Since Happy Days‘ Tom Bosley died at 83 of lung cancer yesterday, several members of the cast have released statements lauding their old co-star. This morning, Henry Winkler, who played cool Arthur Fonzarelli, a.k.a. The Fonz, stopped by The Today Show to share some more kind words.
Winkler expressed his personal appreciation for Bosley, who was both an on- and off-screen father figure for the years that Happy Days aired. Bosley helped him and the other young cast members buy their first houses by teaching them about mortgages and down payments. Winkler recalled first seeing Bosley on Broadway in Fiorello and described the surreal experience of later finding himself on the same Paramount stage. But Winkler said Bosley’s legacy is much bigger than his career. “He was a great father,” he said. “He was a great dad. And he was a terrific grandfather.”
What’s your favorite memory of Bosley? Did you grow up with him as your TV dad?
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Tom Bosley was a great actor and human being. He will be greatly missed. At least he can live on in reruns…
To me he was the perfect tv dad. I loved watching Happy Days. It is definitely a part of my childhood.
Bosley used to do the narration for a great pre-internet show called That’s Hollywood. It was a series of documentaries about Hollywood history. All but forgotten now, but that’s my favorite memory of Tom. RIP, Mr. C.
That show popped into my head just the other day, before he died. Weird. I loved that show. I guess that hasn’t been on since the early 80s maybe?
Mr.C! Grew up watching Happy Days. he was the best!
The best TV fathers to me were Paul Reiser (My Two Dads), Michael Gross (Family Ties), Bill Cosby (Cosby Show), Alan Thicke (Growing Pains), and absolutely Tom Bosley (Happy Days). Bosley was clearly the top of the pyramid.
I dare say he was more the BASE of the pyramid. Absoltely THE foundation for all television dads who followed him. An American treasure, I wish the best for his family.
The 1st time I saw him was in a movie “Love w/ The Proper Stranger” on TV one afternoon. I fell in love w/ his clutzy loveable character that didn’t get the girl.
Think he was the spokesman for Ace Hardware for a while. I had no idea he was from Chicago– how awesome! He will definitely be missed.
AYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
He was an amazing actor! I followed him from Happy Days towards Murder, She Wrote and Father Dowling too … and I’m only 18!
Definately a legend in my eyes.
R.I.P.
It’s great to hear that Tom Bosley was in reality what he portrayed so winningly on TV–an awesome dad.
My thoughts exactly.
I grew up watching “Happy Days” and like most people of my age, we will certainly miss Tom since he did represent the quintessential father figure on TV. Rest in Peace Tom. We will miss you a lot…
I started watching Murder, she wrote because of Tom. Sure will miss him. Thoughts and prayers to his family.
One of the best TV Dads EVER.
Rest In Peace, Mr. C.
I agree with all comments above and may I add that I don’t think there is a more gracious person in Hollywood than Henry Winkler, who is a true gentleman, a rarity in today’s scandal-filled and gossip-filled entertainment world.
RIP Mr. C.
I grew up watching Happy Days and Tom Bosley was a great role model for fathers in the 70′s. Its too bad there are more feel good shows like Happy Days instead of the junk on tv now.