If you spent a significant amount of time in your youth fantasizing about hanging out with Richie, Potsie, and the Fonz at Arnold’s Drive-In from ABC’s classic sitcom Happy Days, having Big Al Delvecchio bring you a greasy burger, a wise crack, and a “yep, yep, yep,” that’s a dream that you’re just going to have to set aside. Al Molinaro, who played the lovable proprietor of the popular TV teen hangout has passed away at the age of 96.
According to TMZ, Molinaro died Thursday at the Verdugo Hills Hospital in Glendale, California. The actor’s son confirmed his father’s passing, saying that he had gallstones but chose not to have the surgery to remove them due to concerns about undergoing such a procedure at his age.
Molinaro was a proud native of Kenosha, Wisconsin, which probably provided some real life insight into his role on Happy Days, which is set in the same Midwest area. He joined the popular sitcom in its fourth season, taking over the restaurant from Pat Morita, who played Arnold (hence the name of the joint), but left for his own show. He went on to appear in 146 episodes, and reprised his role in the Scott Baio-centric spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi—he married Chachi’s mom. In 1994 he showed up as the character one last time in Weezer’s video for their hit “Buddy Holly,” which was famously directed by Spike Jonze and shows the band playing a gig at Arnold’s.
Molinaro moved to Hollywood in the 1950s almost on a whim when, after graduating high school and working odd jobs for a time, a friend half-seriously suggested he get into acting. According to his story, he got on a Greyhound bus and arrived in Tinseltown. After convincing the station manager at a TV channel to hire him, he started appearing in commercials and ads, which gradually led to more work.
Though Big Al was his most popular, well known role, Molinaro had a long career that included appearances on everything from Get Smart and The Love Boat to a part in the original Freaky Friday. Outside of the extended Happy Days universe, his biggest role was as Murray the Cop in the original The Odd Couple series, another partnership with producer Garry Marshall. His last regular role was as a supporting player on the short-lived CBS sitcom The Family Man, which aired in 1990, and he retired from the business shortly after.
Al Molinaro is survived by his wife, Betty, and his son, Michael.
