Where Are They Now: The Cast of Happy Days

It was the show that defined an era twice — first by capturing the optimism of the 1950s, and then by defining the 1970s and early 80s with its feel-good warmth. Happy Days ran from 1974 to 1984, and at its peak it was the most-watched show on American television. More than forty years later, we wanted to know: where did they all end up?

Ron Howard (Richie Cunningham)

The freckle-faced kid from Mayberry had already been famous before Happy Days, but Richie Cunningham made him a star of a different magnitude. Howard left the show in 1980 to pursue directing — a decision that looked risky at the time and turned out to be one of the most consequential career pivots in Hollywood history. He went on to direct Splash, Cocoon, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind (which won him the Academy Award for Best Director), and The Da Vinci Code, among dozens of others. Today Ron Howard is one of the most respected filmmakers in the world and shows no signs of slowing down.

Henry Winkler (Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli)

There has never been a cooler character on American television. The Fonz — leather jacket, thumbs up, one tap on the jukebox — became a cultural icon so powerful that his jacket is in the Smithsonian Institution. Henry Winkler himself has had a career with remarkable range. After Happy Days, he produced and directed television for years before experiencing a remarkable second act as an actor. His role as Gene Cousineau, the ruthless acting teacher in HBO's Barry, earned him the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2018 — more than thirty years after Happy Days ended. He accepted the award with visible emotion, having lost out on acting awards throughout his career. He is also a beloved children's book author, advocating for children with dyslexia (a condition he has himself).

Marion Ross (Marion Cunningham)

Mrs. C was everyone's television mother — warm, patient, and quietly hilarious. Marion Ross, now in her 90s, has continued acting well into her later years, appearing in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and various television movies. She has spoken warmly about Happy Days as the defining experience of her career and maintains that the cast remains close to this day.

Tom Bosley (Howard Cunningham)

The beloved hardware store owner and father figure passed away in 2010 at age 83. After Happy Days, Bosley had a second successful run as Father Frank Dowling in the mystery series Father Dowling Mysteries, which ran from 1987 to 1991. He is remembered fondly as one of television's great dads.

Erin Moran (Joanie Cunningham)

Joanie Cunningham was Richie's younger sister, and Erin Moran played her with a natural charm that made her one of the show's most beloved characters. Moran had a difficult life after Happy Days ended, struggling with personal and financial challenges. She passed away in 2017 at age 56. Her Happy Days castmates spoke with great affection about her in the aftermath, remembering the joy she brought to the set.

Scott Baio (Chachi Arcola)

Chachi was introduced as the Fonz's younger cousin and became so popular he got his own spin-off, Joanie Loves Chachi, in 1982. Scott Baio remained a fixture in television through the 1980s and 90s, most notably in Charles in Charge. He has been more visible in recent years through public commentary than acting work.

Don Most (Ralph Malph)

Ralph Malph — "I've still got it!" — was the class clown of the Cunningham crew, and Don Most played him with a gift for physical comedy. After Happy Days, Most pivoted toward directing and producing, working extensively behind the camera on various television projects. He has spoken in interviews about finding deep satisfaction in the creative work of producing.

"We were just a group of people who happened to make something that connected with the whole country. I don't think any of us knew how big it would get." — Henry Winkler

Happy Days was never the most sophisticated show on television. It didn't try to be. It offered something rarer and perhaps more difficult to achieve — genuine warmth, uncomplicated joy, and a vision of American life that felt safe and good. Forty years on, that's not a small thing.