By Gabe Panini
Tom Bosley, who is most famously known for playing Richie Cunningham’s (Ron Howard) father, Mr. Cunningham on the popular 1970’s hit TV show “Happy Days” has died this morning at a hospital in Rancho Mirage, California.
According to his wife, Patricia Carr, Bosley had just completed chemotherapy for lung cancer that was discovered and diagnosed 5 months ago, when he suffered heart failure and passed away. He was 83 years-old.
Bosley was also known for his roles as Sheriff Amos Tupper on Murder, She Wrote with Angela Lansbury and the crime solving Catholic Priest Father Frank Dowling on the television mystery series, Father Dowling Mysteries.
Actor/Director Ron Howard, who played his son, Richie on Happy Days said this upon hearing the news of Bosley’s death, “A great father and husband, and a wonderful artist, Tom lead by example, and made us all laugh while he was doing it.”
Henry Winkler, who was Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli on “Happy Days,” said Bosley “was a family member, both on and off the sound stage.”
Thomas Edward "Tom" Bosley (October 1, 1927 - October 19, 2010)