Whatever Happened to Chuck Cunningham from ‘Happy Days’?

From 1974 to 1984, Happy Days was one of the most popular shows on U.S. network television, and it was certainly a favorite of mine. I can still remember the original TV Guide Magazine ad for the program, word-for-word: “Those were the days of the 1950s … filled with innocence and the promise of even better days to come.” Well, maybe it should have said “better days for most” because something very odd and very unfortunate happened to the eldest member of the Cunningham clan. Simply put: Chuck Cunningham vanished without a trace.

Chuck Cunningham appeared on the first two seasons of Happy Days. In the first season, he was played by Irish actor Gavan O’Herlihy; during the second, Randolph Roberts showed up to take over the role. Chuck was a basketball player, and originally, shared a room with Richie, until he went off to college.