Erin Moran Dead at 56

[crispysdad]

RIP Shortcake!

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by paul.austin

I imagine Susan is not too happy with people forgetting that Erin was not the only Joanie Cunningham.

I doubt she's spent the last 43 + years dwelling on it. This quote from Susan (now Suzanna) seems to confirm that.

A former child actor and long-time volunteer
herself, Suzanna says, “I’ve had the coolest life ever.”

Full article

[Ohio8]

[*ShortCake*]

I am so so sad about this. RIP Erin <3.

[Retro4Life]

There was something so radiant about Moran's smile and her whole personality. I know we shouldn't assume or project anything from the people we see on TV, because we ultimately don't know much about them, but she just seemed so bright and full of life.

I know she had a rough time during the later part of her life, and I'm sorry for that. Like many others, I crushed on Erin during Happy Days and thought she could have really done so much more, she was that talented.

Ehh....another rough one.

[Retro4Life]

Originally Posted by paul.austin

We haven't completely lost Joanie as Susan Neher from the pilot is still with us. I imagine Susan is not too happy with people forgetting that Erin was not the only Joanie Cunningham.

No offense, but this thread isn't really about the character of Joanie Cunningham. It's for memorials to Erin Moran, who portrayed the character and who WAS the character in the hearts and minds of the whole world.

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

No offense, but this thread isn't really about the character of Joanie Cunningham. It's for memorials to Erin Moran, who portrayed the character and who WAS the character in the hearts and minds of the whole world.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

I know she had a rough time during the later part of her life, and I'm sorry for that.

I think her later years were a manifestation of not only the post-fame downward spiral that happens to many child stars, but also trauma in her early years. Take a look at her sad admission in this video, for the two minutes starting at 6:00.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXeZzVdIw6U

I hope there was some joy in her life at some point, but it seems she had a tough ride for a large part of it. I'm feeling so sad for her.

[Retro4Life]

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

Thank you!



I think her later years were a manifestation of not only the post-fame downward spiral that happens to many child stars, but also trauma in her early years. Take a look at her sad admission in this video, for the two minutes starting at 6:00.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXeZzVdIw6U

I hope there was some joy in her life at some point, but it seems she had a tough ride for a large part of it. I'm feeling so sad for her.

I really don't know how Stern lives with himself. Not one ounce of sincerity about him as he makes a huge joke out of these poor souls revealing their tormented lives. Yes, they chose to do so, but that doesn't mean his attitude or demeanor was morally OK.

Anyway, didn't mean to divert. RIP Erin.

[JamesG]

I knew that she was going through problems in her later life, but I was still surprised to hear that she died. Sad.

I don't know if it's widely known, it's known among the horror community, that her older brother, Tony Moran, played Michael Myers (unmasked) in the original Halloween. I met him at a sci-fi convention around Summer 2006 and asked him about her. He told me that he wasn't in contact with her.

[Mr. Television]

http://deadline.com/2017/04/erin-mor...st-1202075721/

Erin Moran: “We Did Our Best”, Says Child Actor Advocate Paul Petersen
by Greg Evans
April 23, 2017 10:24am


AP

“Abandonment was not the issue,” says former child actor Paul Petersen about Erin Moran, the troubled Happy Days actress who died at 56 yesterday. “Don’t doubt for a moment that we tried.”



In a lengthy message posted this morning on the Facebook page of A Minor Consideration, the non-profit organization dedicated to the legal and human rights of juvenile performers, the group’s founder Petersen said that at least a half-dozen former child actors reached out to Moran in the past week. “Erin had friends and she knew it,” writes Petersen, who starred in ’50s sitcom The Donna Reed Show.

The message, titled “We Pulled Our Weight With Erin” (read it below) was the second Facebook Petersen wrote for Moran, following one that announced her death last night.

Petersen paints a sad portrait of Moran’s final days, writing, “The perversity of human frailty is at the root of this loss, not failure. We did our best with the resources available to us, but it was a very dark room. Some don’t find the light switch in time.”

Moran’s body was removed from a trailer park residence by Indiana police yesterday afternoon. She’d been living in the trailer with her husband and mother-in-law, and tabloid reports for years have documented her battles with substance abuse and financial problems.

Some of her Happy Days costars weighed in last night, and today various former child actors added their remembrances, including her Joanie Loves Chachi costar Scott Baio, Todd Bridges, Willie Aames, Maureen McCormick, Lisa Whelchel and Bewitched‘s Erin Murphy. (See their tweets below).

Petersen didn’t specify which “formers” reached out to Moran recently, but writes that “From Paris to London, from New York to LA, our members were in there pitching, doing what they could to help.”

Last night, Petersen wrote, “She was so far away in Indiana. The help she ran from was right here, as close as a call. Those of us who knew her pain and remember it so well must tonight rededicate ourselves to the task of making sure that none of our brethren pass away unremarked or feel unloved.”

Here is Petersen’s most recent message, in full:

We Pulled Our Weight With Erin
I am proud of our efforts over the years to help Erin Moran whose troubles were many and complex. Don’t doubt for a moment that we tried…sincerely tried through time and treasure…to give comfort to one of our own.
At least a half-dozen “formers” were actively reaching out to Erin in the last week of her life. These aren’t publicity photos her friends are posting, but family portraits. From Paris to London, from New York to LA, our members were in there pitching, doing what they could to help. Do not doubt that for a minute.
Erin had friends and she knew it. Abandonment was not the issue. The perversity of human frailty is at the root of this loss, not failure. We did our best with the resources available to us, but it was a very dark room. Some don’t find the light switch in time.
Paul Petersen

Last night, Petersen wrote:

Erin Moran Has Passed
It hurts to even write these words. An entire community of former kid actors is not only taking note, but will long remember this kind-hearted soul who soldiered on until at age 56 she was done.
She was so far away in Indiana. The help she ran from was right here, as close as a call. Those of us who knew her pain and remember it so well must tonight rededicate ourselves to the task of making sure that none of our brethren pass away unremarked or feel unloved.
Erin Moran lived and she mattered. Her talent and beauty were on display. Fame won young can be a cruel mistress, often outlasting the person within the purpose. Dearest Erin, you will be remembered by all those with the humility to understand what it means to say, “There but for the Grace of God go I.”
Paul Petersen, just one voice for A Minor Consideration

Today, child actors expressed their condolences. Here are tweets from Baio, McCormick (The Brady Bunch), Murphy (Bewitched), Willie Aames (Eight is Enough), Todd Bridges (Diff’rent Strokes) and Lisa Whelchel (The Facts of Life).

[Marvo301]

As a child of the 70's I grew up watching Erin grow up on Happy Days. Her passing is really hitting me hard. I think Henry Winkler said it best in his tweet, "too soon". I can only hope that she's finally found the peace that she seems never to have found in life.

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

I really don't know how Stern lives with himself. Not one ounce of sincerity about him as he makes a huge joke out of these poor souls revealing their tormented lives. Yes, they chose to do so, but that doesn't mean his attitude or demeanor was morally OK.

I hear what you're saying and I ask the same thing. Yes, she and others chose to go on his show. Erin even chose to make that horrible revelation about rape on his show. I can only assume mental illness played a role in her decision. None of us can understand the mental impact of growing up a celebrity, then having that yanked away from you. And the abuse she apparently experienced WHILE at the height of her fame. Rape by a family member, OMG! In her world she needed her family more than anything to navigate her fame, and at least this one member of her family failed her.

As for her choosing to do Stern's show, she may have been at a point where there was no one she could trust anyway, and also needing some kind of public exposure (no matter how negative) in hopes of jump-starting her career. And Stern exploited her weakness and desperation, just as he did with Dana Plato. Dana Plato also went on the Stern show and was abused horribly by people calling in, which some people believe may have been set up by Stern's staff. Even if they were not plants, Stern's people did nothing to filter out those callers and Dana ended up in tears and the very next day she was dead. (That tragic show is also on Youtube.) Perhaps Howard Stern has some remorse over these decisions, but if so I've never heard about it.

[Bronson]

Sorry she had a bad life. RIP Moran!!

[Elvis Fonzie Dean]

R.I.P., Erin.

[lakesgirl]

RIP Erin.