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| Happy Days diner owner Al Molinaro dies aged 96 | Happy Days diner owner Al Molinaro dies aged 96 |
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| American actor Al Molinaro, who starred as "Big Al" Delvecchio in sitcom Happy Days, has died at the age of 96. | American actor Al Molinaro, who starred as "Big Al" Delvecchio in sitcom Happy Days, has died at the age of 96. |
| He appeared as the owner of Arnold's Drive-in, where the main characters would gather, from 1976 until 1982. | He appeared as the owner of Arnold's Drive-in, where the main characters would gather, from 1976 until 1982. |
| Molinaro, who also spent five years playing Murray the cop in the TV version of The Odd Couple, retired from acting in the 1990s. | Molinaro, who also spent five years playing Murray the cop in the TV version of The Odd Couple, retired from acting in the 1990s. |
| He died in a California hospital of complications from a gallstone infection, his son Michael said. | He died in a California hospital of complications from a gallstone infection, his son Michael said. |
| Molinaro had taken over the role of Al two years into the series' run and starred in more than 100 episodes, according to the LA Times. | Molinaro had taken over the role of Al two years into the series' run and starred in more than 100 episodes, according to the LA Times. |
| The part had originally been played by Pat Morita, who went on to star as Mr Miyagi in Karate Kid. | The part had originally been played by Pat Morita, who went on to star as Mr Miyagi in Karate Kid. |
| Molinaro told the LA Times: "When you live with a character as long as I have, you know how he would talk in almost any situation." | Molinaro told the LA Times: "When you live with a character as long as I have, you know how he would talk in almost any situation." |
| Wisconsin-born Molinaro also appeared in Happy Days spin-off series Joanie loves Chachi in the 1980s. | Wisconsin-born Molinaro also appeared in Happy Days spin-off series Joanie loves Chachi in the 1980s. |
| Scott Baio - who played Chachi Arcola in both Happy Days and the spin-off show - paid tribute to the actor, tweeting a picture of them together and saying: "Al, the sweetest man I ever knew. I will miss you." | |
| After retirement, Molinaro became best known for commercials and set up a chain of diners called Big Al's. He also reprised the character of Al in the music video for Weezer's song, Buddy Holly. | After retirement, Molinaro became best known for commercials and set up a chain of diners called Big Al's. He also reprised the character of Al in the music video for Weezer's song, Buddy Holly. |
| The band also paid tribute, tweeting: "RIP Al Molinaro. Loved having you in the Buddy Holly video." | |
| Speaking in 1992 on a Happy Days reunion show, Molinaro described the 1950s-set sitcom as an "important" show. | |
| "In the industry, they used to consider us like a bubble-gum show," he said. | "In the industry, they used to consider us like a bubble-gum show," he said. |
| "But I think they overlooked one thing. To the public in America, Happy Days was an important show, and I think it was and I think it still is." | "But I think they overlooked one thing. To the public in America, Happy Days was an important show, and I think it was and I think it still is." |