Way OT: Joanie Cunningham RIP

Submitted by Esterhaus on

 

It's a sad milestone for some of us but Erin Moran has just passed away under tough circumstances. Her character on the 70's TV sitcom Happy Days was our feisty sweetheart growing up. She challenged but was protected by The Fonz, busted Ritchie, tugged at Potsie's heart, laughed at Ralph Malph, gave mom and dad conniption fits, and smooched Chachie.

Erin Moran helped us appreciate our own families and personal relationships better. We'll miss her and despite Ritchie's affiliation, Joanie was clearly a Wolverine in spirit.

 

Swayze Howell Sheen

April 23rd, 2017 at 7:16 AM ^

sounds like she had a tough life post hollywood. in this way, being a young actor seems a lot of like being an athelete: career ends way too early, and, for some, it is hard to chart a course after. RIP.

LSAClassOf2000

April 23rd, 2017 at 8:07 AM ^

As I recall, she did have sporadic roles after "Joanie Loves Chachi", but mainly as a guest star on episodes of various shows throughout the 90s and into the early 2000s. Supposedly, she said in interviews that severe depression kept her from landing more substantial work, and I think that the reason she eventually moved to Indiana was to assist with her mother-in-law, whose health was failing. 

56 is way too young. 

alum96

April 23rd, 2017 at 9:49 AM ^

Morbid thought of the day - when I read the recruiting updates and we see things like "begrudging 2019 update" I am thinking ahead about 15 years when I read those updates and Brian goes out 2 years ahead and I'll think to myself "will I even see that guy sign???"  Maybe this is why I have more urgency than some of these younger folk on the board.  "Oh don't worry, Harbaugh will beat OSU one of these years" just doesn't cut it for me - I have a limited shelf life... I need a run of 10 of 15 wins to start getting this series more balanced over the past 30 years. And it needed to begin yesterday!

alum96

April 23rd, 2017 at 9:44 AM ^

Most of the original series was were before my TV watching time but it certainly was on syndication in that prime time "post school" late afternoon time slot through my entire childhood.  Theme song just makes you happy (literally). 

ElBictors

April 23rd, 2017 at 10:25 AM ^

Definitely some sort of 'crush' every tuesday for me as a young kid and now all these years later, sad to hear about her battles while seeing what a loser Scott Baio turned out to be 'in real life' Joanie .....Mallory ...Facts of Life girls ...... Freaky how quickly life flies by