# Erin Moran has died at 56 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 23, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038 "2017-04-23T02:05:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/1 "2017-04-23T02:05:35Z")
Hard to believe. I guess she had a hard lifestyle. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/2 "2017-04-23T02:17:59Z")
From star to drunk to trailer park. [Hard life](http://www.tmz.com/2017/04/22/happy-days-star-erin-moran-dead/). RIP. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/3 "2017-04-23T02:20:12Z")
Sad news. She was enjoyable on _Happy Days_, and had a few things later on that were worth watching. Her later life was not so easy. Requiet in pacem. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/4 "2017-04-23T04:11:11Z")
R. I. P., Shortcake. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/5 "2017-04-23T04:17:48Z")
At one time, she could have gone in a million better directions. Its a shame. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/6 "2017-04-23T05:33:46Z")
Erin is listed in the Encyclopedia under “crash & burn”. She made so many bad decisions Erin was quite talented. Joanie and Chachi helped Happy Days get through it’s last few seasons. . The other actors had aged and weren’t believable as teens anymore. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/7 "2017-04-23T05:34:51Z")
I didn’t even know it was possible to get kicked out of a trailer park. May her rest be more peaceful than her life. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/8 "2017-04-23T06:22:41Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I didn’t even know it was possible to get kicked out of a trailer park. May her rest be more peaceful than her life. She and her husband were living in her mother-in-law’s trailer. She kicked them out in 2012 for going out to bars and bringing rowdy, drunken friends home to party. In the pictures, it does not look like her lifestyle was very kind to her. She had been living off a $65,000 breach-of-contract settlement from CBS, but it was dwindling fast. > **[Happy Days are over for Erin Moran: Actress is 'homeless and destitute after...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2209129/Erin-Moran-homeless-Happy-Days-Joanie-Cunningham-actress-kicked-trailer-park.html)** > > The actress who played Joanie Cunningham on the hit Seventies show Happy Days has fallen on hard times ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/9 "2017-04-23T06:46:17Z")
First Chuck, now Joanie. Damn. RIP, Erin. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/10 "2017-04-23T08:09:16Z")
I wouldn’t have expected Marion Ross to outlive her TV daughter. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/11 "2017-04-24T18:42:26Z")
[Erin Moran likely died of cancer complications, officials say](http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/24/entertainment/erin-moran-cause-of-death/index.html) > [@CNN](#): > > Former “Happy Days” child star Erin Moran, 56, likely died from complications of Stage 4 cancer, the Harrison County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Department and medical examiner said Monday in a joint statement. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/12 "2017-04-24T20:07:00Z")
Sad after playing such an iconic role. She was another child actress whose career didn’t take off as an adult, but I suspect the problems ran deeper with her. No one really hit the big time as an actor from that show. Sleep tight Joanie. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/13 "2017-04-24T20:08:38Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Sad after playing such an iconic role. She was another child actress whose career didn’t take off as an adult, but I suspect the problems ran deeper with her. No one really hit the big time as an actor from that show. Sleep tight Joanie. Ron Howard as a director. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/14 "2017-04-24T20:19:43Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Ron Howard as a director. Yes, but not as an actor. Even Henry Winkler couldn’t cash in on his popularity once he wasn’t playing The Fonz. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/15 "2017-04-24T20:23:03Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Even Henry Winkler couldn’t cash in on his popularity once he wasn’t playing The Fonz. Yeah, he kinda jumped the shark. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/16 "2017-04-24T20:34:48Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Yeah, he kinda jumped the shark. Except when he was Barry Zuckercorn. (And jumped a shark.) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/17 "2017-04-24T20:35:54Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Yes, but not as an actor. Even Henry Winkler couldn’t cash in on his popularity once he wasn’t playing The Fonz. Henry Winkler hasn’t exactly fallen on hard times. He’s had numerous supporting roles in movies and television since leaving _Happy Days_. Tom Bosley starred in another TV series, _The Father Dowling Mysteries_. Marion Ross had a recurring role in _The Drew Carey Show_ as Drew’s mother, Beulah. Erin Moran seemed to be the only one who was down on her luck and actually not being offered work. The rest have remained active in show business, working regularly. Even Anson Williams (Potsie) has had steady work as a director. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/18 "2017-04-24T20:43:27Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Marion Ross had a recurring role in _The Drew Carey Show_ as Drew’s mother, Beulah. Also Eric’s grandmother on _That 70’s Show_. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/19 "2017-04-24T20:49:08Z")
Most of the actors did alright for themselves. Only Winkler and Howard were considered as having big futures, and Ron did as a director. The rest did well enough for sitcom actors who weren’t leads. Even Erin got some parts, she just didn’t manage to sustain herself, I imagine because she had no other skills and even as an actress was no great talent as an adult. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038/20 "2017-04-25T00:13:26Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Also Eric’s grandmother on _That 70’s Show_. Also Richard’s mother on Gilmore Girls. And she had a large part as the grandmother in Brooklyn Bridge. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erin-moran-has-died-at-56/785038.md?page=2)