Happy days are over for the real-life actor who played diner owner Alfred "Al" Delvecchio in the decade-long television sitcom, "Happy Days." Al Molinaro passed away while in a hospital in Glendale, California on Oct. 30 due to complications from a gallbladder infection. His son revealed that Molinaro refused surgery due to his age. He was 96.
Molinaro's character, Al, is remembered for his tendency to say "yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep" in any given situation. Molinaro's character started as an irritable but friendly chef at Arnold's Diner and eventually took over the establishment when the original owner, Mitsumo "Arnold" Takahashi, played by Pat Morita, got married. Morita actually moved on to star in his own sitcom, "Mr. T and Tina."
"Happy Days" ran from 1974 to 1984, with a spin-off entitled "Joanie Loves Chacchi" released in 1983 to 1983. Molinaro was also a part of the spin-off, starring as the same character. He also played many blue-collar roles until his retirement from acting in 1992, though he continued to be seen in television commercials until the 2000s.
The sitcom "Happy Days" was set in 1950s Milwaukee following the Cunningham family, more specifically, Richie Cunningham and his life as an American teen. The show introduced many character tropes; the cast includes Al as the conscientious and irritable good guy who can never say no to anything, Arthur "The Fonz/Fonzie" Fonzarelli, the high school dropout cassanova, and the adorkable good guy who has a bromance with "The Fonz," Richie Cunningham.
Molinaro's contribution to the entertainment industry is no small feat because it was through him that Robin Williams (yes, the Robin Williams) caught a break when he was recommended to play the alien "Mork" in an episode of "Happy Days" after original actor walked out. From the success of that episode, "Mork & Mindy" was created and ran from 1978 to 1982. Of course, this was followed by Robin William's huge contribution to the entertainment industry.
Molinaro is survived by his second wife, his son, and his three grandchildren.
