on Walton's Mountain (1982),Mother's Day on Walton's Mountain (1982),A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain (1982) andA Walton Thanksgiving Reunion (1993). She has also made earlier appearances onQuincy, M.E. (1976-1983 onNBC-TV) andL.A. Law (1986-1994, also onNBC).[2]
While filmingThe Waltons, television series and reunion made-for-TV films, Winston became a close friend of her TV family:Judy Norton ("Mary Ellen Walton Willard") andMary McDonough ("Erin Walton"), who played two of her sisters-in-law; the trio were known on the film set inCalifornia as "The Three Musketeers."[3] McDonough, who was a bridesmaid at Winston's wedding, stresses the strong bonds that were created among the series cast and states in her autobiography that they are not just like a family but "really are a family." She also describes Winston and Norton as "real sisters."[3]
Winston effectively retired as an actress a decade later in 1993, partly because of a broken elbow which incapacitated her for a year but mainly because she started her own family and wished to devote her time to raising her two daughters. Her husband is Bob Yannetti, an assistant TV director. She turned to the less demanding role ofdubbing and looping and has worked on shows likeAlly McBeal (1997-2002 onFox) andBoston Legal (2004-2008 onABC-TV).[4] Her husband worked as director on some episodes of the latter.[3]