Richie Cunningham was the original star of the show, playing the second son of Howard and Marion Cunningham. He was a perfect example of an all-American teenager—wholesome while getting into trouble occasionally. It was fun to watch him chase and try to land potential girlfriends.
When he became angry or annoyed with someone, he would call them "bucko". He messed up when he called his father "bucko" once. He quickly apologized. Richie was also a writer. He first wrote for the Jefferson High Bugle and then became a cub reporter for the Milwaukee Journal. He wanted to eventually go to law school and become a lawyer.
Today, you can find Richie—Ron Howard—directing films, including the most recently released Hillbilly Elegy in 2020. Being in his late sixties, Howard’s looks have changed a bit, but he is still unmistakably the young man from Happy Days.
Besides directing films, he’s also a producer, screenwriter, and still actor. He left Happy Days in 1980 to pursue these endeavors and has seen great success. He gained widespread praise for Apollo 13 and directed films such as A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, and The Da Vinci Code, along with many others.
Warren “Potsie” Weber, played by Anson Williams, was a close friend of Richie and Ralph Malph. He was portrayed as not being very bright, gullible, and socially awkward. He was frequently called a nerd. However, he was a very talented singer, which audiences saw more of in later seasons.
You could often find him at Arnold’s Drive-In. He didn’t have a great relationship with his father, which was a small running joke on the show. He was an all-around compassionate guy who was usually the first to apologize when he makes a mistake. He was a good friend!
Williams not only played Potsie—for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor-Series, Miniseries, or TV Film—but he also played several other characters throughout his career and made guest appearances on shows like Love, American Style and Laverne & Shirley.
He is now 72 but still an active part of society. He became a prominent TV director, working on shows like Melrose Place, Beverly Hills, 90210, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Lizzie McGuire, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Wow! Also, on July 7, 2022, Williams announced he would be running for the position of Mayor of Ojai, California.
Marion Cunningham, played by Marion Ross, is the wife of Howard Cunningham and mother of Richie. She’s also one of three characters to remain on the show for all 11 seasons. She is a housewife and is usually seen doing stereotypical housewife things like cooking, cleaning, and raising the kids.
She sometimes played the role of a surrogate mother to Fonzie, who called her “Mrs. C”. While she was the typical housewife, she still had depth about her. In one episode, she has a falling out with her husband because she’s frustrated with the housewife life. In another, she’s worried Howard might leave her for a younger woman. She even goes to jail in one episode!
Marion’s best-known role remains that of her role on Happy Days. She received two Primetime Emmy nominations for her performance. She played several other small roles in TV and film, going so far as to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress for The Evening Star.
She has done numerous voice-over jobs for shows like King of the Hill and SpongeBob SquarePants. Marion remained active in filmography until 2021, when she played her final role as Marion in Senior Entourage before retiring. Approaching her mid-90s, we believe her retirement is well-deserved!
Tom Bosley played the role of Howard Cunningham, the husband of Marion and father of Richie. He is one of only two characters to appear in all 255 Happy Days episodes and remain with the rest of the cast for all 11 seasons.
In Howard’s youth, he was a cook in the Army. When he got older, he became the owner of Cunningham Hardware, living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his family. He was written to give off the all-American 1950’s father. We think he nailed it.
Like Marion, Tom’s most well-known role remains Howard Cunningham—for which he received a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series nomination. Besides Happy Days, he also starred in multiple other TV shows, including Murder, She Wrote and Father Dowling Mysteries.
His big debut on TV was as the Knave of Hearts in the NBC adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. Bosley remained in the acting world as a voice-over actor and made guest appearances in shows such as Get Smart, Bewitched, and Mission: Impossible. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2010 at age 83 due to complications with a staph infection.
Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli, or The Fonz, was played by Henry Winkler. He was originally a secondary character but became popular with audiences and was therefore promoted to a main character. Fonzie was the epitome of cool and was an iconic sex symbol.
A stereotypical greaser who rode around on his motorcycle, he was usually dressed in a leather jacket and was the coolest of cool. Every guy wanted to be him, and every girl wanted to be with him! Fonzie is one of only two characters to appear in all 255 episodes.
Henry Winkler is an actor, comedian, author, producer, and director—phew! He’s played roles in Scream, The Waterboy, Arrested Development, Royal Pains, and even Black Adam, among many others. He’s won numerous awards, including a Primetime Emmy, two Daytime Emmys, two Golden Globes, and a Critics Choice Award.
Today, Winkler is still close to his friends from Happy Days. In 2021, he said, “I loved the people. They are still my friends. Tomorrow, I am taking Marion Ross to lunch for her 93rd birthday. Ron is like my brother, my younger brother; and Anson and Donny, we talk all the time.”
Ralph Malph, played by Donny Most, usually had two things on his mind: girls and jokes. Though his jokes tanked, he still used his catchphrase, “I still got it!” Though not very successful at getting dates, he was at least more successful than Richie and Potsie.
As a practical joker, he often used things like whoopie cushions, Groucho glasses, eyeball glasses, and joy buzzers to prank his friends. His character was also easily frightened and panicked at the smallest things. In early seasons, he was considerably cooler than Richie and Potsie because he was a member of a gang and had a hot rod car.
Besides Happy Days, Donny Most has appeared in other film and TV roles. Films like Leo and Loree, Planting Melvin, and The Great Buck Howard. He made several guest appearances on shows, including Baywatch, The Love Boat, Star Trek: Voyager, and Glee.
Most is now in his late 60s and is in the music industry. As of 2016, he switched to swing music and released a Christmas CD. In 2017 he was touring. There are plans to release a new, full-length album sometime in the near future.
Joanie Cunningham was played by Erin Moran. She is the daughter of Howard and Marion Cunningham and younger sister to Richie. She played the perfect example of an all-American teenage girl and eventually becomes a teacher.
During the show, she develops a crush on Potsie after he sings to her, but that doesn’t last long. She becomes best friends with Jenny Piccalo when she gets older. Fonzie becomes something of an older brother to her, calling her “Shortcake” and looking after her.
Erin Moran played Joanie not only on Happy Days but also on its spin-off, Joanie Loves Chachi—it only saw 17 episodes before being canceled. Erin got her start in acting at the age of five and continued making appearances up until her best-known role in Happy Days.
Sadly, Erin Moran passed away in 2017 at the age of 56 due to throat cancer. Her final film role was in The Deceit in 2012 and her final TV role was as herself in Celebrity Ghost Stories that same year.
Al Molinaro played the role of Al Delvecchio, the drive-in owner and cook of Arnold’s Diner. His catchphrase was more of a sigh—”Yep, yep, yep…” He would often talk about his former love and how she left him for a tie salesman. He eventually married Chachi’s mother, Louisa.
Joining the cast in season 4 after Pat Morita left the show, he also played his own twin brother, priest Father Anthony Delvecchio. At one point, he mentions his other brother, who worked in the sanitation department.
Aside from his role in Happy Days, Al Molinaro also played officer Murray Greshler in The Odd Couple. He made appearances in Bewitched, Get Smart, Green Acres, and That Girl. He and fellow cast member Anson Williams opened a chain of diners called Big Al’s, which turned out to be unsuccessful.
Molinaro’s last television role was in 1992 in Step by Step. Though he retired from acting, he continued to appear in commercials until the early 2000s. He died of complications from an infected gallbladder in 2015 and the age of 96.
Chachi Arcola, played by Scott Baio, is the younger cousin of Fonzie, first appearing in season 5. He falls in love with Joanie Cunningham, and together, they become aspiring musicians. Eventually, they get married.
Though Fonzie was his older cousin, he frequently stepped in and played the role of the older brother Chachi needed. The character of Chachi was expanded to a recurring character because of the positive reception by fans. Scott received so many fan letters!
Scott Baio starred in the show’s spinoff, Joanie Loves Chachi. Other roles include characters from shows like Charles in Charge, Diagnosis: Murder, and the musical film Bugsy Malone. He’s also guest-starred on TV shows and several independent films.
Baio has remained active in the acting world, his most recent film being Courting Mom and Dad in 2021. Being a man in his early 60s, it would not be surprising to continue to see him in shows and movies.
Lori Cunningham, played by Lynda Goodfriend, is Richie’s girlfriend and later wife. Introduced in season 5, Richie meets Lori at college. They later make out in her room. Becoming an item, they are together for multiple seasons of the show.
Eventually, in season 8, she married Richie—over the phone! Other notable events include Fonzie helping her deliver her first baby, and she is revealed to be pregnant in the final season with a second baby.
Before Happy Days, Lori Goodfriend played a role in Blansky’s Beauties. After that series was over, she joined Happy Days. She went on to play several parts in films such as Pretty Woman, and guest starred in Nothing in Common and Beaches.
Goodfriend has not been a part of filmography for some time, her last appearance being in Exit to Eden in 1994. In 2009, she directed a short film called The Perfect Crime. She is now the acting chair at the New York Film Academy.
Cathy Silvers played the role of Jenny Piccolo, Joanie’s boy-crazy best friend. She is frequently mentioned in early episodes but never actually seen. She made her first appearance in season eight. She became a regular during season 10 and was a guest star in the series finale.
Appearing in 55 episodes, Jenny has multiple sisters who are just as boy-crazy as she is but never seen on-screen. Her mother is also mentioned but never makes a physical appearance. Her father, however, appears in one episode—he was played by Cathy Silvers’ real-life father.
Cathy Silvers is now known as not only an actress but an author. She has taken part in a variety of projects, including a role on Foley Square, a voice-over role as Big Bird’s adoptive sister, and an announcer for the TV series SoapTalk.
Silvers has not been seen on screen since 1996 in the TV film Encino Woman. At age 61, her focus has shifted to a healthy lifestyle. She is the author of Happy Days Healthy Living and hosts an online show The Healthy Living Show.
Mitsumo “Arnold” Takahashi, played by Noriyuki “Pat” Morita, was the owner of Arnold’s Drive-In for season three. He said he obtained the moniker when he purchased Arnold’s restaurant and people assumed it was named after him.
He also played a martial arts instructor, teaching self-defense at the drive-in after hours. He became a guest star in 1977 and 1979 before fully returning as a recurring character again after Al Molinaro left in 1982.
Morita, unfortunately, passed away in 2005 at age 73 due to kidney failure. More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story was a documentary released in 2021, featuring archival footage and interview material.
Morita’s Miyagi is honored throughout the Cobra Kai TV show with flashbacks and audio clips. Although he is probably best known for his role in The Karate Kid as Mr. Miyagi, he has played numerous roles in both TV shows and films. He starred in M*A*S*H, Sanford and Son, and voiced the emperor of China in Mulan.
Roger Phillips, Marion’s nephew and coach/teacher at Jefferson High, was played by Ted McGinley. Roger continued to be a coach and teacher before becoming the principal at Patton High. He was introduced after Richie left the show as a recurring character.
Roger was a character introduced in season 8 and joined the main cast in season 10, hanging around until the show’s finale in season 11. He was meant to fill the void Richie left when he went to join the army. He did a good enough job!
Ted McGinley played his role well in Happy Days but has been in more notable roles before. He played Jefferson D’Arcy on Married…with Children and Charley Shanowski on Hope & Faith. He also appeared in Dynasty and the Love Boat. He played the bad guy in Revenge of the Nerds.
McGinley, now 64, can still be seen on screen, with his most recent appearance being in 2018 in God’s Not Dead: A Light in Darkness. He also has a recurring role as Sam on the show No Good Luck.
Linda Purl played the role of Ashley Pfister, a divorced mother who becomes Fonzie’s steady girlfriend. Eventually, they break up, and she reconciles with her ex-husband. She made her first appearance in season 10 and can be seen in 19 episodes.
Linda also played the part of an earlier character in the show—Richie’s on-again, off-again girlfriend, Gloria. Apparently, enough time passed between seasons 2 and 10 to let her be an entirely different person!
Linda Purl is not only an actress but a singer as well. She starred in the film Visiting Hours in 1982 and was Pam Beesly’s mother in The Office. She was also Ben Matlock’s daughter for the first season of Matlock.
Now in her mid-60s, Purl is still involved in the film industry, starring as Blondie in Broken Halos in 2020. She has also made numerous television show appearances throughout the years, most recently playing Madeline Mandel in Code Black in 2018.
Heather Pfister, played by Heather O’Rourke, was Ashley’s daughter. Initially, Heather was portrayed as not getting along with Fonzie. However, she gradually learned to like him and even accept him as a father figure. She appeared as a recurring character in season 10.
Heather played a big part in helping shift the audience’s view of Fonzie not just as being a cool guy but as someone who could be fatherly. Even though she joined the show incredibly late, she soon became a familiar face to all.
O’Rourke has not been seen in a new film since 1988, when she starred in the cult classic Poltergeist and its two sequels. That’s because sadly, in 1988, at the age of 12, O’Rourke passed away due to congenital stenosis of the intestine complicated by septic shock.
She starred in Poltergeist before Happy Days. This classic film was her big debut. How did she land the part? She was actually visiting her older sister on the set of a movie she was currently acting in. Spielberg spotted her, asked her to audition, and the rest is history.
