When you think of "Happy Days," you picture the perfect TV family, right? But behind the scenes, things weren’t always so picture-perfect. Marion Ross, who played the beloved Mrs. Cunningham, revealed during an appearance on the Today show with Megyn Kelly that her relationship with co-star Tom Bosley wasn’t exactly smooth sailing at first. Surprisingly, it took them "a couple of years" to really hit it off. Who would’ve thought that the on-screen couple had such a rocky start?
Marion, now 89, explained how things were a bit strained in the beginning. "Maybe Tom had someone else in mind for the role at the start," she joked. "And my part was so small back then. I was saying things like, 'Oh, Howard,' or 'Oh, children, you're not eating.' It wasn’t much to work with." But as the seasons progressed, Marion found her groove and learned to connect with Tom. "We had to figure things out," she admitted. "I came to love him so much. We became really close friends." Their on-screen chemistry eventually blossomed into a lasting friendship that carried them through 11 unforgettable seasons of the beloved sitcom.
Marion's Bold Move to Expand Her Role
Marion also shared how she took matters into her own hands and approached the show's creator, Garry Marshall, to see if she and Tom could have more screen time. "After a few years, I went to Garry and said, 'Do you think Tom and I could have more to do in the show?'" she recalled. But Garry had a pretty straightforward response. "He told me, 'It's not about you. It's about the boys.'" Marion laughed as she recounted the moment, showing just how much she respected the creative vision of the show. Even though her role didn’t expand as much as she hoped, her character became a beloved part of the series, and her dedication to the craft was undeniable.
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Marion's Journey Beyond 'Happy Days'
More than three decades have passed since the final episode of "Happy Days" aired, and Marion is finally opening up about her experiences on the show in her memoir, My Days: Happy and Otherwise. Released on March 27, the book dives deep into her life as one of America’s favorite TV moms. But here’s the twist—she didn’t even want to write it at first! "I’ve always prided myself on living a nice, quiet life," Marion confessed to Closer Weekly. "It’s not exactly dramatic material." It wasn’t until her son, Jim Meskimen, encouraged her to share her story that the memoir came to life. And boy, is it packed with incredible insights into her 10 years on the "Happy Days" set. Fans are sure to love every page.
