‘Happy Days’ Star Erin Moran Dies at 56 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Foggy · 04-23-2017, 09:34 AM

What a sad ended to a wonderful actress. It was terrible what had happened with her after "Happy Days."

Quote:

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 CBS’ 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.”

Moran was just 14 when she signed on to play Ron Howard’s sister in the family comedy, which aired from 1974 to 1984.

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.

Moran’s TV credits also included “The Love Boat,” “Murder, She Wrote” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.” (...)

(...)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.”

http://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/%E2...nqd?li=BBnb7Kz

Penny Lane · 04-23-2017, 10:48 AM

Wow! This is shocking! Too young! the article mentioned her being evicted from her home because of her partying ways. I wonder if drugs were involved in her death? I do know that she had some mental/depression problems in the past. May she now rest in pesce.

Penny Lane · 04-23-2017, 01:41 PM

I just read that she died of a suspected heroin overdose. So sad

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...s-aged-56.html

ponytail · 04-24-2017, 05:56 AM

I'm so sadden and shocked to hear of Erin's death. I know she had been through a rough time. Now she can finally have peace.

ABlairican Pie · 04-24-2017, 03:21 PM

I had the HUGEST crush on Erin Moran in 1978. It was very sad to learn that she had problems later in life, which seems to be par for the course with many child celebrities. They can put on a front of things being on the "up and up", and yet we fail to see what lurks underneath.

Things are not what they seem to be. There was much "sunshine" in our lives when we were younger (though such was not my situation in 1978, but the smile of "Joanie" was a nice bit of glimmer), but there is little unresolved we never notice underneath the surface.

ABlairican Pie · 04-24-2017, 03:27 PM

I just read that she died from cancer, according to USA Today.com, but I am trying to find the link. Allegedly no illegal drugs were related to her death.

Foggy · 04-24-2017, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABlairican Pie

I just read that she died from cancer, according to USA Today.com, but I am trying to find the link. Allegedly no illegal drugs were related to her death.

Here is the link to USA Today:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/...cer/100842822/

Erin Moran died of stage 4 throat cancer
http://pagesix.com/2017/04/24/happy-...ied-of-cancer/

Penny Lane · 04-25-2017, 02:45 PM

Yeah, I read that too somewhere. It said that she was weakening from intense chemotherapy for throat cancer which was diagnosed around last Thanksgiving. She was a smoker but I'm glad to hear that illegal drugs were not involved.There are always so many rumors that it's hard to believe anything you read these days.

ABlairican Pie · 04-25-2017, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penny Lane

Yeah, I read that too somewhere. It said that she was weakening from intense chemotherapy for throat cancer which was diagnosed around last Thanksgiving. She was a smoker but I'm glad to hear that illegal drugs were not involved.There are always so many rumors that it's hard to believe anything you read these days.

I was very disappointed when I saw photos of her smoking. I remember a Happy Days episode when Fonzie was giving Joanie advice about giving up cigarettes.

AB · 04-25-2017, 06:06 PM

Rest in peace.

Dude111 · 04-27-2017, 05:41 AM

Very sad......

ABlairican Pie · 04-27-2017, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penny Lane

Yeah, I read that too somewhere. It said that she was weakening from intense chemotherapy for throat cancer which was diagnosed around last Thanksgiving. She was a smoker but I'm glad to hear that illegal drugs were not involved.There are always so many rumors that it's hard to believe anything you read these days.

I could see how people would think illegal drugs were involved. Apparently there is a lot of medical treatment going on with cancer care. It's sad that her smoking appears to be a factor in her throat cancer.

I'd rather get things confirmed in the news because I don't want to spread rumors, either.

Fleet · 04-29-2017, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABlairican Pie

I was very disappointed when I saw photos of her smoking. I remember a Happy Days episode when Fonzie was giving Joanie advice about giving up cigarettes.

I remember that episode. From 1978, if I remember correctly.

ABlairican Pie · 04-29-2017, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fleet

I remember that episode. From 1978, if I remember correctly.

Sometimes it would be nice if some of these actors and actresses took some of their life lessons onscreen a little more seriously and set an example. I'm sure there was probably a little more than smoking that contributed to her passing, but I can't rule that it as a factor.

DJM77 · 04-29-2017, 09:24 PM

There's also an episode from the final season where Joanie tries to help a girl kick her drug habit.

04-23-2017, 10:48 AM	#2
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,261	Wow! This is shocking! Too young! the article mentioned her being evicted from her home because of her partying ways. I wonder if drugs were involved in her death? I do know that she had some mental/depression problems in the past. May she now rest in pesce.
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

04-24-2017, 03:21 PM	#5
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	RIP Joanie Cunningham. I had the HUGEST crush on Erin Moran in 1978. It was very sad to learn that she had problems later in life, which seems to be par for the course with many child celebrities. They can put on a front of things being on the "up and up", and yet we fail to see what lurks underneath. Things are not what they seem to be. There was much "sunshine" in our lives when we were younger (though such was not my situation in 1978, but the smile of "Joanie" was a nice bit of glimmer), but there is little unresolved we never notice underneath the surface.
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion

04-29-2017, 09:24 PM	#15
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,566	There's also an episode from the final season where Joanie tries to help a girl kick her drug habit.
	__________________ Marge: There are only 49 stars on that flag. Abe: I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missouri!

04-23-2017, 01:41 PM	#3
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,261	I just read that she died of a suspected heroin overdose. So sad http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...s-aged-56.html

04-24-2017, 05:56 AM	#4
ponytail Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2004 Location: In Happy, Healthy, Wealthyville Posts: 4,273	I'm so sadden and shocked to hear of Erin's death. I know she had been through a rough time. Now she can finally have peace.

04-24-2017, 03:27 PM	#6
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	I just read that she died from cancer, according to USA Today.com, but I am trying to find the link. Allegedly no illegal drugs were related to her death.

04-25-2017, 02:45 PM	#8
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,261	Yeah, I read that too somewhere. It said that she was weakening from intense chemotherapy for throat cancer which was diagnosed around last Thanksgiving. She was a smoker but I'm glad to hear that illegal drugs were not involved.There are always so many rumors that it's hard to believe anything you read these days.

04-25-2017, 06:06 PM	#10
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	Rest in peace.

04-27-2017, 05:41 AM	#11
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 36,486	Very sad......