# Yup, yup, yup: Al Molinaro has died **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 31, 2015, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260 "2015-10-31T14:59:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [October 31, 2015, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/1 "2015-10-31T14:59:10Z")
Happy Days’ and The Odd Couple’s (movie) [Al Molinaro has died](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/31/arts/television/al-molinaro-diner-owner-on-happy-days-dies-at-96.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=Moth-Visible&module=inside-nyt-region®ion=inside-nyt-region&WT.nav=inside-nyt-region) at age 96. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/2 "2015-10-31T15:00:49Z")
One of those absolutely everywhere, everyman players that keep the industry going. I hope this doesn’t mean N. Pat Morita is next… ---
**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:** [October 31, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/3 "2015-10-31T15:06:20Z")
I suppose you mean The Odd Couple’s (TV) Al Molinaro. I loved him as Murray the Cop. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/4 "2015-10-31T15:10:58Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > One of those absolutely everywhere, everyman players that keep the industry going. > > I hope this doesn’t mean N. Pat Morita is next… Sadly, Matsuo “Arnold” Takahashi AKA Pat Morita died in 2005. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/5 "2015-10-31T15:17:45Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I suppose you mean The Odd Couple’s (TV) Al Molinaro. I loved him as Murray the Cop. You’re right, I got them confused. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/6 "2015-10-31T15:18:30Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Sadly, Matsuo “Arnold” Takahashi AKA Pat Morita died in 2005. Oops. Not enough coffee yet. (See other threads.) Next you’re gonna tell me Vic Tayback is dead… ---
**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:** [October 31, 2015, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/7 "2015-10-31T15:24:26Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Oops. Not enough coffee yet. (See other threads.) Next you’re gonna tell me Vic Tayback is dead… You have him confused with Abe Vigoda. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2015, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/8 "2015-10-31T15:33:17Z")
RIP, Al. ☹ ---
**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:** [October 31, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/9 "2015-10-31T15:45:14Z")
One funny scene in The Odd Couple is when there’s a knock at the door. Oscar opens the small window in the door and all he sees is a giant schnozz. “Hi, Murray.” ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/10 "2015-10-31T16:26:27Z")
FUNNY SCENE CONTEST!! Felix is on a TV show, for some reason, and Murray is sitting on Oscar and Felix’s sofa eating a sandwich and drinking something out of a can. Felix finishes whatever he’s doing on TV and while the studio audience is applauding, looks right into the camera and shouts, **Murray use a coaster!** Murray immediately grabs his can of drink and puts it on a coaster, then mutters **He can’t see me!** and moves the can off the coaster. Then moves it right back on cause, you never know. Thanks for the laffs, Mr. Molinaro. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/11 "2015-10-31T16:34:26Z")
He had a good run. I found it interesting that he made himself wealthy in real estate then took up acting later. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/12 "2015-11-02T00:11:33Z")
Spoiler because even though it’s meant in good fun, someone sensitive and humorless might not wish to read it. Al from Happy Days is now six feet under. His nose is 5 feet under It’s dumb, but it’s what came to mind and I had to say it. So long big Al. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/13 "2015-11-02T00:17:40Z")
Interesting that he was born in Kenosha, not far from where “Happy Days” was set. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/14 "2015-11-02T00:50:17Z")
There was a Happy Days episode in which there was a mysterious informant, I think for a story Ron Howard’s character was writing for the school paper. They set up a meeting where he will be seen in shadow to protect his identity. Of course, it’s Al in profile, leaving no doubt about who it is. Al was a good sport. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/15 "2015-11-02T19:50:45Z")
It’s interesting that his last listed role on [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0596846/) is for that Weezer video. 21 years ago. Although for some strange reason I associate it with 95.😉 ---
**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:** [November 2, 2015, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/16 "2015-11-02T20:38:01Z")
Murray’s here! Deal him in, Felix, Oscar, and Speed. RIP, Al. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/17 "2015-11-03T00:31:30Z")
^ Murray, get in here, you’re breathing up all the air out there! Oscar: Your name is Homer? Speed: What? You think when I was born my parents named me SPEED? **TBG** , I loved your joke. It WAS a big nose, but he was a big man–in more ways than one. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/18 "2015-11-03T01:05:52Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Interesting that he was born in Kenosha, not far from where “Happy Days” was set. I think even his character was from Kenosha too. I seem to recall him saying the name a couple of times. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/19 "2015-11-03T05:37:49Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Interesting that he was born in Kenosha, not far from where “Happy Days” was set. > > Brian > [@GuanoLad](#): > > I think even his character was from Kenosha too. I seem to recall him saying the name a couple of times. Yup, yup, yup. My birthplace as well but we left when I was a baby. My mother told me that the Molinaro family was pretty well known in Kenosha. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260/20 "2015-11-04T07:04:25Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > It’s interesting that his last listed role on [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0596846/) is for that Weezer video. 21 years ago. Although for some strange reason I associate it with 95.😉 Yeah, that video was really popular (back when MTV played such things). I remember one of the VJs saying it used _Forrest Gump_-like CG to insert Weezer into the old footage from the show, but even back then it was obvious to me [they just used clever editing and ‘back-of-the-head’ lookalikes.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kemivUKb4f4) Molinaro was the only original actor who actually appears in any of the new footage with the band. The opening segment with the newscaster outside ‘Arnold’s’ was from the famous two-parter where Fonzie jumped, no, not the shark, but a record number of barrels on his motorcycle. It _was_ still Arnold’s then, Pat Morita was still on the show. _“Please, try the fish…”_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yup-yup-yup-al-molinaro-has-died/736260.md?page=2)