Four decades since the Happy Days heyday, we take a look back at the cast that blew up our TV screens on the hit 1970s sitcom. Set in Milwaukee in the 1950s, the show centered around the Cunninghams—Howard and Marion, and their kids Richie and Joanie—the family who always looked on the brighter side of life.
The inimitable “Fonzie,” Joanie’s love interest Chachi, and friends Potsie and Ralph Malph completed the cast.
But where are they now?
Henry Winkler played Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli, the leather-clad James Dean of the show, and the fan favorite who made “eyyy” an immortal catchphrase.
After the show, Winkler established Fair Dinkum Productions and made numerous appearances in movies and TV shows like Arrested Development and Parks and Recreation. He has also penned a series of children’s books about a boy with dyslexia after opening up about his own diagnosis later in life. Winkler is godfather to Ron Howard’s daughter.
Tom Bosley played everybody’s dream dad, the ineffable Howard Cunningham, a typical, middle-class working father. Capable of a stern lecture when required, Mr. C was also a softie at heart.
Bosley achieved his greatest fame on Happy Days, to be sure, but had previously won a Tony for his performance in the Broadway musical Fiorello! and later guest starred in a huge number of TV shows, including Rugrats, ER, and That ‘70s Show. Tragically, Bosley passed away in 2010 after a long battle with lung cancer.
Erin Moran played Richie’s feisty sister Joanie Cunningham, the youngest member of the clan. She became romantically entangled with Fonzie’s cousin Chachi, and the couple married during the final season of Happy Days.
Moran continued acting before taking time out to care for her mother-in-law. Sadly, the actress died from complications arising from terminal throat cancer in April of 2017.
Ron Howard played the all-American redhead Richie Cunningham. Richie experienced high-jinks like any other young lad, but was the reliable, moral epicenter of the show. Howard moved away from acting after Happy Days to explore life behind the camera, achieving huge personal and professional success.
Howard eventually won the Academy Award for Best Director for A Beautiful Mind, starring Russell Crowe.
Marion Ross played the loveable matriarch Marion Cunningham, Richie’s mom. A dream mom to match Bosley’s dream dad, the loving, intelligent Mrs. C remained forever quietly in charge (even if Mr. C didn’t think so).
After Happy Days, Ross guest-starred on a number of shows, including the Golden Globe Award-winning Brooklyn Bridge. The actress was also nominated for an Emmy.
Scott Baio played Joanie’s sweetheart, Chachi Arcola, the show’s undeniable heartthrob. According to the Huffington Post, Baio received over 5,000 fan letters per day.
Baio went on to star in the TV sitcom Charles in Charge, which lasted five seasons, before adding to his acting credentials with guest appearance and a stint in reality TV. Brave man!
Don Most played Ralph Malph. He appeared in Charles in Charles (alongside Scott Baio) and ED TV (alongside Ron Howard) after Happy Days ended, and also enjoyed sporadic guest-starring roles.
Potsie was played by Anson Williams, who moved immediately into directing after the show ended, adding Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 90210, Baywatch, and Lizzie McGuire to his impressive resume.
