Happy Days’ star, Tom Bosley loses brave battle with cancer at 83

[HMG Celebrity News] – Veteran actor and beloved TV father, Tom Bosley who endeared himself to millions as the wise Mr. Cunningham on ‘Happy Days’ has died of lung cancer at his home in Palm Springs. He was 83.

Born in Chicago on October 1, 1927, Tom served in the Navy during World War II, but his talent for acting soon prevailed. His debut as part of ‘The Canterbury Players’ 1947 production of ‘Our Town’ at the Fine Arts Theater on Michigan Avenue got great reviews and he never looked back

Just three years later Tom was co-starring with the budding Paul Newman at the Opera House in Woodstock, Illinois. He later branched into music and won a ‘Tony’ award as ‘Best Featured Actor’ in the Broadway musical ‘Fiorello.’

Next came the big-screen, where Tom made an impressive debut opposite Natalie Woods in 1963′s ‘Love with the Proper Stranger.’ More than 50 other movie roles followed.

TV came next, and Tom was cast in “Love, American Style,” and “Wait Till Your Father Gets Home,” which won him fans. But the iconic role of Mr. Cunningham in 1974′s ‘Happy Days’ made him a star and a household name.

Together with Henry Winkler, Tom is the only actor to appear on every one of the sit-com’s 247 shows. TV Guide later ranked ‘Mr. C’ at #9 on their list of the “50 Greatest TV Dads of all Time,” and in 1978 he got an Emmy nod for the role but never won.

“I saw him on Broadway, and he was great,” Winkler told TMZ. “Then I got to act with him for 10 years and he was great.  Tom was our mentor. He was a true artist. He will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.”

And soon after Happy Days slipped into the sunset in 1984 Tom won even more fans as a Catholic priest in NBC’s 1987 off-beat sleuthing show, ‘The Father Dowling Mysteries.’

But this fine and universally loved actor finally slipped from this realm in the early hours of this morning, supported by his second wife, actress Patricia Carr, and Amy, his daughter from a previous marriage.

Funeral arrangements are pending and we’ll keep you advised. Meanwhile, let’s hear your tributes to Tom…