Erin Moran and the Rumor Mills of Ex-Child Star Deaths
Erin Moran, who grew up playing Joanie Cunningham in the iconic '70s sitcom Happy Days, died on April 22, 2017, in New Salisbury, Indiana. She was 56. Erin's death is so sadly typical of the negative assumptions that people make about former child stars. Before an autopsy revealed that she died of Stage 4 cancer, everyone assumed that drugs and/alcohol had played a role in her death. (See also: the same assumptions made about Skye McCole Bartusiak's death in 2014 -- which, tragically, proved true. Skye was only 21.)
One of the most callous comments came from Erin's own costar Scott Baio, who played her love interest Chachi on Happy Days and its short-lived spinoff series, Joanie Loves Chachi. Baoi, who spent last year campaigning for Donald Trump, said in a radio interview, "My thing is, I feel bad because her whole life, she was troubled, could never find what made her happy and content. For me, you do drugs or drink, you're gonna die. I'm sorry if that's cold, but God gave you a brain, gave you the will to live and thrive and you gotta take care of yourself."
After "Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves Chachi," Erin Moran's acting roles dried up. https://t.co/PJkSkvmN4G
- NYT Obituaries (@NYTObits) April 29, 2017
But others were more compassionate -- like former child star Paul Petersen, who grew up on The Donna Reed Show, now the founder and president of A Minor Consideration. The group provides support for current and former child actors through legislation, education, intervention, and counseling. Through A Minor Consideration, Petersen has built up a strong network of former child stars ( Alison Arngrim is a member) supporting and helping each other. He said in a statement: "I am proud of our efforts over the years to help Erin Moran, whose troubles were many and complex. At least a half-dozen 'formers' were actively reaching out to Erin in the last week of her life. Erin had friends, and she knew it. Abandonment was not the issue."
Petersen was motivated to found A Minor Consideration following the suicide of former child star Rusty Hamer in 1990. He was only 42 when he shot himself in his mobile home in DeRidder, LA. Erin Moran moved to southern Indiana in 2012, the same year that she and three Happy Days costars were awarded lawsuit settlements by CBS, and largely dropped out of the public eye. According to the Indianapolis Star archives, she was last known to be living at a Holiday Inn Express in Corydon; before that, in a mobile home with husband Steve Fleischmann and his mother. Fleischmann said that Erin was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in December, and her condition worsened quickly.
One of the most callous comments came from Erin's own costar Scott Baio, who played her love interest Chachi on Happy Days and its short-lived spinoff series, Joanie Loves Chachi. Baoi, who spent last year campaigning for Donald Trump, said in a radio interview, "My thing is, I feel bad because her whole life, she was troubled, could never find what made her happy and content. For me, you do drugs or drink, you're gonna die. I'm sorry if that's cold, but God gave you a brain, gave you the will to live and thrive and you gotta take care of yourself."
After "Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves Chachi," Erin Moran's acting roles dried up. https://t.co/PJkSkvmN4G
- NYT Obituaries (@NYTObits) April 29, 2017
But others were more compassionate -- like former child star Paul Petersen, who grew up on The Donna Reed Show, now the founder and president of A Minor Consideration. The group provides support for current and former child actors through legislation, education, intervention, and counseling. Through A Minor Consideration, Petersen has built up a strong network of former child stars ( Alison Arngrim is a member) supporting and helping each other. He said in a statement: "I am proud of our efforts over the years to help Erin Moran, whose troubles were many and complex. At least a half-dozen 'formers' were actively reaching out to Erin in the last week of her life. Erin had friends, and she knew it. Abandonment was not the issue."
Petersen was motivated to found A Minor Consideration following the suicide of former child star Rusty Hamer in 1990. He was only 42 when he shot himself in his mobile home in DeRidder, LA. Erin Moran moved to southern Indiana in 2012, the same year that she and three Happy Days costars were awarded lawsuit settlements by CBS, and largely dropped out of the public eye. According to the Indianapolis Star archives, she was last known to be living at a Holiday Inn Express in Corydon; before that, in a mobile home with husband Steve Fleischmann and his mother. Fleischmann said that Erin was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in December, and her condition worsened quickly.