Happy Daysstarted out as a show about a Mid-Western family that was making its way through life in the 1950s. The family featured parents Howard & Marion Cunningham, and their three children; Richie (played by Ron Howard), Joanie (played by Erin Moran), and their older brother, the seldom-seen Chuck. Chuck was a college basketball player, but the show focused on Richie’s life in high school, so Chuck was removed from the show without explanation, leaving Richie as the older brother and Joanie as the smart-aleck little sister, with no story lines of her own.Over time, Moran, and the character of Joanie, grew up and developed such that the writers were forced to start writing more with her in mind. With Joanie’s friend Jenny Piccolo finally appearing in the flesh, and with Joanie’s budding relationship with The Fonz’ cousin Chachi, Joanie became a pivotal part of the show. So, when Richie and his friend Ralph Malph left the show, Joanie became one of the featured characters on Happy Days. Joanie and Chachi became so popular that the creators of Happy Days spun the couple off into their own show.
The backside of Moran’s life was not what many of her fans would have hoped for her; amid rumors of sexual molestation, financial hardship and substance abuse. However, viewers and fans should remember Erin Moran as Joanie Cunningham; Richie’s little sister, Chachi’s girlfriend, and as “Shortcake”, the nickname given to her by The Fonz.
