Link (http://www.boulevardsentinel.com/08-2010.htm)

Kathleen Rose D'Orazi, born and raised in Eagle Rock, who had an acting stage name of "Kathy O'Dare", passed away Sunday July 18th, at her home in Riverside, California.

Kathleen D'Orazi attended St. Dominic's Grammar School, and graduated from Eagle Rock High School in 1975, and graduated from Glendale College. Kathleen D'Orazi had quite an actress career. She was a child star as "One of the Sour Grape Girls" in the Banana Splits Adventure in the early 1970's, and got her big break as a leading star in the first episode of Happy Days TV Show in 1974 as Mary Lou Milligan, starring Ronnie Howard (Richie) and Henry Winkler, (The Fonz).

She had many other credits on such shows as the Brady Bunch, and a movie with Ronnie Howard called "Eat My Dust". Kathleen was born August 27th, 1957 of Tony and Miltreta D'Orazi. Her father Tony D'Orazi, was a TV Star in the early 1950's, and had his own show for 3 years, called "Uncle Tony O'Dare, First Cartoonist of the Air". Kathleen's dad was a renowned artist in the Eagle Rock after his TV Career and raised his family on Norwalk Ave.

She had been studying dance and acting since she was three years old. She leaves behind her mother, Miltreta, who lives in San Diego, brother Mike, Eagle Rock Class of 1958, and her brother David, Eagle Rock Class of Summer of 1967, and a 13 year old daughter, Miltreta Mae D'Orazi, who resides in Cardiff by the Sea, California.

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/tzgames/KathyODare.jpg

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/tzgames/TVGuide.jpg

:rip: Kathy O'Dare

R.I.P. Kathy O'Dare:(.

Wow, she was still young. Very sad, R.I.P. :(

:rip:

That's too bad. :(

She made the first episode very memorable.

Mary Lou: (to Richie) "You kiss funny."

One thing that I could not figure out from this link is what exactly she died of. Does anyone reading this know the answer?

Sad news. She was very cute. She also appeared in a second episode, "Fonzie's New Friend," as Lois. She also played Pete's girlfriend in "Two Petes in a Pod" on The Brady Bunch.

My question about what she died of has still not been answered. Dose anyone reading this know?

My question about what she died of has still not been answered. Dose anyone reading this know?

The cause of death wasn't mentioned and this was the only source I found.

The cause of death wasn't mentioned and this was the only source I found.


Thank you for your efforts to satisfy my curiousity.

She was a cute girl. It was easy to see why everyone wanted to date her on that first episode.

Very sad she passed so young.

Richie was blowing in her ear that first episode, right? My memories of Mary Lou are very fuzzy - probably since it's been ages since I've seen early HD. :o

That's right -- Potsie had coached Richie on things like seating position for putting his arm around her, and even bra-unclasping technique...! And what it meant (supposedly) when she twirled her hair...
Coincidentally I just watched that first episode earlier this week. Kathy was more beautiful than I had remembered. She was well-cast and her performance was very good.

This is really sad news. May she rest in peace.

^ Thanks for clarifying!! :cool:

RIP :rip:

One thing that I could not figure out from this link is what exactly she died of. Does anyone reading this know the answer?

I communicated with Kathy's 13 year old daughter (no, Kathy never married) and even she wasnt sure. Either heat exhaustion and/or heart trouble. Kathy's daughter said that her mother did "bad drugs", had a nervous breakdown, and spent the last few years of her life in a mental hospital when she died. Very sad. :(