Richie Cunningham

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Richie Cunningham
Ron Howard Happy Days 1974.JPG
Richie talking to a girl
First appearance"All The Way"
Last appearance"Passages Part 2"
Created by Garry Marshall
Portrayed by Ron Howard
In-universe information
Full nameRichard J. Cunningham
OccupationStudent, reporter, screenwriter
Family
Spouse Lori Beth Allen
ChildrenRichard Cunningham Jr.
Relatives Roger Phillips (cousin)

Richard J. Cunningham is a fictional character in the 1970s TV sitcom Happy Days, [1] played by Ron Howard. Richie is Howard and Marion Cunningham's son and Joanie Cunningham and Chuck Cunningham's brother. He is friends with Fonzie, Ralph Malph, and Potsie Weber. [2]

Contents

Richie was originally the show's lead character. However, he became less prominent as the character of Fonzie (played by Henry Winkler) became more popular. Ron Howard and Winkler continued to share top billing in the show's opening credits. [3] [4] [5]

Character traits

Richie Cunningham's personality reflected the quintessential All-American 1950s teenager. [6] With his red hair and freckles, he bore a resemblance to Howdy Doody (as noted in the episode "The Howdy Doody Show"). Occasionally, he got into trouble in schemes designed to attract women. Richie was portrayed as wholesome and caring rather than malicious.

Many of the episodes focused on Richie's attempts to meet women. [2] Despite his demeanor as a clean-cut teenager, he was often depicted scheming to get a date. Examples in the show's plotlines included him buying a new car and joining a local gang. Whenever he was feeling lucky—especially when he spotted a prospective girlfriend—he would sing the Fats Domino line, "I found my thrill... on Blueberry Hill." When he became angry or annoyed, he would call his nemesis "bucko."

Richie's goal was to become a writer. He wrote for the Jefferson High Bule and later became a cub reporter for the Milwaukee Journal. However, in the first-season episode "Because She's There", he told his date that he wanted to attend law school.

Throughout the series' run, Richie remained best friends with Fonzie, Ralph Malph, and Potsie Weber. He was always ready to help them out of trouble. He also looked after his younger sister Joanie as she grew up. In the first season, it was revealed that he and Potsie were best friends since childhood. This was alluded to again in the seventh-season episode, "A Potsie Is Born."

After high school, Richie went to the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He joined the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and met his girlfriend and future wife, Lori Beth Allen. Richie studied journalism at the university and pursued opportunities to further his writing career.

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Richie served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Greenland with Ralph. While overseas, Richie married Lori Beth by telephone, with Fonzie standing in as a proxy for Richie. Lori Beth visited Richie in Greenland long enough to get pregnant. Their son was named Richie, Jr.

In the final season, Richie and Ralph returned home from the Army. Howard got Richie a job as a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal. Richie had always wanted to write for the paper but had a new dream of becoming a screenwriter. Richie moved to Hollywood with his family to find work writing for the movies. He returned in the series finale for Joanie and Chachi's wedding.

Cultural references

In Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery , Austin, while undercover, goes by the alias "Richie Cunningham".

In the TV series Dawson's Creek , Pacey likens Dawson to Richie Cunningham (in the first season ninth episode).

In the TV series True Story with Ed & Randall , Gastor describes the police officer who pulls him over as Richie Cunningham (in the first season sixth episode).[ citation needed ]

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Happy Days is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marshall, it was one of the most successful series of the 1970s. The series presented an idealized vision of life in the 1950s and early 1960s Midwestern United States, and it starred Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham, Henry Winkler as his friend Fonzie, and Tom Bosley and Marion Ross as Richie's parents, Howard and Marion Cunningham. Although it opened to mixed reviews from critics, Happy Days became successful and popular over time.

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This is a list of episodes from the first season of Happy Days.

This is a list of episodes from the second season of Happy Days.

This is a list of episodes from the third season of Happy Days. It was the first season of the show to be filmed in front of a live audience.

This is a list of episodes from the fourth season of Happy Days.

This is a list of episodes from the fifth season of Happy Days.

This is a list of episodes from the sixth season of Happy Days.

This is a list of episodes from the seventh season of Happy Days.

This is a list of episodes from the eighth season of Happy Days.

This is a list of episodes from the ninth season of Happy Days.

This is a list of episodes from the eleventh and final season of Happy Days.

Howard Cunningham (<i>Happy Days</i>) Fictional character in Happy Days

Howard C. Cunningham is a fictional character played by Tom Bosley on the 1970s sitcom Happy Days. Actor Harold Gould played the character in the pilot, which aired as an episode of the anthology series Love, American Style. He is the husband of Marion Cunningham, and the father of Chuck, Richie, and Joanie Cunningham. Originally, Gould was supposed to reprise his role on Happy Days as Howard Cunningham but wanted to commit to something else so Bosley was offered the part. Howard is one of only two characters, the other being Fonzie, to appear in all 255 episodes of Happy Days and to remain with the rest of the cast for all 11 seasons; of the two, Howard is the only one to have also appeared in the pilot.

Marion Cunningham is a fictional character in the 1970s American television sitcom Happy Days. She was played by Marion Ross, after whom the character was named, and first appears in the Love American Style episode "Love and the Happy Days". She is one of three characters to remain on the show for all 11 seasons. She is also one of three characters to be played by the same actors on Love American Style as well as Happy Days.

"My Favorite Orkan" is the 22nd episode of the fifth season of the 1970s television sitcom Happy Days, making it the 110th episode overall. It is notable for introducing Robin Williams to a larger audience. The actor's popular appearance in this episode led to the spin-off series Mork & Mindy, which was based on his character.

References

  1. ↑ ""Happy Days:" Why Richie and the Fonz aren't suing". CBS News. April 20, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Brant, Marley (2006). Happier Days: Paramount Television's Classic Sitcoms, 1974–1984. New York: Billboard Books. p. 37. ISBN   0-8230-8933-9.
  3. ↑ Waters, Darren (August 12, 2004). "Remembering Happy Days". BBC News. (BBC). Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  4. ↑ "From failure to Fonz – actor Winkler aims to inspire". Reuters. April 27, 2007. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  5. ↑ Haithman, Diane (January 4, 1991). "Is Uncool Urkel the '90s Answer to the Fonz?". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  6. ↑ Slocum, Beth (August 18, 1974). "'Happy Days' Stars". The Milwaukee Journal.
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