Happy Days – Then and Now

A recent article about Happy Days dad, Tom Bosley, and the accompanying picture, got me to thinking. Just how is the old gang doing these days? At 80 years old, Tom is still acting and apparently keeping pretty busy at it.

"It's what still drives me," he said in a statement issued to the cable channel. "I want to prove to myself that I can still do it."

While no doubt the most successful of the old Happy Days cast, I dare say he got the short end of the stick when it came to aging well. Ah well, one can't have everything. Ronnie, who played Ritchie Cunningham, went on to a booming career as a big-time Hollywood director.

In contrast, Don Most, aka Ralph "Malph" (Malph seems to be the only "last name" provided for Ralph) seems to have had the least exposure since leaving Happy Days. He does, or perhaps did, some voice-over work as well as appearing in the likes of CHiPs, The Love Boat and other such TV fodder.

I think Anson Williams may have aged the best out of the cast. Williams played Warren "Potsie" Webber (who comes up with these nicknames? Jeeze) Anson was one of the few original cast members to remain with the show until it died a much undignified death in 1984. He's gone on to have a successful career as a television director.

I was very disappointed the first time I saw and heard Henry Winkler act in a non-Happy Days role. He sounded like such a fembot, nothing like the cool Arthur Fonzarelli Brian and I so admired. More Gaay than Aaay. Winkler has continued acting in small film and television roles as well as trying his hand at directing and producing.

Erin played ugly kid sister, Joanie Cunningham who grew up to be ugly woman, Erin Moran. OK, there were better, prettier pictures of her out there, but I'd rather post the dog shot. After Happy Days and the thankfully short-lived Joanie Loves Chachi, Moran made the rounds of the late 70's early 80's crap television shows (can you say The Love Boat?). Apparently she also appeared on an episode of the Maury Povich Show where she made claims of having been "molested" by several male cast members. No evidence was provided and she apparently disappeared after a return from a commercial break. Beautiful.

Marion Ross was of course, the dingy, yet devoted archetypal 1950's housewife, Mrs. C. Ross has done everything from Burns and Allen to Broadway. Personally, I recall her turn as come-hither "girl doctor", Dr. Porter, on an early episode of the Brady Bunch. She played opposite Herbert Anderson's "boy doctor", Dr. Cameron, aka Mr. Mitchell on Dennis the Menace.

And for the proverbial pull out of the ass, I give you Gavan O'Herlihy who played Ritchie's basketball playing older brother Chuck Cunningham. O'Herlihy only appeared on a few of the early episodes from 1974. Not wanting to get trapped in television, he left the show to pursue a film career. And while he appears to have kept busy, you could hold a gun to my head and I still couldn't name one role he's played.

There were others; Chachi, Leather and Pinky Tuscadero, Al and Arnold. But I've grown bored and I'm sure you have too.

Comments

[HeyJoe]

No doubt, Moog. One might call her Dr. Porker. In fact, I just did.

[moooooog35]

Marion Ross is a super cougar...I'll guarantee you she has a supply or rubber masks and ball gags in her nightstand.

..at least..

..that's how she appears in my dreams.

[Cookiebitch]

Okay, first of all, I always thought it was Ralph "Mouth." But then I fuck up the lyrics to most 80s songs too.

Second, I have to say out of everyone, Mrs. C has aged the best.

Third, I always thought Erin was one ugly broad too. When I was growing up I could never figure out why Chachi never ditched her to do me. But then again, where the fuck is Chachi these days? Reality TV? Yah ... glad I dodged that bullet.