Saturday, September 21, 2013

Erin Moran

Erin Moran is a former child star best known for her role on the hit 1970s-1980s sitcom, Happy Days.  Moran went from one of the hottest young TV stars in the early 1980s until Happy Days was cancelled, at which point her career completely derailed until she attempted an-ill advised comeback on Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp nearly 25 years later.  [Summaries of the Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp episodes may be found here.]


Erin Moran was born on October 18, 1960 in Burbank, California and broke into the acting business at a young age.  As a 7-year-old child, she had a recurring role on the TV show, Daktari, appearing in 15 episodes during the fourth season of the show about a veterinarian running an animal study center in Africa.  Moran followed up on this initial success with minor roles in several other TV shows, such as Death Valley Days, My Three Sons, Family Affair, Gunsmoke, and The Waltons.  Moran also appeared in several motion pictures such as 80 Steps to Jonah, The Happy Ending, and Watermelon Man.


Moran's star was rising as she was becoming known as a child actress, leading to her being cast in her signature role as Joanie Cunningham on the long-running hit 1950's-era nostalgia sitcom, Happy Days, in 1974.


Happy Days was one of the most popular TV shows during its original airing of 11 seasons between 1974 and 1984.  Moran was a regular on the show as the young teenage daughter of the Cunnginham family for all but the 10th season of the show, at which point she was cast in a lead role in the unsuccessful spin-off show, Joanie Loves Chachi.


Joanie Cunningham was a somewhat annoyed, yet wholesome, young woman on Happy Days and a popular character among American youths.  Erin Moran must have thought that she was on top of the world by the early 1980s as she undoubtedly made millions during her time on Happy Days and became incredibly famous.


However, Moran was in for a rude awakening after Happy Days was cancelled in 1984 as her career quickly derailed.  Moran appeared in two episodes of The Love Boat in 1985 and in an episode of Murder, She Wrote in 1986.  Moran has appeared as herself in TV shows such as Hollywood Squares and in the movie Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.  However, Moran had to wait 12 long years until 1998 until appearing in her next role other than as herself in a single episode of Diagnosis Murder.  Unfortunately, her role in Diagnosis Murder did not reinvigorate her career as she must have thought it would.

With her back up against the wall, Moran made one last-ditch effort to return to the limelight by agreeing to appear in 2008's Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp.  Moran also appeared in a single episode of Scott Baio Is 45... And Single the prior year, in 2007. Moran embarassed herself on Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp, coming across as almost as washed up as the poster child of washed up actors, Dustin Diamond.  Moran was the only contestant on the show who didn't seem to take the show seriously as show lost only 3 pounds, a mere 2.4% of her body weight, during the show.  Her lack of effort completely screwed over her own team, costing them a victory in a competition to lose weight and body fat.  Her lackadaisical effort cost she and her three teammates about $150,000 in prizes, as I discuss in detail in the summary of the last episode of the season on which she appeared.


During Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp, Moran all but admitted that she didn't care about losing weight and claimed that she only came onto the show because she needed the money.


Her appearance on Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp did not reinvigorate her career the way she must have hoped it would.  She did appear in minor roles in the TV movie Mother Goose Parade, the TV show The Bold and Beautiful, and the movie Not Another B Movie, in 2009-10.  However, she has not had any other roles since 2010.  She was rumored to be appearing in the fourth season of Arrested Development in 2013, although she did not end up appearing in the show.


As Moran's career floundered, it appears as though her personal life has also floundered, possibly as a result of burning many bridges while she was at the height of her career.  Moran supposedly appeared on an episode of the Maury Povich Show and claimed that she was "molested" by several male cast members when she was on Happy Days.  However, Moran neglected to corroborate these claims and she disappeared after a return from a commercial break.  Moran later claimed that her own family, not any other actors, abused her

Moran also joined in a lawsuit with several other former Happy Days cast members, claiming that they not been paid for merchandising revenues owed under their contracts.  Moran eventually received a $65,000 settlement.  Unfortunately, however, the windfall did not last long for Moran.


In 2012 it was reported that Moran was broke and lost her California home to foreclosure, forcing her to move in with her husband's mother-in-law in a trailer park in Indiana.  It was also reported in 2012 that Moran flashed her saggy breasts while at a bar in 2012 and apparently nobody knew who she was!  One of the bar's patron's reportedly said, "Who the heck is Erin Moran?"


Moran also supposedly really boozed things up, to the annoyance of her mother-in-law.  The mother-in-law eventually decided that she had enough of Moran's "hard-partying ways" and kicked her out near the end of 2012, rendering Moran homeless, causing her to bounce from hotel-to-hotel.

There is apparently no love lost between Moran and her former Happy Days and Joanie Loves Chachi co-star Scott Baio.  Baio stated that he knew about Moran's personal troubles, but did not want to help her.  One can only speculate as to what Moran must have done to cause this lack of concern from Baio.


Erin Moran was once one of the most promising young actresses in Hollywood between the mid-1970s and hte mid-1980s.  However, she apparently burned too many bridges and spent her money unwisely, resulting in her being essentially homeless and destitute today.  Accordingly, there can be no doubt that she is one hell of a washed-up celebrity!

85 comments:

Anonymous said...

keep up the good work

Bukakke Bob said...

You failed to mention that she did appear in the 1981 Sci-FI cult film 'Galaxy of Terror," which is infamous for having a scene in which a woman is raped by a giant maggot.

Michelle said...

She didn't do herself any favors by going on Celebrity Fit Club. Maybe Scott Baio doesn't want to help her because he's a dick, not the other way around.

James M. Tate said...

the part of Joanie Cunningham was originally played by Susan Neher when it was an episode of LOVE AMERICAN STYLE. Anson Williams wound up getting Erin the role as Joanie, because Anson and Erin were in a TV movie called LISA, BRIGHT AND DARK in 1973. so we must all thank Potsie for Joanie being Erin, or rather, Erin being Joanie. same difference.

RayRay said...

The last picture of her smoking is hysterical.

jervaise brooke hamster said...

I desperately want to perform literally every concievable and possible sex-act in the known universe on Erin Moran (as the bird was in 1978 when the bird was 18, not as the dirty old slag is now obviously).

jervaise brooke hamster said...

Bob, "Galaxy of Terror" was an appalling film but it was still infinitely better than anything the British film industry has ever produced ! ! !.

Anonymous said...

I'm surprised I didn't mention her child with Ron howard, Emily Schumann . This was reported in 1987-88

Eddie V said...

Erin Moran? More like Erin Moron! It would not surprise me if she started sucking tips for one dollar tips!

Anonymous said...

Erin Moran is a chronic screw-up, but I can't bring myself to riducule her. She came from a horrible family and it clearly damaged her psychologically. She's pitiful, not evil.

J said...

One word: FINALLY! Now I'm waiting for one on Stephen Baldwin*.

*I've wanted there to be a Kirk Cameron entry for years, but I think Stephen is much more washed-up and more deserving to be on this blog; Kirk has not done reality TV while Stephen has been on at least three reality shows (two stints on Celebrity Apprentice and an appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in the UK).

Anonymous said...

Bout damn time a new post was added.

Anonymous said...

LOL. That photo of her with the cigarette. Looks like a drugged out version or Richard Simmons.

Anonymous said...

I heard Scott Baio was trying to get Zapped II made, but they turned it down when they read the scene where he made Erin Moran's shirt lift up and flopped her tits around.

WillyJohnWeiner said...

I used to work as an extra during the later series of happy days. Backstage, Henry Winkler and I used to hogtie her and take turns pounding every orifice in her body.

Ahhh, those truly were, Happy days.

Eyyyy! :)

Anonymous said...

I bought the dvd of GALAXY OF TERROR and the extras include commentary and interviews with the cast and crew which included Robert Englund as it was one of his first roles back in 1981. Erin Moran is conspicuous by her absence considering at the time she would have been the most well known member of the cast.

steve prefontaine said...

Willy, did you do the same with Heather O`Rourke ! ?.

WillyJohnWeiner said...

steve prefontaine said...

Willy, did you do the same with Heather O`Rourke ! ?.

Although i pride myself in being a sexual degenerate, Heather was off limits. However. I did do Marion Ross on the kitchen table. Dunno if the cameras were on.

Nards of Goat said...

It's about time Movie Fan, you dumb fartbag! There's only so many times I can blow my pecker snot while reading Dennis Haskins' entry. Oooooooooooo Belding kicks my flesh missile into overdrive. Keep up the good work!

LesbieAvenue said...

I heard she was doing Cleveland Steamers for, like, five bucks. These days are yours and my happy days!

Anonymous said...

Your site is amusing, MovieFan. Will there be another entry before 2014? I can suggest some names if you're interested.

Anonymous said...

yes

Thomas WIlson said...

When an individual believes that they are screwed up, there is always someone whom proves you wrong! I can only empathize with losers only so far. I in my time have been an enabler naively believing by giving someone (a unrepentant loser) a "3 hots and a cot" helped them at times find a job. (I have done this more than a few times) I believe this qualifies me as an lay expert. (I have no desire to become a life-coach) When I say "screwed up" that definition is both relative and subjective. What I mean is a normal person having short term setbacks by life issues. Erin Moran is obviously psychologically damaged and as a middle-aged adult no one is going to "fix her.' She's going to have to "bottom out" first, if that happens before she self destructs, which I seriously doubt. I saw an headline that she ditched her hubby to become a lesbian? (I only know what I read, whether it's true is another thing entirely)

destroying anal said...

oh Erin Moran, what a lady. i met ms Moran at the july 27th 2007 Comic-Con event in San Deigo. i was with my friend Karl at the time just browsing the floor for familiar faces when i came across Ms Moran sitting by her lonesome. so i come to the table with karl asking for an autograph on my vintage happydays lunch box that she so graciously signed and after our exchange of about 20 bucks i asked if she had any personal memorabilia she was interested in selling, and she did, but at the motel she was staying at of course, so she invited my friend and I later that night to check out some of her collection. she gave us the address and later we gave her a ring and karl and I step in her room it appears that her ex hubby (who has been mentioned here) was setting up a camcorder with a tripod. i figure they had just come from sight seeing when i feel my pants being un zipped and lowered and ms Moran then working on Karl's pants the same way. and suddenly we are both getting our dicks rigorously blown by the talented ms Moran. just as we bukkaked her face to give her that krispy kream glow we spitroast ms Moran and constantly switched orifices while doing our best fonze impressions. as soon as i am done uttering the last "eyyyy!!!" i filled her ass with a cream pie while her husband blew his own load on the carpet while recording and giving us the thumbs up. as soon as karl gives ms Moran his final weewee facial I pull out of her butthole and her husband rushes in and felches my cum out of her ass and spits it right back into her mouth. feeling thoroughly exhausted karl and i try to make our exit, but her husband begs for a grand finale and the three of us then proceed to take a huge triple decker shit in unison right on Ms Moran's face. after we make her look like swamp thing. we clean up and leave ms Moran and her hubby forever always to remember the times my friend and i got to spend the night with joanie cunningham. her hubby must still respect her privacy because i am sure she has a future in scat bukkakke porn with that awesome footage :)

Anonymous said...

My first time on this site and enjoy the writing and the readers comments. Very enjoyable, disturbing yet compulsively readable.

Anonymous said...

I agree. I think she will make a cumback and get an oscar. Truly brilliant. Love love love

Anonymous said...

Oh my God in Heaven what is wrong with most of you? So this is how you would help someone whos had a hard life and has been abused? By sexually asulting Ms. Moran? Remember pigs most of you might or will someday have daughters you will regret ever posting such filth.

Ed E said...

Erin Moran was and still is below average looking! How she made it in Hollywood is beyond my comprehension!

jervaise brooke hamster said...

She let the producer of Happy Days shove his willy up her bum, thats how ! ! !.

eddie lydecker said...

James, my nationality doesn`t matter, what does matter is that you stink to high heaven.

renc said...

Eddie: What stinks to high heaven is bad British breath and anonymous losers tearing down a poor washed up celebrity who's obviously having some major life problems right now. I don't tolerate bullies. And there's no shortage of little cowardly bullies and gutter snipes all over the internet.

Anonymous said...

Erin can sit on my face anytime..

Anonymous said...

Ugh!!!
I wouldn't want her sitting on my face.

Anonymous said...

I love sites like this....with comments that are fantasy stories written by social retards that hide behind their keyboards.

jervaise brooke hamster said...

Hey Anonymous, my Heather O`Rourke, Judith Barsi, JonBenet Ramsey, Cindy Hinds, Paige Connor, Tami Stronach, and Pauline Hickey fantasys are very important to me so dont be so keen to knock and belittle them, OK ! ! !.

Anonymous said...

Great blog! But I'm wondering if you're planning to include Denise Crosby any time soon. I think she would make a wonderful addition.

Jim D. said...

I have no clue if that sex tape story is true or not, but, if true, it's tragic. the two POS who'starred' in it & Erin's ex husband, also a POS, are human trash and ahould be ashamed of themselves.

Anonymous said...

Erin was actually cute at one time. Now she looks like a train wreck. As for why Scott Baio don't seem to wanna help her, it might be cos he don't wanna deal in a lost cos. I lived on the streets for 2 years & slept on snow covered concrete. Now if I can pick my ass back up, so can a star who had way more money than I'll ever have. Now, I have my own place, cloths on my back, food in the fridge & even my critter to. So if I can pick my ass back up, then I don't wanna here Erin's bitches & moans. Your life is what you make it. I read somewhere that, she was tired of her husband & that he was riding on her coat tails & that she was the bread winner. Really? Listen sweetheart. A bread winner don't live from hotel to hotel. A bread winner isn't homeless. All of which, Erin either was or is. So where the hell do you get off saying that ANYBODY is riding YOUR coat tails. Hell, you cant even take care of yourself. At least I can. No wonder Scott Baio didn't wanna get involved with her. She's a train wreck. Sad to, cos she could of been a beautiful woman, had she kept her head on straight. Whatever she brought on, she brought it on herself.

ShuFly said...

Erin made more money than most of us will ever make in our lifetime. I just don't understand why they live like their careers will NEVER end. She should have gone to college...

Anonymous said...

She did NOT make millions from Happy days!!! NO WAY!!

Unknown said...

Her years in cumming are long over now !! She should have been in the adult movie business no later than the 1990's ...

Anonymous said...

Poor Shortcake.

Unknown said...

she could go to Howard and ask for a role in Jurassic World ! dress as a raptor

tomasiepants said...

Man, you guys are harsh! People can't stay in the limelight forever. Plus, all good things come to an end. If anything, she was helping out her mother in law.
Oh, and I think she's attractive.

freedom lover said...

That's the nicest and truest thing that's been said in all of these comments. Bless you and thank you.

Zorak65 said...

What's a cos?

Anonymous said...

I think that Erin Moran was a beautiful young woman. She was the victim of circumstances, like other child performers. She has a beautiful singing voice and just needs to enter a rehab and get some help. I am afraid that with all the negative postings, her reputation has been tarnished beyond repair. She can, however, get some help and at least live a normal life. The posting of degrading Erin by raping her, and sodomizing her is the most disgusting account of what happened and they should be ashamed to actually post such events and participate in the acts -- especially her low-life husband who was filming the event. All of you will have to answer for your actions some day. All of you are the lowest creatures on earth. Sad and disgusted.

Anonymous said...

She missed her chance to become a famous porn star..
She still have a chance in a star role as grandma does Dallas.

Anonymous said...

This blog and it's owner is such a trash. The owner of this blog is anonymous. Why don't you show your stupid and evil face? The only people who are Washed up here it's you and most of the evil comentators. You are absolutely disgusting. You are excuses for a human beings, and not the good people you are writing your vile comments about. Why don't you publish your ugly mugs and discuss your own sorry looks and lives and ridicule each other? This would be truelly entertaining. But guess what? "Everything is only borrowed"! KARMA is just amazing, when you least expect it. The vile rot which you spit out of your dirty mugs is absolutely disturbing and one day Ms Karma will greet you with open arms.

Unknown said...

When things go wrong in life you will see people abandon you like the proverbial rats they are, but I hope the quote "Don't kick me when I'm down, because one day I'm gonna get back up" comes into play for Erin. And as the previous comment mentioned, Ms Karma will kick in, as she does over all our actions, good or bad. I hope Erin Moran finds some peace. She doesn't need belittling. And she doesn't need those people who have abandoned her either.

Anonymous said...

It's no one's place really...Sott Baio doesn't owe her anything

Scooter said...

I am happy to see a few posters trying to inject some civility into this board.
Erin was a cute teenage girl that blossomed into an astoundingly beautiful young lady. She should have been a respected, talented superstar that would still look great today if choices and circumstances had been different.

I do not understand why everything fell apart for her so quickly after Happy Days. All I read on the internet is some vague speculation about how Erin "burnt bridges" in Hollywood, but no one is offering specifics. No doubt, she made her share of mistakes and faced her own adversities over the years.

Seeing her now in a recent photo standing next to her (former?) husband, she looks like anyone's granny from the hills of coal country. Time is cruel and unfair to all of us (I am the same age as Erin). Perhaps all that will matter forever is, in the end, what is in our hearts. How we love, serve, and relate to family, friends, and others.

Be careful, therefore, how you attempt to judge someone publicly by word or pen - let alone create some twisted libel against them - for as you judge others, so shall you be judged. And with the same measure that you mete out to others, so shall it be meted out to you again.

By God's grace, I hope that Erin recovers and finishes this life as a success, in God's eyes if not in the sight of anyone else.

Anonymous said...

I've seen better looking people in funeral homes.

Unknown said...

He treated her like shit during Joanie loves Chachi, used to call her fat etc.if I was her I wouldn't have asked him for help anyways.

Unknown said...

I will not bashave Erin I pray she get the help she needs I feel bad that she burnt all her bridges

She could have done Vegas back then
Opened an acting school
Do boat cruises
Invest her money wisely

So I will pray for her

I do feel bad I will always admire Joanne Cunningham not her

Anonymous said...

She dead

Anonymous said...

And now she belongs to the ages. Rest in peace, Erin.

The Blue Light Buzz said...

RIP to Erin Moran. The booze, rocks and cugarettes got her.

Unknown said...

RIP Erin. May the brightness of your star here on earth, now be as bright in the peaceful night sky.

Unknown said...

...aaaaand now she's dead.

Stentor said...

Well, she's gone now, so I guess you all can close out this thread. RIP Erin.

Anonymous said...

And now she's gone

You really need to update these articles

Anonymous said...

Now that she's dead and everyone is expressing warm thoughts, let's remember that, at age 31, Erin Moran was invited to the Happy Days reunion but flatly refused to go. The born-again Christian Moran claimed that every member of the cast was “evil,” adding, “I pray for them.” While being interviewed by Howard Stern, without evidence or corroboration, she tearfully accused Scott Baio of raping her back in the Happy Days era. Yet later she was seen at a party with him like they were best buddies.

Just another tedious born-again Christian who thought she was better than everyone else and that she could say anything she wanted because she had found Jesus, so all would be forgiven in the end.

Anonymous said...

can I really post with no registration? No wonder this trash website has such trashy comments. This website should do the world a favour and trying being nice.

Anonymous said...

Well, she is gone now. RIP.

Anonymous said...

http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2017/04/22/happy-days-star-erin-moran-dead-56/

Anonymous said...

and now she is dead. end of story.

Unknown said...

RIP Erin. Though your personal life was tragic, you will be young Joanie Cunningham forever immortalized on film. Thank you for the happiness you brought to so many.

Anonymous said...

I am shocked at the lack of morals some people possess. But then again they probably don't know what morals are.Did your parents raise you like that?If so shame on them. What ever happened to help they neighbor? She suffered from depression and probably in need of treatment but instead of helping her people make fun of her and become the nasty rugrats they were raised to be. Obviously good enough for her own family when she was making the money but worthless to them when she was broke.I can't believe family would desert her in her time of need. It seems her only peace was found in death. God bless you Erin. And to all of you who bash her name be careful God does not place on you the burdens she had because when you lose your family and friends you will be living her life and not handle it well either.

Anonymous said...

She died yesterday autopsy to be done rip.

Robert A Ashworth said...

You are really a odious little indevidual, my hope along with many other's I wager, is that you catch a vile and finally fatal to you.

Anonymous said...

RIP dear Erin...nobody but God knows the pain or abuse you endured to lead to those poor choices. I am sad that you gave us all so much happiness when we were young, but could not find happiness yourself, in this life. May you now have peace dear one...

Stop Abuse said...

Finally, an intelligent comment from someone. At least 90 percent of the time (I'd say more), the reason child stars start doing hard drugs and hurting themselves is that they've been molested. It happens over and over again and what happens? The medua decimates Lindsay Lohan, or in this case, Erin. Society is horribly messed up on this issue

Tommy Wimmer said...

Erin Moran was found dead on April 22, 2017. She was 56 years old. RIP Joanie, you will be missed.

Anonymous said...

Erin died on April 22...

Unknown said...

RIP Shortcake......what a sad ending to her life.

Unknown said...

She died a couple days ago

Anonymous said...

Since Erin Moran has just died, this blog seems quite disrespectful. I suggest removing this entry altogether.

Anonymous said...

IMHO: She was a child star who was handled with soft gloves and treated as special. Then she grew up and had nothing unique to offer so her acting career declined, and she had to go out into the real world for which she was obviously not prepared. Her parents, teachers, all these people should have prepared her with discipline and tough love during her formative years because by the time she reached adulthood it was too late. While she had to own up to some responsibility, it wasn't completely her fault, and she was more than punished. Now she is dead at 56, not the first child star to die young, not the last. Dana Plato is the closest that comes to mind, and Plato, like me, also had to wrestle with being adopted and not having genetic markers or knowing where she came from. Haters who delight in making nasty comments never help the situation. People who are filled with self loathing and emotional turmoil who are already down on themselves can't be cut down any further.

Anonymous said...

Erin Moron died this past weekend.

...and the world yawns.

Unknown said...

Comments really stink. She's passed on now. Hope she never read these..most of them.

notyocheez said...

Rip

Anonymous said...

Is doing heavy amounts of cocaine wrong? I'm trying to figure that out.

Anonymous said...

while some may seem tedious , the bored and laconic are among us on a semi regular basis. even though epstein helped the orange guy with his desires there is no pity in the naked city, one bad apple does spoil the whole bunch girl

Anonymous said...

What a bunch of sad sacks.. comments are deplorable..