The cast ofHappy Days.Photo: ABC via Getty
The nine-timeEmmy-nominated series had a revolving door of guest stars on the show, but its core cast largely remained the same over its run. Howard left after the seventh season to pursue his filmmaking career, but Winkler and company kept the show going … eventually (and quite literally)jumping the shark.
Soaked in nostalgia,Happy Dayswas the launching pad for its young cast and spun off into several other successful series (includingLaverne & Shirley,Mork & MindyandJoanie Loves Chachi).
Here’s where the stars ofHappy Daysare today.
01of 09
Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham
ABC via Getty;
Howard already had quite the résumé before joining theHappy Dayscast as lead Richie Cunningham: He’d been onThe Andy Griffith ShowandThe Smith Family, to name a few credits. He starred on the first seven seasons ofHappy Days, and returned as a guest star for a few episodes in the final season.
Howard married writerCheryl Alleyin 1975, and together they have four children, including actor-directorBryce Dallas Howard.
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Henry Winkler as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli
Since breaking hearts as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli onHappy Days, Winkler hasn’t slowed down. “The Fonz” was initially a secondary character, but he became so popular that he became the focus of the series in later seasons. Winkler received two Golden Globe awards for playing Fonzie.
Winkler has been married to wifeStacey Weitzmansince 1978 and has two adult children (son Max is an actor) and a stepson with her.
03of 09Marion Ross as Marion CunninghamABC via Getty;BelovedHappy Daysmatriarch Marion Ross, who played Marion Cunningham, joinedThe Love Boatlike several other members of theHappy Dayscast did after their hit series ended.Though she earned a steady string of credits through the ’80s and ’90s, includingThe Drew Carey ShowandGilmore Girls, she later focused on her work as a voice actress on animated hits likeSpongeBob SquarePantsandHandy Manny.She has been nominated for five PrimetimeEmmy Awardsover the course of her career and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in the 1996 filmThe Evening Star. In 2018, Ross said sheretired from acting. However, she has continued to appear in various projects, including the 2021 filmSenior Entourage.She and husband of 18 years Freeman Meskimen divorced in 1969; together they have two children, who both have ties to Hollywood.
03of 09
Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham
BelovedHappy Daysmatriarch Marion Ross, who played Marion Cunningham, joinedThe Love Boatlike several other members of theHappy Dayscast did after their hit series ended.
Though she earned a steady string of credits through the ’80s and ’90s, includingThe Drew Carey ShowandGilmore Girls, she later focused on her work as a voice actress on animated hits likeSpongeBob SquarePantsandHandy Manny.She has been nominated for five PrimetimeEmmy Awardsover the course of her career and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in the 1996 filmThe Evening Star. In 2018, Ross said sheretired from acting. However, she has continued to appear in various projects, including the 2021 filmSenior Entourage.
She and husband of 18 years Freeman Meskimen divorced in 1969; together they have two children, who both have ties to Hollywood.
04of 09
Scott Baio as Chachi Arcola
Scot Baiorose to fame as Erin Moran’sHappy Dayslove interest, Chachi Arcola, joining the series in the fifth season. He later starred with Moran on the spin-off,Joanie Loves Chachi.
Baio was the subject of the 2007 reality seriesScott Baio Is 45 … and Singlebefore marryingRenée Sloanlater that year. Together, the couple has a daughter, Bailey.
05of 09
Don Most as Ralph Malph
Off-camera, Most has been married to actress Morgan Hart since 1982; the couple has two daughters.
06of 09Anson Williams as Potsie WeberABC via Getty;Anson Williams, who played Potsie Weber on all 11 seasons ofHappy Days, has had few acting roles after the series ended in 1984. Williams opted to direct instead, stepping behind the camera onMelrose Place,Beverly Hills, 90210,Baywatch,Sabrina the Teenage Witch,Charmed,Lizzie McGuireandThe Secret Life of the AmericanTeenager. He also had a brief foray into politics,running unsuccessfully for mayor of Ojai, Calif.in 2022.Williams' first wife, Lorrie Mahaffey, was aHappy Dayscostar; together they have one child. He married Jackie Gerken, with whom he has four children, in 1988, but filed for divorce in 2019.
06of 09
Anson Williams as Potsie Weber
Anson Williams, who played Potsie Weber on all 11 seasons ofHappy Days, has had few acting roles after the series ended in 1984. Williams opted to direct instead, stepping behind the camera onMelrose Place,Beverly Hills, 90210,Baywatch,Sabrina the Teenage Witch,Charmed,Lizzie McGuireandThe Secret Life of the AmericanTeenager. He also had a brief foray into politics,running unsuccessfully for mayor of Ojai, Calif.in 2022.
Williams' first wife, Lorrie Mahaffey, was aHappy Dayscostar; together they have one child. He married Jackie Gerken, with whom he has four children, in 1988, but filed for divorce in 2019.
07of 09Erin Moran as Joanie CunninghamErin Moranwas best known for her work as Joanie Cunningham onHappy Daysand later, the spin-offJoanie Loves Chachi.The actress had a handful of acting credits beyondHappy Daysbut spent her later years taking care of her mother-in-law in a trailer park in Corydon, Ind., where she lived with her second husband afterstruggling with fame and finances.Moran passed awayat age 56 on April 22, 2017, of complications stemmingfrom stage 4 cancer.“Erin was a person who made everyone around her feel better,” costar Anson Williamssaid in a statement. “She truly cared about others first, a true angel.”
07of 09
Erin Moran as Joanie Cunningham
Erin Moranwas best known for her work as Joanie Cunningham onHappy Daysand later, the spin-offJoanie Loves Chachi.The actress had a handful of acting credits beyondHappy Daysbut spent her later years taking care of her mother-in-law in a trailer park in Corydon, Ind., where she lived with her second husband afterstruggling with fame and finances.
Moran passed awayat age 56 on April 22, 2017, of complications stemmingfrom stage 4 cancer.
“Erin was a person who made everyone around her feel better,” costar Anson Williamssaid in a statement. “She truly cared about others first, a true angel.”
08of 09
Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham
Tom Bosleyplayed patriarch Howard Cunningham and appeared in every episode of the series. After jumping fromHappy DaystoThe Love Boat, Bosley moved on toMurder, She WroteandFather Dowling Mysteries.Bosley also found success in voice-over work for animation, voicing the titular character onThe World of David the Gnomeand Jupiter onJason and the Heroes of Mount Olympus.
Though he’s known for his screen work, Bosley’s first love was theater: He won a Tony in 1960 for his work inFiorello!on Broadway and originated the role of Maurice in Disney’s Broadway production ofBeauty and the Beastin 1994.
09of 09
Al Molinaro as Al Delvecchio
As beloved diner owner Al Delvecchio, Al Molinaro also played his character’s twin brother, the priest Father Anthony Delvecchio. He got into acting later in life, following careers in collections and real estate, and got theHappy Daysgig (joining the cast in the fourth season) through improv classmate Penny Marshall, who reportedly introduced him to her brother, series creator Garry. He left the series after season nine to star in the spinoffJoanie Loves Chachi, but returned as a guest star in the final two seasons ofHappy Days.
Molinaro only had one major role post-Happy Days —on the one-season seriesThe Family Man —though he continued appearing in commercials for the rest of his life.
source: people.com
