Actor
Erin Moran
Born October 18, 1960 in Burbank, California, USADied April 22, 201710 films
Moran's first acting role was at the age of five, in a television commercial for First Federal Bank. At the age of six, she was cast as Jenny Jones in the television series Daktari, which ran from 1966 to 1969. She made her feature-film debut in How Sweet It Is! (1968) with Debbie Reynolds, and made regular appearances on The Don Rickles Show in 1972, and guest appearances in The Courtship of Eddie's Father, My Three Sons, Bearcats!, and Family Affair. As a young child, she also appeared in the television series Gunsmoke.
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In 1974, at the age of 13, Moran was cast to play her best known role, Joanie Cunningham on the sitcom Happy Days, the feisty younger sister of Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard). Moran continued the role in 1982, in the short-lived spin-off series Joanie Loves Chachi, alongside Scott Baio, although she later stated that she had only reluctantly agreed to star in the series; she would have preferred to remain with Happy Days. She won the Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress in a New Television Series for her role. After Joanie Loves Chachi's cancellation in 1983, she returned to Happy Days for its final season.
In 1983, Moran said in an interview that the Happy Days producers had pressured her to change from about the age of 15: they had "suddenly wanted me to lose weight and become this sexy thing."
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The best way into Erin Moran's work
First watchWatermelon Man19706.3as Janice GerberA racist insurance agent lives in a typical suburban neighborhood, but his bigoted world of taunting and harassing black people on and off the job is turned upside down when his skin…View filmEssential films
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Filmography
10 films as actor- 2011Not Another B MovieMrs. Klien
- 1996Dear GodErin Moran
- 1981TwirlBonnie Lee Jordan
- 1981Galaxy of TerrorAlumna
- 1973Lisa, Bright and DarkTracy Schilling
- 1970Watermelon ManJanice Gerber
- 1969The Happy EndingMarge as a Child (uncredited)
- 196980 Steps to JonahKim
- 1968How Sweet It Is!Little Girl
- 1967Who's Minding the Mint?Little Girl on Tricycle