Is The Cast Of Happy Days Still Alive – For 10 memorable years, Happy Days ruled the airwaves, and anyone who watched it could hum both of its hit songs (yes, there were two!). The sitcom follows the lives of a middle-class family in 1950s Milwaukee (via IMDb ), and its romantic nostalgia resonated with Nixon-era viewers. It features famous actors like Ron Howard, who had a small role on The Andy Griffith Show, and unknowns like Henry Winkler, who stole the show as the lovably fat Arthur “Fons” Fonzarelli.
After the show’s finale in 1984, the cast moved on to other projects and Howard became a well-known director. But the cast still remembers the series well, and many of them remain close friends to this day, especially Donnie Most and Anson Williams, who played Richie Cunningham’s friends Ralph and Potsy (via MetVi). Howard said that Winkler, who is 10 years his senior, is like a brother to him.
Is The Cast Of Happy Days Still Alive
Unfortunately, several cast members died during the years the show was off the air. Although he will be missed in future Happy Days reunions (the show’s 50th anniversary is in 2024), his appearances continue.
Happy Days’ Cast: Where Are They Now?
The main family of Happy Days is portrayed by father Howard Cunningham. A practical and businesslike hardware store owner can hope to keep his head during the chaos. Although the conservative Howard has little in common with the tough motorcyclist Fonzie, he comes to welcome him as a member of the family.
Howard Cunningham played Tom Bosley, then a Tony-winning Broadway star (for Fiorello!) and a popular actor in films like Yours, Mine and Ours. After a successful run on Happy Days, she returned to the stage with another famous father figure – Belle’s father, Maurice – as Beauty and the Beast. The Chicago-born actor has found success in other series, including Murder, She Wrote and The Dowling Mystery, in which a Jewish actor plays a Catholic priest (via the Los Angeles Times).
Bosley died of lung cancer in 2010. His former colleagues fondly remember the man they considered part of their family. “A great father and husband, as well as a wonderful entertainer, Tom led by example and made us all laugh while doing it,” said Ron Howard (via the Los Angeles Times). “My last conversations with Tom reflected the love of life and peace of mind he always had in a life full of love. I miss him already.”
Child actress Erin Moran plays Joanie Cunningham, Richie’s smart little sister. Throughout the ten years of the show, viewers have watched Johnny grow and become more important in the storyline. She eventually falls in love with Fonzie’s cousin Chachi Arcola (played by Scott Baio) and they both have their own sitcom, Johnny Loves Chachi. The newlyweds moved to Chicago to start their music careers. But it never found a fan base, and after two seasons it was closed. Moran and Baio returned to Happy Days for the final season, and the series ended with the couple getting married and presumably living happily ever after.
Cindy Williams Remembered By ‘happy Days’ Stars Ron Howard, Henry Winkler: Hollywood Mourns An Icon
Moran’s off-screen life was far from a fairy tale. After Happy Days ended, though she appeared in a few more TV shows, she suffered from depression that prevented her from continuing to work (via Mercury News ). Financial difficulties forced her and her second husband to move to a trailer park in Indiana, where she and her mother were evicted after struggling with alcoholism. In April 2017, first responders who responded to the call found Moran dead. After some time, it was discovered that the actress had stage 4 throat cancer, so she could not speak. She shared the secret with her close friends, including her former co-star Anson Williams. “Even though he’s not, he’s always making someone laugh on TV,” Williams told PEOPLE. “He leaves a legacy of good feelings and light to all who see him.”
Under the stage name “Pat”, Noriyuki Morita played Arnold Takahashi, the owner of Arnold’s Drive-In. Richie, Potsy, Ralph and their friends drank milk and talked heartily during dinner. (Fonzi also held court hearings in the boys’ room.) Arnold offered advice along with his hamburgers.
Morita overcame several challenges during his childhood, including a childhood bout with spinal tuberculosis that left him hospitalized for many years. By the time he was about to be released, World War II was underway and distrust of Japanese Americans was growing. Morita and his family spent time in camps until the end of the war. After working in data processing for several years, Morita decided to try his hand at it and landed roles in films and TV series such as Sanford, Son and M*A*S*H, before joining the cast of Happy Days. (Yahoo author).
The actor gained further fame as the karate teacher Mr. Miyagi in the 1984 film The Karate Kid. The role earned him an Oscar nomination, but it also marked the high point of his career. Morita has appeared in various films and TV series (Mulan, Robot Chicken), but the lack of representation of Asian actors in Hollywood has limited her opportunities. Unfortunately, the same thing happened with alcoholism. The actor’s struggles and death from liver failure in 2005 were the subject of a documentary called More than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story (via Yahoo).
Of Elvis Presley’s Most Emotional Songs Ended ‘happy Days’ 11 Season Run
Al Molinaro’s Happy Days has achieved something notable over the years. Molinaro, who appeared as a chef at Arnold’s Drive-In in the show’s second season, replaced Pat Morita as the restaurant’s owner in season four (via MeTV ). As Al Delvecchio, his facial expressions and signature breath (“aha-aha-aha”) endeared him to audiences. He married Louise, Chacha’s mother.
Molinaro was already an established character actor when he joined the series; One of his most popular roles was as police officer Murray in the 1970s television version of The Odd Couple. She got the role thanks to her acting classmate Penny Marshall, who introduced her to her producer brother Gary (via The Guardian ). The Wisconsin native praised the show’s attendance in Milwaukee and dismissed critics who dismissed “Happy Days” as “a bunch of gum shows.” He once said (via MeTV): “To the American public: ‘Happy days!’ “
After the show ended, Molinaro made numerous appearances in sitcoms and commercials, eventually retiring from acting in the early 90s. He and Anson Williams founded the Big Al’s restaurant chain in the Midwest, but apart from these adventures, the actor chose a quiet family life. He died in 2015 at the age of 96 from complications related to gallstones (via People).
Even Happy Days fans have to admit that not every episode is successful. Sometimes the writers used humorous subplots to entertain the audience, such as the infamous sequence where Fonzie soars above terrifying sea creatures on a water ski. To this day, it’s referred to as “jumping the shark” on glossy TV shows (via Rolling Stone). But perhaps the plot turned out to be a blessing for the then unknown audience.
The Final Episode Of Happy Days Aired On This Date In 1984.
In the episode “My Favorite Orkan,” Robin Williams plays a man who lands on Earth from a distant planet and can’t get back to Orkan with Richie Cunningham (via E! Online). But when Richie tries to share the news with his family and friends, they dismiss it as nonsense (via IMDb). The ratings of the episode were so good that the producers decided to make a car for Williams. The result: Mork & Mindy, a spinoff series that ran for four seasons and made Williams a household name.
Williams has starred in many films including The Hunt for Goodwill, Dead Poets Society, Lady Suspicious, Jumanji, Night at the Museum and the animated film Aladdin. Unfortunately, in midlife, the actor was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which damaged both his mind and body (via Vanity Fair). He committed suicide in August 2014 at the age of 63.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Where are they now? ‘That ’70s Show’ star sentenced to 30 years in prison for rape: What happened to him and the rest of the cast?
Hosts Bob Barker Dies at 99 at Hollywood Hills Home: The Most Famous Game Show Hosts of Recent Years
Happy Days’ Stars Reunite And Reminisce About Their Classic Series
Family drama Chrislace: A deep dive into prison sentences, family feuds, business scandals and more
Tool Time Find out who the “home improvement” stars are these days (and who they are).
Find out what your favorite child stars are up to where they are now
The latest success is seen by new visitors
