Erin Moran, one of the stars of the '70s sitcom “Happy Days,” has died. She was only 56 years old. At the time of publication, the cause of death was unknown. An autopsy is expected to be performed shortly.

Erin Moran played Joanie Cunningham on “Happy Days.” Her co-stars included Oscar-winner, Ron Howard, and Henry Winkler. Tom Bosley, Donny Most, Marian Ross and Anson Williams were also castmates.

After “Happy Days,” Erin Moran starred in the short-lived “Joanie Loves Chachi,” a spin-off of “Happy Days.” She did a few other television shows such as “The Love Boat” and “Murder, She Wrote.” She even appeared in the daytime soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful” in 2009, one of her last acting jobs.

Despite the popularity of “Happy Days,” Moran's acting career never progressed.

Not so happy days

Sadly, Erin Moran made the news after “Happy Days” for her financial difficulties and personal issues. It had been reported numerous times the former child star had been homeless. She lived in Tucker County, West Virginia in the late 1980s. In West Virginia, she lived with relatives of her first husband, Rocky Ferguson. Her home in Palmdale, California was foreclosed upon in July of 2010 and she was evicted.

Her financial difficulties were highly publicized. Surprisingly, Erin Moran was only paid $650 per episode during her first season as Joanie Cunningham on “Happy Days.” That increased to $750 per episode for the second season and $900 per episode in the third season.

Erin Moran was involved in a lawsuit against CBS in 2011. Marian Ross, Anson Williams, and Donnie Most were also named in the lawsuit. They all stated they were not paid for merchandising related to the sitcom. Their lawsuit was settled in 2012, the following year. The specifics of how their lawsuit was settled are unknown.

Erin Moran mourned by family and friends

Erin Moran was born October 18, 1960, in Burbank, California. She passed away in Harrison County, Indiana. She married Rocky Ferguson in 1987. The couple divorced in 1993. She married Steven Fleischmann on November 23, 1993. They remained married until her untimely death on April 23, 2017.

Erin Moran was the youngest of six children. Her parents were Sharon and Edward Moran. Her siblings include her brothers Tony and John Moran and sister Kelly Moran.

Henry Winkler tweeted how he hoped she found the peace in death she had searched for in life. Ron Howard also took to Twitter, stating he remembered her for laughs on the set of "Happy Days."