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Don Most | |
|---|---|
 Most as Ralph Malph, 1974 | |
| Born | August 8, 1953 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Spouse | Morgan Hart (m. 1982) |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | realdonnymost |
Don Most (born August 8, 1953) is an American actor and singer. He is known for his role as Ralph Malph on the television series Happy Days .
Most was born to a Jewish family [1] in Brooklyn, New York City. He lived in Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in 1970. He attended Lehigh University for three years from 1970 to 1973, but did not graduate. Originally intending to study engineering, he changed his major to business after his first semester. He made plans during his junior year to spend the summer of 1973 in search of acting jobs in Hollywood before completing his studies at Lehigh. Instead, he landed the Ralph Malph role on his third audition and moved to California to pursue acting full-time. [2] [3]
Most appeared on the 113th and final filmed but never aired episode of Room 222 , entitled "Jason and Big Mo", in the role of Louie, the red-headed class wisecracker. David Jolliffe had handled the role of Bernie, the red-headed class wisecracker, for all prior appearances. Room 222 aired for the last time in January 1974, just as Happy Days began, and on the same network, ABC.
Most played jokester Ralph on Happy Days, regularly appearing up until the show’s seventh season and returned in the final season as a guest star. During the first season Most was more of a secondary character, billed only in the end credits, but by the second season he was front billed, as a primary character. Most has appeared in other film and television work. Film credits include Leo and Loree (1980), EDtv (1999), Planting Melvin (2005), and The Great Buck Howard (2008). He also made the regular round of guest appearances on TV shows like Emergency! , CHiPs , Baywatch , The Love Boat , Sliders , Star Trek: Voyager , Diagnosis: Murder , Yes, Dear , and Glee . He also made an appearance on Charles in Charge , alongside his former Happy Days co-star, Scott Baio. He plays a man who has just won the lottery and, as part of the cameo joke, he runs up to Baio and waving the winning ticket shouts, "It looks like happy days are here again!" (He also receives several looks from Baio that suggests familiarity throughout the episode.) He is sometimes credited as "Donny Most."
Most has also made stage appearances in plays like The Sunshine Boys with Robert Wuhl at Judson Theatre Company in 2017 [4] and Middletown at Bucks County Playhouse in 2019. [5]
Most performed as a voice actor on several Saturday morning cartoon series. Among these roles were: Ralph Malph on The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang (1980); Eric the Cavalier in Dungeons & Dragons (1983); and Stiles on Teen Wolf (1986–1989). Most had a cameo as himself in the fifth season Family Guy episode "It Takes a Village Idiot, and I Married One" in 2007.
United Artists released Most's only pop album, Donny Most, in the fall of 1976; it did not chart. A single from the album, "All Roads (Lead Back to You)" b/w "Better to Forget Her" (aided by Most performing it on an episode of Happy Days) spent three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1976, peaking at #97; a second single, "One of These Days", was released as a promo to record stations only. Most released two other pop singles, "Here's Some Love" b/w "I'm Gonna Love Loving You" on the Venture label in 1978 and "I Only Want What's Mine", from the soundtrack of the film Leo and Loree (which starred Most and occasional Happy Days co-star Linda Purl) on Casablanca Records in 1980; neither record charted.
Most also performed vocals in several episodes of Happy Days, where Ralph was part of a band with Potsie Weber (Anson Williams) and Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard), and later Chachi Arcola (Scott Baio). Although Most primarily sang backup vocals (with Williams handling lead), he did sing solo on several occasions, most notably the episodes "They Shoot Fonzies, Don't They" and "Be My Valentine."
As of 2016, [update] Most has switched to swing music, and released a Christmas CD, Swinging Down The Chimney Tonight on Summit Records; as of 2017, [update] he was touring the U.S. in a show called "Donny Most Sings and Swings", performing a set of 1950s songs with a seven-piece backing band. [6]
The songs "Ooo Baby Baby" and "Smoke from a Distant Fire" were released in 2021, with plans to release a new, full length album sometime in the near future.
Most married actress Morgan Hart (daughter of burlesque queen Margaret Hart Ferraro) in 1982. They have two daughters and live near Los Angeles, California. [7]
On April 19, 2011, Most and four of his Happy Days co-stars, Erin Moran, Marion Ross, Anson Williams and the estate of Tom Bosley, who died in 2010, filed a $10 million breach-of-contract lawsuit against CBS, which owns the show, claiming they had not been paid for merchandising revenues owed under their contracts. The cast members claimed they had not received revenues from show-related items, including comic books, T-shirts, scrapbooks, trading cards, games, lunch boxes, dolls, toy cars, magnets, greeting cards, and DVDs where their images appear on the box covers. Under their contracts, they were supposed to be paid five percent from the net proceeds of merchandising if their sole image were used, and half that amount if they were in a group. CBS said it owed the actors $8,500 and $9,000 each, most of it from slot machine revenues, but the group said they were owed millions. The lawsuit was initiated after Ross was informed by a friend playing slots at a casino of a "Happy Days" machine on which players win the jackpot when five Marion Rosses are rolled. [8]
In October 2011, a judge rejected the group's fraud claim, which meant they could not receive millions of dollars in potential damages. [9] On June 5, 2012, a judge denied a motion filed by CBS to have the case thrown out, which meant it would go to trial on July 17 if the matter was not settled by then. [10] In July 2012, the actors settled their lawsuit with CBS. Each received a payment of $65,000 and a promise by CBS to continue honoring the terms of their contracts. [11] [12]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Crazy Mama | Shawn (as Donn Most) | action comedy film |
| 1980 | Leo and Loree | Leo | romance comedy film |
| 1986 | Stewardess School | George Bunkle (as Donald Most) | action comedy film |
| 1993 | Acting on Impulse | Leroy | |
| 2015 | Duality | Kyle | |
| 2015 | Follow | Mr. Reynolds |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Emergency! | Fred Wilson (as Donny Most) | Episode: "Computer Error" |
| 1974 | Police Story | Arthur Kane (as Donny Most) | Episode: "Explosion" |
| Room 222 | Louie (as Donny Most) | Episode: "Jason and Big Mo" | |
| 1975 | Huckleberry | Tom Sawyer (as Donny Most) | Television film |
| 1976 | Petrocelli | Will Johnson (as Donny Most) | Episode: "The Pay Off" |
| 1978 | With This Ring | James Cutler (as Donny Most) | Television film |
| ABC Weekend Specials | Henry Cooper | Episode: "The $100,000 Bill" | |
| 1979 | Greatest Heroes of the Bible | Daniel (as Donny Most) | Episode: "Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar" |
| Angie | Coffee shop customer (uncredited) | Episode: "The Adjustment" | |
| 1981 | Aloha Paradise | Lurp (as Donny Most) | Episode: "Sydney's Old Flame / Everett and The Wolf / Lurp's in Love |
| 1980-1981 | The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang | Ralph Malph (voice) | Episode: "King for a Day Episode: "May the Farce Be with You" Episode: "Arabian Knights" Episode: "Bye Bye Blackbeard" Episode: "Westward Whoa!" Episode: Ming Fu to You, Too!" Episode: "The Vampire Strikes Back" Episode: "You'll Never Get Witch" Episode: "The 20,000 Drachma Pyramid" Episode: "It's a Jungle Out There" Episode: "Gone with the Wand" Episode: "Science Fiction" Episode: "Greece Is the Word" Episode: "The French Correction" Episode: "Kelp!" Episode: Time Schlep" Episode: "It's All Downhill from Here" Episode: "Double Jeopardy" Episode: "Fjords and Sorcery" Episode: "There's No Place Like Rome" Episode: "Perilous Pauline" Episode: "Around the World in 80 Ways" Episode: "All This and Timbuktu" Episode: "Give Me a Hand - Something's Afoot" |
| 1981-1982 | Fantasy Island | Kermit Dobbs Todd Porter, Billy Williams | Episode: "The Artist and the Lady / Elizabeth's Baby Episode: "King Arthur in Mr. Roarke's Court / Shadow Games" |
| 1982 | CHiPs | Moloch (as Donald Most) | Episode: "Rock Devil Rock" |
| 1979-1983 | The Love Boat | Marv Prine (as Donny Most) Keith Kelly (as Donald Most) | Episode: "Alaska Wedding Cruise: Buddy and Portia's Story / Julie's Story / Carol and Doug's Story / Peter and Alicia's Story: Part 1" Episode: "Alaska Wedding Cruise: Buddy and Portia's Story / Julie's Story / Carol and Doug's Story / Peter and Alicia's Story: Part 2" Episode: "The Family Plan / The Promoter / May the Best Man Win / Forever Engaged / The Judges: Part 1" Episode: "The Family Plan / The Promoter / May the Best Man Win / Forever Engaged / The Judges: Part 2" Episode: "The Zinging Valentine / The Very Temporary Secretary / Final Score" |
| 1974-1983 | Happy Days | Ralph Malph (as Donny Most) | 167 episodes |
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.
Scott Vincent Baio is an American actor. He is known for playing Chachi Arcola on the sitcom Happy Days (1977–1984) and its spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi (1982–1983), the title character on the sitcom Charles in Charge (1984–1990), Dr. Jack Stewart in the medical-mystery-drama series Diagnosis: Murder (1993–1995), and the title role of the musical film Bugsy Malone (1976), his onscreen debut. Baio has guest-starred on various television programs, appeared in several independent films, and starred on the Nickelodeon sitcom See Dad Run (2012–2015).
Thomas Edward Bosley was an American actor, television personality and entertainer. Bosley is best known for portraying Howard Cunningham on the ABC sitcom Happy Days (1974–1984) for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series nomination. Bosley also did a variety of voiceover work such as playing the lead character in the animated series Wait Till Your Father Gets Home, and the narrator of the syndicated film history documentary series That's Hollywood. He's also known for his role as Sheriff Amos Tupper in the Angela Lansbury lead CBS mystery series Murder, She Wrote (1984–1988), and as the title character in the NBC/ABC series Father Dowling Mysteries (1989–1991).
Joanie Loves Chachi is an American sitcom television series and a spin-off of Happy Days that aired on ABC from March 23, 1982, to May 24, 1983. It stars Erin Moran and Scott Baio as the characters Joanie Cunningham and Chachi Arcola, respectively. The series was cancelled after 17 episodes, in its second season, due to a drop in ratings.
Marion Ross is a retired American actress. Her best-known role is that of Marion Cunningham on the ABC television sitcom Happy Days, on which she starred from 1974 to 1984 and for which she received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Before her success on Happy Days, Ross appeared in a variety of film roles, appearing in The Glenn Miller Story (1954), Sabrina (1954), Lust for Life (1956), Teacher's Pet (1958), Some Came Running (1958), Operation Petticoat (1959), and Honky (1971), as well as several minor television roles, one of which was on television's The Lone Ranger (1954). She was also twice nominated successively in 1992 and 1993 for the Primetime Emmy Award for her performance on the CBS television comedy-drama Brooklyn Bridge and later netted another Emmy nomination in 1999 for a two-episode appearance on the popular CBS drama Touched by an Angel. Ross also starred in the high-profile, long-anticipated sequel to Terms of Endearment (1983), The Evening Star (1996), in a turn for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress, as well as both a nomination and win for a Lone Star Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Charles in Charge is an American sitcom television series that premiered on October 3, 1984, on CBS. The series was a production of Al Burton Productions and Scholastic Productions in association with Universal Television and starred Scott Baio, who had previously starred in Happy Days, in the title role. Willie Aames, who had previously been a cast member on Eight Is Enough, also starred as Charles’ best friend Buddy Lembeck.
Erin Marie Moran-Fleischmann was an American actress, best known for playing Joanie Cunningham on the television sitcom Happy Days and its spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi.
Anson Williams is an American actor and director, best known for his role as gullible, well-intentioned singer Warren "Potsie" Weber on the television series Happy Days (1974–1984), a role for which he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.
The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang is an American animated science fiction comedy series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and Paramount Television and originally broadcast during the Saturday morning schedule on ABC from November 8, 1980, until November 28, 1981. It is a spin-off of the live-action sitcom Happy Days.
Blansky's Beauties is an American sitcom television series and ostensible spin-off of Happy Days that aired on ABC from February 12 to June 27, 1977. The main character of the series was introduced on an episode of Happy Days, then set in the early 1960s, but the show is set in the present day of 1977. The series was a rare ratings flop for producer Garry Marshall and was cancelled after only 13 episodes.
Ralph Hector Malph is a character on Happy Days played by Donny Most.
Charles "Chachi" Arcola is a character played by Scott Baio on the sitcom Happy Days and its spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi.
Richard J. Cunningham is a fictional character in the 1970s TV sitcom Happy Days, 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.
Leo and Loree is a 1980 American romantic comedy film directed by Jerry Paris, starring Donny Most and Linda Purl. It was the first theatrical film from Ron Howard's production company.
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 ninth season of 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.
"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.
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