Erin Moran, Joanie from Happy Days, Dead at 56

Image from source, Washington Post

Poor Erin Moran. She was undersung and overlooked on Happy Days. When the "big dogs" of the show left for greener pastures, it was "Joanie's" turn to shine. But, they shunted her off to the terrible Joanie Loves Chachi, and brought in Ted McGinley to replace her? The show crashed and burned, she was able to return, and then they ended the show, and made her marry Chachi (Scott Baio) as the last episode. It wasn't much of an ending. Then the roles dried up, producers ripped her off, her life took a sad turn, and she died way too young. To top it all off, she's being referred to as "Scott Baio's love interest on Happy Days," in her obituary.

The truth is, after a rather nondescript start on the show, she developed rapidly into a scene stealer, and a fairly good sense of comic timing. Being just a few years younger, I really liked her as an actress, particularly in those few episodes where Joanie was essentially the central figure. I always thought she resembled and ought to be paired with Adrianne Barbeau, but no producer ever seemed to see that possibility. So, it's a sad, slow ending for Erin Moran. And it's not one that likely surprised very many. But it's really too bad. RIP, Ms. Moran.

From a "Separated at Birth" post
from the early days of this blog.

[Excerpt]

Erin Moran, actress from ‘Happy Days’ TV show, dies at 56

Erin Moran, a former child star who played Joanie Cunningham in the sitcoms “Happy Days” and “Joanie Loves Chachi,” was found dead April 22 in Harrison County, Ind. She was 56.

Emergency responders found her unresponsive at a trailer park after the sheriff’s department received a 911 call, the department said. An autopsy is pending to determine the cause of death. . .

Read more at: Washington Post

Separated at Birth: Obscure Celebrity Edition

For a little insight into how a blog post can make its way from inspiration to publication--or perhaps just into how my brain works--check this out.

I was watching part of season three of my complete Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVD set (thanks, Mom!), and there was a character trying to date Buffy named Scott Hope. The actor set off my I know that guy! alarm, but I just couldn't place him. Season three was shot over nine years ago (my GOD), so he could have been in any number of things, right?

I'm a virtual walking encyclopedia of pop-culture knowledge, which is even a less-in-demand skill with these days of instant information on the inter-tubes. But I couldn't place this guy, so I tried IMDB.com (an invaluable source of information), and found him. Fabrizio Filippo, and he played Ethan the fiddle-player on Queer as Folk. Aha! Yeah, I did recognize him, but something still was off--I wasn't thinking of him.

Then, pop-culture kismet smacked me (as it often does), and I by strange coincidence happened upon the website of one Zach Galligan (of Gremlins). Holy smoke! Not twins, mind you, but they could be related, they look so much alike. But strangely, as an older man, Galligan now is starting to resemble David Naughton of American Werewolf in London!

This mode of thought set of a cascade-reaction to earlier realizations. People who look enough alike that they should be cast as relatives. Only problem? These celebrities are so obscure (with one notable exception) they're probably uncastable.

I have noticed these things for years, but can only come up with a couple of them right now. Maybe I'll do a sequel if the others occur to me. Anyway, take a look for the fun of it. Bonus points if you even know who some of them are!




And while we're on the subject, here's my favorite one, used here on the blog many times in the past: