Erin Moran passed away today at the age of 56 according to ABC News.
The actress is best known for playing Joanie Cunningham on Happy Days and its spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi. Even though she spent most of her childhood acting, she did not do that much of it after her iconic role ended. Moran’s biggest role after those shows was Celebrity Fit Camp: Boot Camp. Although she wasn’t acting, she was still appearing at conventions and even attended the RetroRama this past November looking as happy as ever.
Some of her costars paid their respects to her on Twitter. Henry Winker aka The Fonz said, “OH Erin… now you will finally have the peace you wanted so badly here on earth …Rest In It serenely now.. too soon.” Ron Howard remember his TV sis with, “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.” Don Most aka Ralph Malph honored her with, “So incredibly sad to hear about Erin. A wonderful, sweet, caring, talented woman.I can’t really comprehend this right now.Very painful loss.” Anson Williams told KABC’s George Pennacchio, “Erin was a person who made everyone around her feel better,” adding, “She truly cared about others first, a true angel. I will miss her so much…she is in God’s hands.” Long time friend and Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp teammate Willie Aames posted, “RIP to my old colleague and childhood friend ERIN MORAN. So Saddened to hear you have passed.”
When I was seeking out clips to post of her from Happy Days, the one that popped up is the one that is one of the reasons why I started smoking. Joanie was a nerd before she smoked and then she was cool when she did. That message stuck with me and few years later I started smoking (yes I started at young age), not realizing until years later, when I quit, that that episode and Grease played a big part in me smoking. The point of that story is that is how much Erin Moran meant to me when I was growing up and how sad her death is making me right now.
Let’s not remember her with sadness, let’s remember her with joy by watching videos of her as he role that made her a household name.
