Known for movies

Short Info

Date Of BirthJune 24, 1919
DiedOctober 30, 2015, Glendale, California, United States
SpouseBetty Farrell (m. 1981–2015), Jacquelin Martin (m. 1948–1980)
FactMolinaro'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 NameAl Molinaro
Date Of BirthJune 24, 1919
DiedOctober 30, 2015, Glendale, California, United States
ProfessionActor
NationalityAmerican

Family

SpouseBetty Farrell (m. 1981–2015), Jacquelin Martin (m. 1948–1980)
ChildrenMichael Molinaro
ParentsRaffaele Molinaro, Teresa Molinaro

Accomplishments

MoviesFreaky Friday, Mayday at 40,000 Feet!, Superman
TV ShowsThe 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
1Molinaro's body was cremated. His urn was given to his wife, Betty.
2Died on Happy Days co-star Henry Winkler's 70th birthday.
3His parents were Italian immigrants.
4As 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.
5His boyhood home is 2417 53rd Street in Kenosha's "Old West Side" neighborhood.
6Father of one son.
7In 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

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Weezer: Buddy Holly1994Video shortAl Delvecchio
Step by Step1992TV SeriesJoe Passarelli
The Family Man1990-1991TV SeriesJoe Alberghetti
Punky Brewster1985TV SeriesImprisoned Santa Claus
Happy Days1974-1984TV SeriesAl Delvecchio Father Delvecchio Igor ...
Joanie Loves Chachi1982-1983TV SeriesAl Delvecchio
Fantasy Island1979-1982TV SeriesMax Grant / Lou Fielding
The Ugily Family1982TV MovieSal Ugily
Gridlock1980TV MovieSightseer
A Christmas for Boomer1979TV MovieCasey
The Love Boat1977TV SeriesChef Antonio Borga
Great Day1977TV MoviePeavey
Rosetti and Ryan1977TV SeriesBenny
Freaky Friday1976Drapery Man
Mayday at 40,000 Feet!1976TV MovieForenzo
Laverne & Shirley1976TV SeriesFather Gucci
Doc1975TV SeriesPete
The Odd Couple1970-1975TV SeriesOfficer Murray Greshler
It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman!1975TV MovieGangster
Love, American Style1972-1974TV SeriesHarry (segment "Love and the Patrolperson") / Charlie (segment "Love and the Secret Life") / (segment "Love and the Advice Column")
Bewitched1971TV SeriesGuide
That Girl1971TV SeriesMarv
Green Acres1969-1970TV SeriesJoe / Bellboy / Al
Get Smart1969TV SeriesAgent 44
The Name of the Game1969TV SeriesHead Shop Owner
Love Me Madly1954

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Happy Days1978-1981TV Series performer - 3 episodes

Miscellaneous

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Puppetoon Movie1987Puppetoon creative artist: United States

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Happy Days: 30th Anniversary Reunion2005TV Movie documentaryHimself
Weezer: Video Capture Device - Treasures from the Vault 1991-20022004Video documentaryAl (segment "Buddy Holly")
The Work of Director Spike Jonze2003Video documentaryAl (segment "Buddy Holly") (uncredited)
Happy Days Reunion Special1992TV SpecialHimself
Anson and Lorrie1981TV MovieHimself / Various
The Mike Douglas Show1975-1979TV SeriesHimself - Actor
The 34th Annual Golden Globe Awards1977TV SpecialHimself
Dinah!1975TV SeriesHimself

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The 68th Primetime Emmy Awards2016TV SpecialHimself - In Memoriam
22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards2016TV SpecialHimself - In Memoriam
The Odd Couple Out-Takes2005Video shortOfficer Murray Greshler
Entertainment Tonight Presents: Happy Days - Secrets1999TV Movie documentaryHimself
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color1982TV SeriesDrapery Man

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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