Erin Moran, best known for playing Joanie Cunningham on the 1970s sitcom “Happy Days,” has died. She was 56.
According to TMZ, Moran’s body was found unresponsive Saturday afternoon by authorities in Indiana. The cause of death is unknown.
The California-born actress, who also starred in the “Happy Days” spinoff “Joanie Loves Chachi,” had fallen on hard times in recent years. She was reportedly kicked out of her trailer park home in Indiana because of her hard-partying ways.
Henry Winkler, who starred opposite Moran as The Fonz in ABC’s iconic series, tweeted: “OH Erin…now you will finally have the peace you wanted so badly here on earth. Rest In It serenely now…too soon.”
OH Erin… now you will finally have the peace you wanted so badly here on earth …Rest In It serenely now.. too soon
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) April 23, 2017
In a statement on Sunday, Winkler also said, “I will always remember Erin with her sweet smile that greeted me on the very first day I walked onto the set of ‘Happy Days’ in 1974. She was only nine years old. For the next 10 years that smile never faded. Unfortunately yesterday it did. My condolences go out to her family. She will always be locked in my heart.”
Moran was just 14 when she signed on to play Ron Howard’s sister in the family comedy, which aired from 1974 to 1984.
Popular on Variety
Related Stories
VIP+YouTube TV Needs More Than the NFL to Combat Cord-Cutting Blitz
France's Oscar Committee Increases Size and Term Length After Last Year's 'Anatomy of a Fall' Snub
Howard tweeted, “Such sad sad news. RIP Erin. I’ll always choose to remember you on our show making scenes better, getting laughs and lighting up tv screens.”
“What happened with all of us was like we were this family,” Moran said in a 2009 interview with Xfinity. “It was so surreal with all the cast members…They were my family, get it?”
The actress, however, apparently wasn’t as happy about appearing in “Joanie Loves Chachi,” the short-lived sitcom spin-off which co-starred Scott Baio.
“I liked working with the people. But I didn’t even want to do it. I was talked into it,” she said. “I wanted to stay on ‘Happy Days.’ They were running them at the same time.”
“Joanie Loves Chachi” only lasted one season (1982-83) before it was pulled off the air.
Her co-star, Scott Baio, on both series, shared his condolences on Twitter: “Many people remember Erin for her contagious smile, warm heart, and animal loving soul. I always hoped she could find peace in her life. God has you now, Erin.”
My sincere condolences. #ErinMoran #HappyDaysFamily pic.twitter.com/5b0AbioZEc
— Scott Baio (@ScottBaio) April 23, 2017
Moran’s TV credits also included “The Love Boat,” “Murder, She Wrote” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
She most recently appeared on VH1’s reality show “Celebrity Fit Club” in 2008 and low-budget film “Not Another B Movie” 2010.
In 2012, Moran and some of her “Happy Days” co-stars — Anson Williams, Marion Ross, Don Most and the widow of Tom Bosley – filed a $10 million lawsuit against CBS and Paramount, claiming they never received merchandise royalties they were owed under their contracts. The case was later settled out of court. Neither Winkler nor Howard were part of the lawsuit.
Most said in a statement, “I am so incredibly sad to hear about Erin. She was a wonderful, sweet, caring, talented woman. As I write this I can’t really comprehend this right now. A very painful loss. It gives me some comfort to know that she’s with Tom, Al, Pat and Garry. Rest In Peace, sweet Erin.”
Williams, who played Potsie in “Happy Days,” said, “Erin was a person who made everyone around her feel better. She truly cared about others first, a true angel. I will miss her so much, but know that she is in God’s hands. RIP sweet angel.”
Read More About:
Jump to CommentsMore from Variety
Toby Keith Tribute Special Set at NBC Featuring Carrie Underwood, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan and More
Car Buyers Want More Screens as In-Vehicle Entertainment Rises
NBC Reveals Fall Premiere Dates, Starting With ‘The Voice’ and Zachary Quinto’s ‘Brilliant Minds’ on Sept. 23
Donald Trump’s Wild ‘Apprentice’ Behavior: Meltdowns on Set, a Shocking Nickname for an NBC Exec, an ‘Obsession’ with Debra Messing and More
AME Institute to Host “State of the Creative Industries” Panel, Sponsored by Variety VIP+
How to Watch Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Online
Most Popular
Shannen Doherty, ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ and ‘Charmed’ Star, Dies at 53
'NCIS: Tony & Ziva' Reveals Supporting Cast as Filming Gets Underway in Hungary
‘Morning Joe’ Pushed on MSNBC Monday After Trump Assassination Attempt
‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 First Look: Nostalgic, Slimy Behind-the-Scenes Footage Reveals New Cast Members
Donald Trump Fires Back at George Clooney Over Biden Op-Ed: He 'Should Get Out of Politics and Go Back to TV. Movies Never Really Worked Out'
‘Survivor’ Gets Early Launch, but CBS Moves the Rest of Fall Premieres to Mid-October
Targaryen Family Tree: Everyone Who’s Appeared in ‘House of the Dragon’ and ‘Game of Thrones’
‘Daily Show’ Cancels On-The-Ground RNC Plans After Trump Assassination Attempt
The Sphere Announces First EDM Show, Taking Place on New Year's Eve
‘House of the Dragon’ Star Tom Glynn-Carney on Aegon’s ‘Gnarly’ Scars and Aemond’s Back-Stabbing: ‘There’s Always Potential for Betrayal…
Must Read
- TV
What Went Wrong: Inside Paramount’s Failed Merger Talks and the Battle to Salvage the Company
By Andrew Wallenstein 4 weeks
- Film
‘Freaky Friday 2’ Set for Theaters in 2025; Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis Reunite in Behind-the-Scenes Look as Filming Kicks Off
- Music
Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Please Please Please’ Becomes Her First No. 1 Single
- Music
Madonna Scores Highest-Grossing Tour of 2024 So Far as Live Music Growth Settles Down
- Film
‘Inside Out 2’ Surpasses ‘Dune 2’ as Highest-Grossing Movie of Year With $724 Million Globally
Sign Up for Variety Newsletters
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Variety Confidential
ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXKDjq2taKaVrMBwtMCpp7JllJbGtHnSrZirZZWntq95zKipmqZdmbamv4yaq2ZtZmJ%2Bc3yRbHBsaGRtfA%3D%3D