Vale: Gavan O’Herlihy
Happy Days actor who gave rise to the “Chuck Cunningham syndrome” has died.
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This is one for TV nostalgia fans…
Gavan O’Herlihy, best known for Happy Days, has died, aged 70.
He died in Bath, England on Sept. 15, family confirmed. A cause of was not revealed but family confirmed it was not COVID-19.
O’Herlihy appeared as Richie and Joanie Cunningham’s basketball-loving brother Chuck on for the first two seasons of Happy Days before being written out without explanation. He was briefly replaced by
Randolph Roberts for two episodes, but who also vanished, including from family photos.
It led rise to the “Chuck Cunningham syndrome” to describe TV characters who were written out as if they never existed.
O’Herlihy later said the character was to be based at college with little more than basketball storylines, and he lost interest in the show.
His other credits included The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Star Trek: Voyager, Twin Peaks, The Amazing Spider-Man, Tales From the Crypt, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, Rich Man Poor Man, Death Wish 3, Willow, Superman III and Never Say Never Again.
Ron Howard paid tribute to him on Twitter, writing: “RIP Gavan. I knew him as the 1st of 2 Chucks on #HappyDays and then as Airk in #Willow where I had the pleasure of directing him. A talented actor with a big free spirit.”
Source: Variety
One Response
Whilst on the subject of Happy Days is there anyone who streams this in Australia or will stream soon ,it’ll be an interesting look back again ,this was on the ABC network in the states.