What happened to the cast of Happy Days? The actors then and now
Happy Days is one of the best American sitcoms of the 1970s. The TV series premiered on 15 January 1974 and ran until 1984, and its talented cast significantly contributed to its overall success. But what happened to the cast of Happy Days? Here is all about the cast members and where they are now.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- What happened to the cast of Happy Days?
- 1. Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham
- 2. Henry Winkler as Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli
- 3. Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham
- 4. Scott Baio as Chachi Arcola
- 5. Don Most as Ralph Malph
- 6. Anson Williams as Postie Weber
- 7. Erin Moran as Joanie Cunningham
- 8. Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham
- 9. Al Molinaro as Al Delvecchio
- 10. Cindy Williams as Shirley Feeney
- Where are the Happy Days actors now?
Happy Days is an ABC network sitcom created by Garry Marshall. It tells the story of the Cunningham family, which consists of a father, mother, and two children, who lived through the 1950s with the help and guidance of a lovable and almost superhuman greater, Fonzie. After the TV series ended in 1984, many have wondered where the cast of Happy Days is now.
What happened to the cast of Happy Days?
Where is the Happy Days cast now? After the show ended, some continued acting while others pursued other ventures. Here is the main cast of Happy Days and what they are up to now.
1. Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham
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- Full name: Ronald William Howard
- Date of birth: 1 March 1954
- Place of birth: Duncan, Oklahoma, United States
- Profession: Director, producer, screenwriter, actor
Ron portrayed Richie Cunningham in the seven seasons of Happy Days. He later returned as a guest star in the final season. Ron began acting at age five, appearing in The Journey. After leaving the show in 1980, he became a Hollywood producer, director, and writer. His major works include Jim Henson: Idea Man, Genius, Boss Bear, and The Break.
2. Henry Winkler as Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli
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- Full name: Henry Franklin Winkler
- Date of birth: 30 October 1945
- Place of birth: Manhattan, New York, United States
- Profession: Actor, producer, director, author
Henry Winkler was originally to play a minor role; however, his prowess in acting captured millions around the globe, and he was given the lead role in later seasons. He earned two Golden Globe Awards for his role as Fonzie in the show.
Henry is still in the film industry and has been featured in several films and TV series. He is known for starring in Monsters at Work, Barry, and Arrested Development. He is also an author, having written several memoirs such as Being Henry: The Fonz...and Beyond and I've Never Met an Idiot on the River.
3. Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham
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- Full name: Marion Ross
- Date of birth: 25 October 1928
- Place of birth: Watertown, Minnesota, United States
- Profession: Actress
Marion Ross was among the Happy Days cast members. Before portraying Marion Cunningham in Happy Days, Ross appeared in several TV shows and films throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. She appeared in all the 11 seasons of Happy Days.
After the TV series ended, she appeared in other films and TV shows, such as The Drew Carey Show and Gilmore Girls. She has also worked as a voice actress in animated hits such as Handy Manny and SpongeBob SquarePants.
4. Scott Baio as Chachi Arcola
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- Full name: Scott Vincent Baio
- Date of birth: 22 September 1960
- Place of birth: New York, New York, United States
- Profession: Actor, director
Scott Baio joined Happy Days in its fifth season, where he starred as Chachi Arcola. Since the show ended, he has been featured in films and TV series, including Finish Line, Big Time Rush, and The Bread, My Sweet. He has not been into acting since 2021. Scott also worked as a film director in TV series such as The Parkers and Charles in Charge.
5. Don Most as Ralph Malph
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- Full name: Don Most
- Date of birth: 8 August 1953
- Place of birth: Brooklyn, New York, United States
- Profession: Actor, director, producer, musician
Don Most portrayed Ralph Malph in the first seven seasons of Happy Days. He later appeared as a guest star in the show's final season. Afterwards, he was featured in films and TV shows such as Leo and Loree, Star Trek: Voyager, and the sitcom Charles in Charge.
He was also a voice actor in Dungeons & Dragons, Family Guy, and Teen Wolf. The American actor got into music and released his debut album, Donny Most, in 1976. In 2016, he released a Christmas album called Swinging Down The Chimney Tonight.
6. Anson Williams as Postie Weber
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- Full name: Anson Williams
- Date of birth: 25 September 1949
- Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
- Profession: Actor, director, producer, entrepreneur
Anson Williams starred in all the 11 seasons of Happy Days as Potsie Weber. After the TV series ended, he landed a few acting roles. Anson later focused on directing and producing. He has directed TV shows such as The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Sons & Daughters, and Clueless.
Anson also ventured into business. He and Happy Days co-star Al Molinaro launched a restaurant, Big Al's, and he founded a cosmetic brand, Starmaker Products. In 2022, the actor tried his luck in politics and ran for Mayor of Ojai, California, although he failed.
7. Erin Moran as Joanie Cunningham
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- Full name: Erin Marie Moran-Fleischmann
- Date of birth: 18 October 1960
- Date of death: 22 April 2017
- Place of birth: Burbank, California, United States
- Profession: Actress
Erin is a Happy Days cast who died in 2017. At age five, she appeared in a commercial for First Federal Bank. At six, she landed a role in the CBS series Daktari. The American actress joined Happy Days in its first season at 13 and was cast in all the seasons. She also appeared in the spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi.
Afterwards, she starred in films and TV shows such as Glitter, Murder, She Wrote, and Not Another B Movie. She stopped acting in 2010 and relocated to her mother-in-law's home in Indiana. Erin struggled financially, which led her to the abuse of illegal substances, depression, and being homeless. She died in April 2017 at the age of 56 due to complications from throat cancer.
8. Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham
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- Full name: Thomas Edward Bosley
- Date of birth: 1 October 1927
- Date of death: 19 October 2010
- Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Profession: Actor
Tom Bosley began his career in Broadway plays such as Fiorello and Beauty and the Beast. He portrayed Howard Cunningham in all the seasons of Happy Days. After the show, he continued acting and has been featured in over 150 films and TV shows.
He also worked as a voice-over actor, having voiced characters on Betsy's Kindergarten Adventures, Santa Buddies, and Legend of the Candy Cane. Tom passed away in 2010 in Palm Springs, California, USA, after a brief battle with lung cancer.
9. Al Molinaro as Al Delvecchio
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- Full name: Albert Francis Molinaro
- Date of birth: 24 June 1919
- Date of death: 30 October 2015
- Place of birth: Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States
Al Molinaro joined Happy Days in its fourth season and left the show after its ninth season to appear in the spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi. He returned as a guest star in the final two seasons. After the TV show, he landed several commercial roles, such as The Family Man, Step by Step, and Weezer: Buddy Holly.
He passed away in October 2015 at the age of 96. He suffered from bad gallstones, and he chose not to have surgery due to his age.
10. Cindy Williams as Shirley Feeney
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- Full name: Cynthia Jane Williams
- Date of birth: 22 August 1947
- Date of death: 25 January 2023
- Place of birth: Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Profession: Actress, author
Actress Cindy Williams, who portrayed Shirley Feeney, began her acting career after college. Before landing a role in Happy Days, she starred in TV shows like My World and Welcome to It, Barefoot in the Park, and Room 222.
She played alongside her roommate in the show Laverne De Fazio. Their roles earned them immense fame, earning their spinoff show, Laverne & Shirley. She continued acting and has been featured in movies and TV series such as Sami, The Odd Couple, and Peter at the End.
Cindy wrote a memoir titled Shirley, I Jest!: A Storied Life, which was published in September 2017. She passed away after a short illness on 25 January 2023.
Where are the Happy Days actors now?
While Tom Bosley, Erin Moran, Cindy Williams and Al Molinaro have passed away, the rest of the actors continue working in their respective fields. Some are still active in the acting industry, while others have moved on to do different things.
Are you wondering "what happened to the Happy Days cast" after the show ended? Some progressed with acting, while others opted for other non-acting ventures. Sadly, four of its cast members have also passed away.
Legit.ng recently published an article about the Married With Children cast. Married With Children is an American sitcom that explores the Bundy family's humorous struggles with financial woes, parenting challenges, and marital discord.
Married With Children first aired in 1987 with 11 seasons and 259 episodes. Some crew on the Married With Children include Ed O'Neill, Katey Sagal, David Faustino, and David Garrison. Read the article to know their whereabouts now.
Source: Legit.ng
