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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 24 april 2017
Erin Moran, Joanie Cunningham in “Happy Days,” dies at 56

BY HILLEL ITALIE included “The Love Boat” was set in Milwaukee and
AP National Writer and “Murder, She Wrote,” became a long-running hit.
NEW YORK (AP) — Erin Mo- but she never approached Howard and Winkler were
ran, the former child star the success of “Happy the show’s biggest stars,
who played Joanie Cun- Days” and was more often but the smiling, freckle-
ningham in the sitcoms in the news for her numer- faced Moran also became
“Happy Days” and “Joanie ous personal and financial popular.
Loves Chachi,” has died. struggles and was report- In 1982, she was paired off
She was 56. edly homeless at times. with fellow “Happy Days”
Moran was found dead “Such sad sad news. RIP performer Scott Baio in the
Saturday by emergency re- Erin,” Howard tweeted Sat- short-lived “Joanie Loves
sponders after a dispatcher urday. “I’ll always choose Chachi.” Moran returned
for the Harrison County, In- to remember you on our to “Happy Days” in 1984,
diana, sheriff’s department show making scenes bet- the show’s final season.
received a 911 call, the de- ter, getting laughs and “I would love to do a fea-
partment said. The cause lighting up TV screens.” ture (film), I’d love to do a
of death has not been Other “Happy Days” cast play,” she told CNN in 1981
determined. An autopsy is members included Tom when asked what she’d like
pending. Bosley and Marion Ross to do after “Happy Days.”
A Burbank, California, na- as Joanie’s parents and In 2011, she and Ross and
tive, Moran began acting Henry Winkler as the love- former “Happy Days” ac-
in TV and movies before able tough guy Arthur “The tors Anson Williams and
she was 10 years old. She Fonz” Fonzarelli. Donnie Most sued CBS, say-
had several years of expe- “What happened with all ing they were owed money
rience when she was cast of us was like we were this for merchandising related
in 1974 in “Happy Days” as family,” Moran told Xfinity to the show. The lawsuit
Joanie Cunningham, the in 2009. “It was so surreal was settled the following
kid sister to high school stu- with all the cast members. year.Moran told Xfinity that
dent Richie Cunningham, ... They were my family, get she had been working on In this Sept. 24, 2008 file photo, Erin Moran arrives at the Fox Re-
played by Ron Howard, it?” a memoir, called “Happy ality Channel Really Awards in Los Angeles.
who went on to become a Debuting at a time of nos- Days, Depressing Nights.” Associated Press
successful filmmaker. talgia for the seemingly in- “OH Erin... now you will fi- wanted so badly here on Saturday. “Rest In It serene-
Her more recent credits nocent 1950s, the sitcom nally have the peace you earth,” Winkler tweeted ly now.. too soon.”q