Erin Moran played Joanie

Erin Moran who played Joanie in 1970s sitcom Happy Days, has died at the age of 56.

Emergency services rushed to the actress’ home in Indiana at 4pm on Saturday after a call was made about an ‘unresponsive female’.

The cause of death is not yet known.

Moran was just 14 when she joined the cast of Happy Days, playing the little sister of Richie Cunningham, played by Ron Howard, in 239 episodes from 1974 to 1984.

Howard tweeted this morning: ‘Such sad sad news. RIP Erin. I'll always choose to remember you on our show making scenes better, getting laughs and lighting up tv screens. ‘

Henry Winkler, who played the Fonz in the show, added: ‘OH Erin... now you will finally have the peace you wanted so badly here on earth ...Rest In It serenely now.. too soon.’

Moran also starred in the short-lived spin-off series Joanie Loves Chachi, which ran for one series in 1982-1983.

However, she was plagued by depression after the sitcom was cancelled. In its report of Moran’s death, Variety magazine described how she had fallen on hard times, reporting that she had been kicked out of her trailer park home because of her ‘hard-partying ways'.

Published: 23 Apr 2017