'Happy Days' Star Erin Moran Dies At 56

Erin Moran, who is best known for her role Joanie Cunningham in a hit sitcom "Happy Days", dies at 56. The late actress, who received widespread fame for her role as a 13-year-old kid, was found unresponsive by the authorities in Indiana on Saturday.

According to NY Daily News, Harrison County Sheriff office received a call around 4:00 PM stating that a woman's body was found who was identified as Erin Moran. The cause of the death is still unknown as an autopsy is still pending, said the police.

The California-born actress started her acting career at the age of 5, when she first appeared in a commercial for First Federal Bank, reports the Huffington Post. She faced some harsh times in recent years and was reportedly thrown away of her trailer park home in India due to her extreme partying ways.

Moran then went on to play several minor characters in television before entering in the films in late 60's. She landed her biggest role at the age of 14 when she signed to play Joanie Cunnigham, on-screen sister of Ron Howard. The show was a massive hit and enjoyed a 10-year long run. Moran reprised her role again in a short-lived spin-off titled "Joanie Loves Chachi" in 1982 with actor Scott Baio.

Erin has also appeared in many television series such as "The love boat", "Murder, She Wrote" and "Diagnosis Murder". As reported by the Hollywood Reporter, the actress was remembered by her "Happy Days" co-stars Henry Winkler and Ron Howard.

"Such sad sad news. RIP Erin. I'll always remember you on our show making scenes better, getting laughs and lighting up TV screens," wrote Howard. While Winkler wrote that now she will finally have the peace she wanted so badly on earth. "Rest in it serenely now.. too soon," he added. Anson Williams, who played Potsie in "Happy Days" also expressed her grief on the loss of Erin.