“Sunday, Monday, Happy Days. Tuesday, Wednesday, Happy Days. Thursday, Friday, Happy Days. Saturday, what a day. Groovin’ all week with you!” Anyone who heard that song in the 1970s knew what show was coming on and most likely adored the loveable father Howard Cunningham, played by Tom Bosley.

Bosley was born in Chicago on October 1, 1927.  He grew up in a relatively well-off family and had dreams of becoming a lawyer. When he was 17, he joined the U.S. Navy, later enrolling at DePaul University to study pre-law.

Bosley made his stage debut in Thieves Highway in 1955. His hard work led him to a lead role in 1959 in the Broadway musical Fiorello! He earned a Tony Award for his performance which helped him increase his name recognition and land many film and television roles in the following years.

Bosley’s most memorable role was as Howard Cunningham in the television show Happy Days, which ran from 1974 until 1983. After the show ended, he starred in the weekly series The Father Dowling Mysteries and made appearances on Murder, She Wrote.

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