Final days
Ex-kid stars tried to help Moran
“HAPPY DAYS” star Erin Moran died broke and homeless despite the best efforts of her sitcom support community, industry acquaintances said Sunday.
Moran, 56, who played meddlesome little sister Joanie Cunningham, fell on hard times, and was reduced with her husband to sharing a trailer home in Indiana with her mother-in-law before they were kicked out.
But even that rock-bottom existence had an escape route if only Moran had reached out, said people who knew of her troubles.
That included “The Donna Reed Show” actor Paul Petersen, who penned a pair of notes explaining that Moran had a solid support system, but seemingly chose not to use it.
“I am proud of our efforts over the years to help Erin Moran whose troubles were many and complex,” Petersen wrote in a Facebook post.
“Don’t doubt for a moment that we tried … sincerely tried through time and treasure … to give comfort to one of our own.”
Petersen, the founder and leader of A Minor Consideration, went on to say at least six former child stars attempted to reach out to Moran in the week leading up to her death.
“Erin had friends and she knew it,” he continued. “Abandonment was not the issue. The perversity of human frailty is at the root of this loss, not failure. We did our best with the resources available to us, but it was a very dark room. Some don’t find the light switch in time.”
Petersen’s first letter was posted Saturday night as news of Moran’s death broke.
“She was so far away in Indiana,” he wrote. “The help she ran from was right here, as close as a call ... Erin Moran lived and she mattered.”
Henry Winkler, who played Arthur (Fonzie) Fonzarelli on the show, even tried to help Moran get a spot on his show “Arrested Development” during her troubled days, according to reports.
Moran was found unresponsive in Indiana, and an autopsy is currently pending, as her cause of death is unknown.
In light of her sudden death, her former “Happy Days” costars took to social media to remember their onscreen sister, wife and friend.
“May people remember Erin for her contagious smile, warm heart, and animal loving soul,” Scott Baio, her “Happy Days” and “Joanie Loves Chachi” costar, wrote on Twitter. “I always hoped she could find peace in her life. God has you now, Erin.”
In recent years, Moran had faced a string of financial problems, and was evicted from the Indiana trailer park home she shared with her husband, Steven Fleischmann. She also reportedly struggled with substance abuse.
Neighbors described the actress as “full of energy,” but said she’d stayed inside more in the last several months.
“I used to see her all the time, walking up to get the mail or just out for a stroll,” David Holt, 61, told People. “But I hadn’t seen her for a couple of months. She kind of hibernated at the end. It’s so sad. She was a good person.”
Marion Ross, who played the mother in “Happy Days,” spoke out about her on-screen daughter.
“I’m just heartbroken about Erin. She was a wonderful smart young girl on ‘Happy Days’ ... so talented!” Ross said in a statement to the Daily News. “My heart aches for this loss.”
Don Most, who played Ralph Malph, also spoke out about his former co-star.
“A wonderful, sweet, caring, talented woman,” he wrote.