An autopsy was pending Monday to determine the cause of death for Erin Moran who starred four decades ago as America’s little sister Joanie Cunningham on the popular sitcom “Happy Days.” She died at age 56.
The former child actress, who was reportedly either homeless or living in a trailer park, was discovered by emergency responders in Harrison County, Indiana.
The cause of death has not been determined and an autopsy is pending, according to media reports. Her body was found Saturday.
Moran, who was from Burbank, was cast as Joanie Cunningham in 1974, when she played little sister to Ron Howard’s Richie Cunningham. She was 13 years old at the time.
The actress also starred in the “Happy Days” spinoff “Joanie Loves Chachi” opposite Scott Baio.
She later made appearances on TV’s ‘The Love Boat’ and ‘Murder, She Wrote,’ but she never regained the fame that ‘Happy Days’ had brought her.
There were reports that she was either homeless at the time of her death or that she had been living in an Indiana trailer park.
Moran’s co-stars, as well as her fans, paid tribute to the actress after hearing news of her death.
Now a famed director, then-teen Happy Days co-star Ron Howard took to Twitter, saying, “Such sad sad news. RIP Erin.”
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. https://t.co/8HmdL0JKlf
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) April 23, 2017
Henry Winkler, who played Fonzi on “Happy Days,” also tweeted.
OH Erin… now you will finally have the peace you wanted so badly here on earth …Rest In It serenely now.. too soon
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) April 23, 2017
Baio also sent out his condolences.
My sincere condolences. #ErinMoran #HappyDaysFamily pic.twitter.com/5b0AbioZEc
— Scott Baio (@ScottBaio) April 23, 2017
–Staff