https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY993hTO6RU

Erin Moran, the actress who played Joanie Cunningham on the television series “Happy Days,” died in Indiana at the age of 56. According to reports, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said that they found Moran “after receiving a call about an unresponsive female.” Authorities do not know the cause of death, but it has been speculated that the actress died of a heroin overdose. There were also stories that she suffered from depression and was homeless after being kicked out of her mother-in-law’s trailer.

Co-star Henry Winkler said, “I will always remember Erin with her sweet smile that greeted me on the very first day I walked onto the set of ‘Happy Days’ in 1974. She was only nine years old. For the next 10 years that smile never faded. Unfortunately yesterday it did. My condolences go out to her family. She will always be locked in my heart.”

Moran was living off a $65,000 lawsuit settlement that she won with “Happy Days” co-stars Marion Ross and the late Tom Bosley’s estate against CBS in 2011 for merchandising royalties.

Moran was born on October 18, 1960, in Burbank, California. She was signed to an agent at the age of five. She landed her first job in a television commercial for First Federal Bank and starred in her first film in 1968 with Debbie Reynolds. But it was in 1974 when Moran started the journey to becoming a household name as the younger sister of Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard).

“I am still being recognized as Joanie and probably will as long as “Happy Days” is playing on TV and remembered by “Happy Days fans.” It has and will always be a pleasure and an honor for me to be a part of it,” she said.

Moran also did the spin-off show “Joanie Loves Chachi” and returned for the final season of “Happy Days” in 1984. Scott Baio was her co-star on both series and Tweeted: “Many people remember Erin for her contagious smile, warm heart, and animal loving soul. I always hoped she could find peace in her life. God has you now, Erin.”

Anson Williams, who played Potsie in “Happy Days,” also shared his condolences. “Erin was a person who made everyone around her feel better. She truly cared about others first, a true angel. I will miss her so much but know that she is in God’s hands. RIP sweet angel.”

Moran left Hollywood after the show was canceled and said that she had a hard time getting work. This led to her depression as well. She did find work on “The Love Boat,” “Murder She Wrote” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.” She said: “Well, it is certainly not by choice at this time you don’t see or hear about me. This business is very unpredictable. A lot of it is luck and being in the right place at the right time.”

The actress never regained her power in Hollywood and fell on hard times after her house was foreclosed on. This is when she moved into her mother-in-law’s trailer.

Ron Howard also added: “RIP Erin. I’ll always choose to remember you on our show making scenes better, getting laughs and lighting up tv screens.”