'HAPPY DAYS' STAR AL MOLINARO DIES

tmz ^ | october 30, 2015

[lowbridge]

Al Molinaro, who played the beloved chef at the drive-in on "Happy Days" ... died in a Wisconsin hospital on Thursday.

Molinaro's son confirmed the actor's death ... telling us he had very bad gall stones, but Al elected not to have surgery due to his age. He was 96. 

On "Happy Days" he played Big Al Delvecchio, who started out as the chef at Arnold's Drive-In. He eventually became owner of the Fonz's fave hangout, and remained on the show for 10 years.

Molinaro also played the Big Al role on the spinoff, "Joanie Loves Chachi." His character would famously spin long tales that always started with,  "Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep."

[dfwgator]

“Ahh yep yep yep yep yep!”

[Inyo-Mono]

I met Jimmy Durante once back in the early 1970s at a small party and he was hilarious! Told my twenty-something kids about it and they said “Who?” Sad.

[ETL]

[SamAdams76]

Hey, he outlived Tony Randall and Jack Klugman, even though he was the fattest.

That is a good thing.

For those who purchased the original CD-ROM version of Windows 95, Al Molinaro is prominently featured in the Weezer version of "Buddy Holly".

[Thorliveshere]

Aaah, man...

[dfwgator]

He played “Al” one last time for Weezer’s “Buddy Holly” video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kemivUKb4f4

[ETL]

"Murray! Bring your nose inside! You're taking up all of the air in the hall!"
--Felix Unger, The Odd Couple

[sparklite2]

96? wow.

Doctor — What’s the problem.
Patient — I can’t pee.
Doctor — How old are you?
Patient — 96.
Doctor — You’ve peed enough.

[mountn man]

[eyedigress]

RIP

[Yardstick]

Definitely a distinctive and likeable nose.

[SharpRightTurn]

I immediately thought of the episode of his nose in the peephole from the Odd Couple. Thanks for the pic.

[NRx]

I remember him well though I didn’t know he was still alive. He was a truly great character actor.

Memory eternal.

[dead]

One of the funniest moments on one of the funniest shows ever.

[BerryDingle]

You've gotta lovely bunch of coconuts.

I've got a million of them!

[MinuteGal]

Thanks for the ping. Sad to see the old familiar faces disappearing.

RIP.

Leni

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[Rodamala]

I was just watching outtakes from The Odd Couple and this one scene with Tony and Al had me roaring... Go to the 7minute mark if it doesn't automatically take you there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xip3dcSq9M&t=7m1s

[bramps]

That was really priceless. Thanks.

[GOPsterinMA]

God Bless...96. Brings back memories of watching “Happy Days”. He always seemed to be a nice man. RIP.