Known for movies
Short Info
Date Of Birth | June 24, 1919 |
Died | October 30, 2015, Glendale, California, United States |
Spouse | Betty Farrell (m. 1981–2015), Jacquelin Martin (m. 1948–1980) |
Fact | Molinaro's body was cremated. His urn was given to his wife, Betty. |
Al Molinaro (born Umberto Francesco Molinaro; June 24, 1919 – October 30, 2015) was an Italian-American actor and comedian. He is best known for his role as Al Delvecchio on the ABC sitcom Happy Days and its subsequent spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi.
Early Life
Molinaro was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Italian immigrants from Messina, Sicily. His father worked as a tailor and his mother as a seamstress. He had four brothers and four sisters. Molinaro dropped out of high school in his senior year to help support his family during the Great Depression.
Molinaro began his career as a stand-up comedian in the early 1940s. He later appeared on television shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show. In the 1950s, he had roles on the sitcoms Make Room for Daddy and The Odd Couple.
Happy Days
In 1974, Molinaro was cast as Al Delvecchio, the owner of Arnold’s Drive-In, on the ABC sitcom Happy Days. He appeared in over 200 episodes of the show until its cancellation in 1984. He reprised his role in the short-lived spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi, which aired for one season on ABC from 1982 to 1983.
Later career
After Happy Days ended, Molinaro had guest roles on television shows such as The Love Boat, ALF, and Murphy Brown. In the 1990s, he appeared in commercials for Old Navy. His last television appearance was in an episode of the sitcom Yes, Dear in 2006.
Molinaro died at his home in Glendale, California, on October 30, 2015, at the age of 96.
Physical Characteristics
Molinaro was 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall and weighed 160 pounds (73 kg). He had brown eyes and gray hair.
General Info
Full Name | Al Molinaro |
Date Of Birth | June 24, 1919 |
Died | October 30, 2015, Glendale, California, United States |
Profession | Actor |
Nationality | American |
Family
Spouse | Betty Farrell (m. 1981–2015), Jacquelin Martin (m. 1948–1980) |
Children | Michael Molinaro |
Parents | Raffaele Molinaro, Teresa Molinaro |
Accomplishments
Movies | Freaky Friday, Mayday at 40,000 Feet!, Superman |
TV Shows | The Family Man, Happy Days, Joanie Loves Chachi, The Odd Couple |
Social profile links
Quotes
# | Quote |
---|---|
1 | [on his hometown of Kenosha, WI] I love that town; I love it. If it wasn't that I left it for show business, I'd still be there today. |
2 | [about his Hollywood career[ I spent 20 years here before I got anything going, and from that I got lucky. It takes a lot of luck in show business, too. You've just got to be lucky and in the right place at the right time. |
Facts
# | Fact |
---|---|
1 | Molinaro's body was cremated. His urn was given to his wife, Betty. |
2 | Died on Happy Days co-star Henry Winkler's 70th birthday. |
3 | His parents were Italian immigrants. |
4 | As of 2002, semi-retired and living in Glendale, California, and writing a book of autobiographical short stories. No longer acting in movies, TV, or onstage, except the continuing series of commercials for Encore family-size frozen dinners. |
5 | His boyhood home is 2417 53rd Street in Kenosha's "Old West Side" neighborhood. |
6 | Father of one son. |
7 | In 1987, he and fellow Happy Days (1974) cast member Anson Williams opened a chain of diners in the Midwestern United States, called Big Al's after his lovable and long running Happy Days (1974) character. |
Pictures
Movies
Actor
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Weezer: Buddy Holly | 1994 | Video short | Al Delvecchio |
Step by Step | 1992 | TV Series | Joe Passarelli |
The Family Man | 1990-1991 | TV Series | Joe Alberghetti |
Punky Brewster | 1985 | TV Series | Imprisoned Santa Claus |
Happy Days | 1974-1984 | TV Series | Al Delvecchio Father Delvecchio Igor ... |
Joanie Loves Chachi | 1982-1983 | TV Series | Al Delvecchio |
Fantasy Island | 1979-1982 | TV Series | Max Grant / Lou Fielding |
The Ugily Family | 1982 | TV Movie | Sal Ugily |
Gridlock | 1980 | TV Movie | Sightseer |
A Christmas for Boomer | 1979 | TV Movie | Casey |
The Love Boat | 1977 | TV Series | Chef Antonio Borga |
Great Day | 1977 | TV Movie | Peavey |
Rosetti and Ryan | 1977 | TV Series | Benny |
Freaky Friday | 1976 | Drapery Man | |
Mayday at 40,000 Feet! | 1976 | TV Movie | Forenzo |
Laverne & Shirley | 1976 | TV Series | Father Gucci |
Doc | 1975 | TV Series | Pete |
The Odd Couple | 1970-1975 | TV Series | Officer Murray Greshler |
It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman! | 1975 | TV Movie | Gangster |
Love, American Style | 1972-1974 | TV Series | Harry (segment "Love and the Patrolperson") / Charlie (segment "Love and the Secret Life") / (segment "Love and the Advice Column") |
Bewitched | 1971 | TV Series | Guide |
That Girl | 1971 | TV Series | Marv |
Green Acres | 1969-1970 | TV Series | Joe / Bellboy / Al |
Get Smart | 1969 | TV Series | Agent 44 |
The Name of the Game | 1969 | TV Series | Head Shop Owner |
Love Me Madly | 1954 |
Soundtrack
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Happy Days | 1978-1981 | TV Series performer - 3 episodes |
Miscellaneous
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
The Puppetoon Movie | 1987 | Puppetoon creative artist: United States |
Self
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Happy Days: 30th Anniversary Reunion | 2005 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
Weezer: Video Capture Device - Treasures from the Vault 1991-2002 | 2004 | Video documentary | Al (segment "Buddy Holly") |
The Work of Director Spike Jonze | 2003 | Video documentary | Al (segment "Buddy Holly") (uncredited) |
Happy Days Reunion Special | 1992 | TV Special | Himself |
Anson and Lorrie | 1981 | TV Movie | Himself / Various |
The Mike Douglas Show | 1975-1979 | TV Series | Himself - Actor |
The 34th Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1977 | TV Special | Himself |
Dinah! | 1975 | TV Series | Himself |
Archive Footage
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
The 68th Primetime Emmy Awards | 2016 | TV Special | Himself - In Memoriam |
22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards | 2016 | TV Special | Himself - In Memoriam |
The Odd Couple Out-Takes | 2005 | Video short | Officer Murray Greshler |
Entertainment Tonight Presents: Happy Days - Secrets | 1999 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color | 1982 | TV Series | Drapery Man |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia