Troubled teen star of Happy Days is dead at 56
ERIN Moran, who played Joanie Cunningham in US show Happy Days, has died aged 56.
Her body was found on Saturday but officials did not release any further details.
America watched Miss Moran grow up playing Joanie, the little sister of Richie, after she joined the family sitcom aged just 14 in 1974.
But she did not continue to achieve the same level of success and her life spiralled out of control in recent years.
The actress was living in a trailer park in New Salisbury, Indiana, after losing her California home in 2010 having amassed debts of more than £234,000.
Her former co-stars paid tribute. Henry Winkler, who played The Fonz on Happy Days, tweeted: ‘Oh Erin… now you will
‘Lighting up TV screens’
finally have the peace you wanted to badly here on earth. Rest in it serenely now.. too soon.’
Ron Howard, who played Richie and went on to become a Hollywood director, wrote: ‘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.’
Anson Williams, who played Warren ‘Potsie’ Weber on the show, 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... she is in God’s hands.’
After the ten-year run of Happy Days, Miss Moran starred in spin- off show Joanie Loves Chachi. It was widely criticised. She later spoke about suffering from depression.
A post-mortem examination will be carried out to determine cause of death.