The Happy Days Cast: Where Are They Now In 2025? A Complete Look At Fonzie, Richie, And The Cunninghams

Few television shows capture the spirit of an era quite like Happy Days, the iconic sitcom that brought 1950s nostalgia to life for a generation of viewers. Fifty years after its 1974 debut, the show's enduring appeal is evident in the continued success and surprising new projects of its beloved cast, who remain active in Hollywood and on the convention circuit as of December 2025.

The series, set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, followed the wholesome Cunningham family—Richie, Joanie, Marion, and Howard—and their cool, leather-jacket-clad friend, Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli. While the show ended in 1984, the stars have never truly left the spotlight, with some becoming Oscar-winning directors and others launching new, unexpected phases of their careers in 2025, proving that these "Happy Days" are indeed still yours and mine.

The Complete Happy Days Main Cast: A Full Biography (1974–1984)

The long-running sitcom, created by the legendary Garry Marshall, launched the careers of several major stars and cemented the legacy of established actors. This is a look at the core cast who brought the Cunningham household and Arnold’s Drive-In to life.

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• Ron Howard (Richie Cunningham)
  • Born: March 1, 1954
  • Role: The wholesome, aspiring journalist and protagonist.
  • Key Career: Transitioned from child actor to an Academy Award-winning director, helming films like Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and The Da Vinci Code.
• Henry Winkler (Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli)
  • Born: October 30, 1945
  • Role: The cool, motorcycle-riding greaser who became the show's breakout character and cultural icon.
  • Key Career: Continued a prolific acting career, winning an Emmy for his role as Gene Cousineau in HBO’s Barry, and is a successful children's book author.
• Marion Ross (Marion Cunningham)
  • Born: October 25, 1928
  • Role: The kind, level-headed matriarch of the Cunningham family, known affectionately as "Mrs. C."
  • Key Career: Nominated for two Emmys for Happy Days, she continued acting in TV and film, including a recurring role on Gilmore Girls, before retiring in 2021.
• Tom Bosley (Howard "Mr. C" Cunningham)
  • Born: October 1, 1927 | Died: October 19, 2010
  • Role: The loving, often bewildered father and hardware store owner.
  • Key Career: Best known for his roles in Happy Days and later as the title character in Father Dowling Mysteries.
• Anson Williams (Warren "Potsie" Weber)
  • Born: September 25, 1949
  • Role: Richie's gullible, but well-intentioned best friend and an aspiring singer.
  • Key Career: Primarily moved behind the camera, becoming a highly successful television director for shows like Beverly Hills, 90210 and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
• Don Most (Ralph Malph)
  • Born: August 8, 1953
  • Role: The class clown and perpetually joking friend of Richie and Potsie.
  • Key Career: Pursued a career in voice acting, jazz singing, and continues to take on diverse acting roles.
• Erin Moran (Joanie Cunningham)
  • Born: October 18, 1960 | Died: April 22, 2017
  • Role: Richie’s younger sister, who later dated Fonzie’s cousin, Chachi.
  • Key Career: Starred in Happy Days and its short-lived spin-off, Joanie Loves Chachi. Her tragic passing in 2017 was a shock to fans.
• Scott Baio (Chachi Arcola)
  • Born: September 22, 1960
  • Role: Fonzie’s younger cousin, who later became a main cast member and Joanie’s love interest.
  • Key Career: Starred in his own spin-off, Joanie Loves Chachi, and later led the sitcom Charles in Charge.

The Happy Days Cast in 2025: New Projects and 50th Anniversary Reunions

The 50th anniversary of Happy Days in 2024 sparked a wave of public appearances and new projects for the cast, keeping them firmly in the public eye through 2025. The enduring chemistry between the actors remains a highlight for fans worldwide.

Henry Winkler: The Fonz Takes on "Hazardous History"

Henry Winkler, whose character Arthur Fonzarelli (Fonzie) transcended the show to become a cultural phenomenon, continues to have one of the most vibrant post-sitcom careers. While his Emmy-winning run on Barry concluded, Winkler is returning to television in a surprising new role in 2025.

Winkler is set to host and executive produce a new, nostalgia-fueled series for The History Channel, tentatively titled Hazardous History, which is expected to debut in the summer of 2025. The show is a deep dive into the dangerous and reckless pastimes of yesteryear. Beyond his TV work, Winkler remains a popular speaker, with appearances scheduled for the Colorado Speaker Series in March 2025.

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Ron Howard: Directing Thrillers and War Epics

Ron Howard, who left Happy Days in 1980 to focus on directing, is arguably the most successful filmmaker to emerge from the cast. In 2025, his focus remains firmly behind the camera with multiple high-profile projects.

Howard's upcoming survival thriller, Eden, which is based on a true story about a group of people who abandon modern life, is generating significant buzz. Furthermore, he is slated to direct Alone at Dawn, an adaptation of a non-fiction book about an Afghanistan-set war story, cementing his status as a major Hollywood director well into the mid-2020s.

Behind the Scenes: The Cast’s Enduring Legacy and Spin-Off Universe

The impact of Happy Days extends far beyond the Cunningham kitchen and Arnold's Drive-In. It was a launching pad for an entire universe of popular television, a testament to the vision of creator Garry Marshall and the talent of the ensemble cast.

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The Golden Age of Spin-Offs: Laverne, Shirley, and Mork

Happy Days is famous for its successful spin-offs, a key component of its topical authority and cultural footprint. The show introduced characters that led to three other major sitcoms:

• Laverne & Shirley (1976–1983): Starring Penny Marshall (Garry Marshall’s sister) and Cindy Williams as Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney, two friends who worked at a brewery.
• Mork & Mindy (1978–1982): Introducing Robin Williams as the alien Mork from Ork, a character initially created to challenge Fonzie's coolness.
• Joanie Loves Chachi (1982–1983): Focused on the relationship between Joanie Cunningham and Chachi Arcola after they moved to Chicago to pursue music careers.

The shared universe created by these shows—all set in the 1950s and 60s—is a major reason why the original series remains a touchstone of American television history.

Anson Williams and Don Most: Directing, Music, and Unexpected Roles

The friendship between Potsie and Ralph Malph is mirrored by the real-life bond between Anson Williams and Don Most, who frequently reunite at fan conventions. While Williams continues to focus on directing, with projects like the true story film Crazy Mama!, Don Most has branched out into a surprisingly diverse career.

In 2025, Most is set to appear in the upcoming film Harsen's Island Revenge in January, a project based on a true story that highlights his new, non-comedic acting direction. He also maintains a successful career as a jazz and swing singer, performing live shows across the country. Their continued public appearances, often alongside Henry Winkler, at events like Steel City Con and Big Texas Comic Con, keep the spirit of their characters alive for fans.

The Legacy of the Cunninghams

The core family unit, the Cunninghams, remains the emotional heart of the series. Marion Ross, who turned 97 in October 2025, is celebrated by fans worldwide, with her legacy continuing through the Marion Ross Theatre in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Though Tom Bosley (Howard Cunningham) passed away in 2010, his role as the quintessential 1950s father figure, who was briefly played by Harold Gould in the original unsold pilot, is an indelible part of TV history. The recent 50th-anniversary reunion of Ron Howard and Henry Winkler at the 2024 Emmys was a poignant moment, celebrating the show’s golden jubilee and reminding everyone that the bonds forged at Jefferson High and Arnold’s are stronger than ever.