Al Molinaro, drive-in owner in 'Happy Days,' dies at 96

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Al Molinaro, drive-in owner in "Happy Days," dies at 96 - Al Molinaro,  your current  loveable character actor  from the  hangdog face  whom   feel  known  in order to  millions  regarding  TV viewers  for  playing Murray  the  cop  in  "The Odd Couple"  IN ADDITION TO  malt  retailer  owner Al Delvecchio  at  "Happy Days," died Friday  from  Verdugo Hills Hospital  within  Glendale, his  child  Michael Molinaro said.

Molinaro, retired  through  acting  since  1990s, died  regarding  complications  of  gallstone problems, his  boy  said. He  are  96.

The Kenosha, Wisconsin, native  was   a  journeyman performer  effectively   in to  middle age  As soon as   a  comedy improv class led  to be able to  his breakthrough. Producer Garry Marshall heard  information on  Molinaro  IN ADDITION TO  hired him  because of its   part   connected with  police Officer Murray Greshler  in  "The Odd Couple,"  your  TV version  connected with  Neil Simon's play  about  feuding roommates.  The idea  starred Tony Randall  Equally  photographer Felix Unger  ALONG WITH  Jack Klugman  Just as  sports writer Oscar Madison  IN ADDITION TO  featured Molinaro  As   sole   involving   it is  buddies,  a good  simpleminded policeman  exactly who   on  times seemed  In the same way  much  a  threat  to  his friends  In the same way  he did  in order to   almost any  crooks.

"The Odd Couple" ran  coming from  1970-75  AND ALSO  not  singular  demonstrated Molinaro's knack  intended for  goofiness, but exploited his  most  distinctive feature — his plus-sized nose.  within   one  defining scene, Murray attempts  for you to  enter his friends' apartment, but  ones  door  can be  locked. Murray instead sticks his nose  by using a  peephole.

"Oh, hi Murray," Oscar calls out.

His  child  Michael said  The item  Molinaro "was good friends till  your  end  throughout   every one of the  group  regarding   people  involved  in  'The Odd Couple.' "

His  next  long-running role  feel   The idea   regarding  Al Delvecchio  inside  "Happy Days,"  your  1974-1984 nostalgic sitcom  all about  1950s life  The item  starred Ron Howard  AND ALSO  Henry Winkler. Molinaro joined  ones  cast  in  1976, replacing Pat Morita  As   the  owner  involving  Arnold's Drive-In,  AND  remained until 1982.

In ABC's 1992 "'Happy Days' Reunion Special," Molinaro defended  the  show  via  criticism  The idea   The item  sentimentalized  your own  1950s.

"In  ones  industry, they  intended to   acquire   all of us   as a  bubble-gum show," he said. "But  when i  think they  forgotten about   individual  thing.  for the   public   within  America, 'Happy Days'  \'m   an   clicks  show,  AS WELL AS   my partner and i  think  It   are   IN ADDITION TO   we  think  This  still is."

Molinaro  created   in  his "Happy Days" success  pertaining to   decades   right after  he left  your  show. He brought  your own  character  regarding  Al  to be able to  "Joanie Loves Chachi,"  a  short-lived "Happy Days" spinoff  The item  aired  via  1982-83.  inside  1987, he  ALONG WITH  Anson Williams,  that  played Potsie  in  "Happy Days,"  turned on  Big Al's,  a great  Midwestern diner chain.

He brought Al back  with regard to   the  brief appearance  within  "Buddy Holly,"  an  1995 music  video   to its  group Weezer  That   am   dispatched   through  Spike Jonze.

Molinaro played  the  grandfather  with  "The Family Man" sitcom  It  aired  coming from  1990-1991,  AS WELL AS  continued  to help  make guest appearances  with   some other   sequence   through the  early '90s. He  also  filmed commercials, notably  pertaining to  On-Cor frozen dinners.

Molinaro came  for you to  acting late  in  life. He had  a great  brief teenage stint  as a  clarinet player  having a  band,  subsequently  worked  with   a variety of  jobs  soon after  graduating high school. He moved  in order to  California  with the  early 1950s  at  casual  replies   through   a  friend  that   suggested  he pursue acting.

"I said, 'I'll do that,'" Molinaro told  ones  Kenosha News  throughout   the  2004 interview. "I  get   towards  Greyhound bus  AND ALSO   i am   in  Hollywood."

His  1st  TV  career   are   within  production,  Any time  he talked  a  independent TV station manager  in   employing  him.  next   The idea   am   on  TV commercials  AND  ads,  including   an  Los Angeles billboard  The idea  featured him  throughout   a good  chef's cap.  your own  producers  of  "Get Smart" spotted  This   AS WELL AS  hired Molinaro  in order to  play Agent 44  pertaining to   several  episodes  in  1969.  The idea   are  followed  through  guest roles  throughout   these kinds of  sitcoms  Just like  "Green Acres," ''That Girl"  AS WELL AS  "Bewitched."

"I spent 20  a long time  here  previous   we   made it  anything going,  AS WELL AS   by   It   my spouse and i   made it  lucky," he said.

Molinaro had  a great  son, Michael,  from  his  1st  marriage. He  ALONG WITH  his second wife, Betty Farrell, married  with  1981.