Latest news with #Mork&Mindy
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
This Robin Williams movie had the most 'coked-up film set,' ex-studio boss says
The filming of Robert Altman's 'Popeye' was powered by a lot more than spinach, according to the man in charge of the studio that produced the movie. The 1980 live-action adaptation, starring Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall, was the 'most coked-up film set,' according to Barry Diller, the CEO of Paramount Pictures at the time. 'Film cans would be sent back to L.A. for daily processing film. This was shot in Malta,' Diller revealed during a recent onstage conversation with Anderson Cooper at New York City's 92nd Street Y. 'We found out that the film cans were actually being used to ship cocaine back and forth to this set. Everyone was stoned.' Diller is currently promoting his memoir 'Who Knew,' which details his career, including his time in charge at Paramount from 1974-84. 'If you watch 'Popeye,' you're watching a movie that — you think of it in the thing that they used to do about record speeds, 33 (RPM), whatever — this is a movie that runs at 78 RPM and 33 speed,' he said. Cooper then asked Diller if he 'instantly knew' that everyone on the film's set was high when he visited. 'Knew it?' Diller said. 'You couldn't escape it.' 'Popeye' was the big screen debut of Williams, a Redwood High School graduate who was a longtime Bay Area resident until his suicide at 63 in 2014. The stand-up comic had just experienced a breakthrough when he was cast as the alien Mork from Ork in an episode of the sitcom 'Happy Days.' The character proved so popular that it spun off into its own series, 'Mork & Mindy,' co-starring Pam Dawber. His performance as Mork caught Altman's eye when he was casting for the titular sailor man. 'Popeye' was originally a comic strip by Elzie Crisler Segar, which debuted in 1929 and was adapted into a series of short animated cartoons. Williams openly discussed his fight against addiction, which escalated during his rise to stardom in the 1970s when cocaine was prevalent in the entertainment industry. He told People magazine in a 1988 interview that he used cocaine 'to hide' but quit when his first wife, Valerie Velardi, became pregnant with their son, Zachary.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
10 Forgotten 'Happy Days' Guest Stars: Tom Hanks Robin Williams, More
For all the attention given to its iconic core cast—Ron Howard's earnest Richie, Henry Winkler's effortlessly cool Fonzie, Tom Bosley and Marion Ross as TV's ultimate parental duo—one of the most fascinating aspects of Happy Days was the steady stream of guest stars who popped in and out of Arnold's and the Cunningham living room. Some were already well known, while others were just starting out and a few went on to become superstars in their own right. Today, the names are certainly familiar: Robin Williams, who debuted his Mork from Ork character on Happy Days, which allowed ABC to give the green light for Mork & Mindy. Or Tom Hanks, still years away from his first Oscar, getting into a karate match with Fonzie over an old grudge. Back then? We didn't know them at the time, but obviously they'd never be forgotten. And there were others—veterans like Danny Thomas and Lorne Greene—who brought gravitas and a bit of old Hollywood charm to their guest spots. Or familiar TV faces like Maureen McCormick and Christopher Knight, stepping outside of The Brady Bunch household to try something new. Even Laverne & Shirley got its unofficial launch thanks to Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams' guest spot on the show. So, let's Fonzie-smack the jukebox to life and take a closer look at 10 unforgettable guest stars who left their mark on Happy Days. Episode: "My Favorite Orkan" (Season 5, Episode 22) Role: Robin Williams portrays Mork, an alien from the planet Ork, who arrives in Milwaukee to study human behavior. After Richie Cunningham claims to have seen a flying saucer, Mork appears in his bedroom intending to take him back to Ork as a specimen of an average human. The episode humorously explores Mork's attempts to understand Earth customs—such as shaking hands with his fingers—and features a psychic showdown between Mork and Fonzie, who uses his famed 'thumb power' to try and defeat the extraterrestrial visitor. Originally, the episode ends with Richie awakening to discover it was all a dream. However, for syndication, a new ending was filmed in which Mork reports back to his superior, Orson, revealing that he had erased everyone's memory, thereby making the events real within the show's continuity. Fun Fact: This episode served as a backdoor pilot for Mork & Mindy, which premiered in 1978 and launched Robin Williams to stardom. Williams's audition was notably unconventional; when asked to take a seat, he sat on his head, prompting producer Garry Marshall to quip that he was "the only alien who auditioned." His improvisational skills and unique comedic energy during the taping impressed the cast and crew, leading directly to the development of the spin-off. Episode Title: "A Little Case of Revenge" (Season 10, Episode 5) Role: Tom Hanks guest stars as Dr. Dwayne Twitchell, a karate expert who returns to Milwaukee seeking revenge on Fonzie for a childhood incident. Twitchell challenges Fonzie to a fight, leading to a memorable confrontation where he becomes the first person to physically strike Fonzie on the show, kicking him through the stained-glass window of Al's Drive-In. Fun Fact: This episode aired on November 9, 1982, shortly after Bosom Buddies ended its two-season run. Although Hanks was already known to TV audiences, it was his comedic guest spot on Happy Days that caught the attention of Ron Howard and helped land him the lead in Splash (1984), marking his big-screen breakthrough. Years later, Hanks and Winkler would both work on the 1996 film That Thing You Do!—which Hanks directed—though Winkler has joked he wasn't offered a role. Episode Title: "Grandpa's Visit" (Season 5, Episode 14) Role: Danny Thomas guest stars as Sean Cunningham, Howard Cunningham's father. In this episode, Grandpa Cunningham visits the family, bringing with him traditional values and a strong personality. His old-fashioned views lead to humorous generational clashes, particularly with Richie and Joanie, while Marion and Howard attempt to mediate. The episode delves into Howard's family background, offering viewers insight into his upbringing and familial roots. Fun Fact: Airing on January 3, 1978, this episode marked a notable guest appearance for Danny Thomas, renowned for his role in Make Room for Daddy (also known as The Danny Thomas Show). His portrayal of Howard's father added a layer of prestige to the episode and provided a heartfelt exploration of intergenerational family dynamics. Episode Title: "Hollywood, Part 1" (Season 5, Episode 1) Role: Lorne Greene made a brief, uncredited cameo in this episode, dressed as his iconic character Ben Cartwright from the series Bonanza, adding a touch of classic television nostalgia to the storyline. The plot follows Fonzie and Richie as they travel to Hollywood, where Fonzie has been invited to screen test for a movie role. Fun Fact: Greene's cameo was part of a larger tradition in the two-part Hollywood storyline, which featured real-life celebrity sightings to emphasize Fonzie's growing stardom. Although best known for his role as Ben Cartwright on Bonanza, Greene was a familiar face to ABC audiences, and his appearance was a nod to both classic television and the network's stable of stars. Episode Title: "A Date with Fonzie" (Season 3, Episode 22) Role: In 'A Date with Fonzie,' Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams made their debut as Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney, respectively. In the episode, Fonzie arranges a double date for himself and Richie Cunningham with Laverne and Shirley, two spirited bottle-cappers from the Shotz Brewery. The episode humorously explores the dynamics of the double date, showcasing the contrasting personalities of the characters and leading to comedic situations. Fun Fact: Although Cindy Williams had previously appeared on Happy Days as a different character (season 1, episode 3), this was the true launch of Laverne and Shirley as part of the Happy Days universe. Their guest spot was so successful it immediately led to the development of Laverne & Shirley, which premiered the following year and became a ratings juggernaut. Episode Title: "Cruisin'" (Season 2, Episode 16) Role: Maureen McCormick guest stars as Hildie, one of three girls Richie, Potsie, and Ralph meet while cruising in Howard's DeSoto after Marion accidentally dents Richie's car. The boys' attempts to impress the girls lead them into trouble when they discover the girls are dating members of a local gang called the Dragons. A drag race ensues, orchestrated by Fonzie, culminating in the revelation that the girls were using the boys to make their boyfriends jealous. Fun Fact: This episode marked Maureen McCormick's first major guest-starring role following the conclusion of The Brady Bunch in 1974. Episode Title: "Be My Valentine" (Season 5, Episode 20) Role: Christopher Knight guest stars as Binky Hodges. In "Be My Valentine," Joanie Cunningham eagerly awaits her date, Binky, who is delayed. As she waits, Joanie daydreams about romantic scenarios involving her friends and family, leading to several musical dream sequences. Eventually, Binky arrives and presents Joanie with a locket, and they decide to spend the evening together at Inspiration Point. Fun Fact: This episode aired on February 14, 1978—Valentine's Day itself. Knight, already well-known for his role as Peter Brady on The Brady Bunch, appeared during a time when many 1970s TV stars were making crossover guest appearances on popular sitcoms. His presence gave the episode extra promotional appeal due to The Brady Bunch's lasting popularity in reruns at the time. Episode: "They Shoot Fonzies, Don't They?" (Season 4, Episode 8) Role: Charle Tilton guest stars as Jill Higgins. As things unfold, Joanie is cut from the cheerleading squad by the confident and competitive Jill. Determined to prove herself, Joanie enters a dance marathon at Arnold's Drive-In, enlisting Fonzie as her partner. Despite Fonzie's exhaustion from pushing his broken motorcycle twelve miles, he joins the marathon to support Joanie. The competition culminates in a high-energy showdown between Joanie and Fonzie versus Jill and her partner Bubba, with Joanie's team ultimately triumphing. Fun Fact: This episode aired on November 1, 1976, and marked one of Tilton's first TV appearances. Just two years later, she'd land the iconic role of Lucy Ewing on Dallas. The title of the episode is a play on the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, which also centered around a grueling dance marathon. Episode Title: "The Third Anniversary Show" (Season 4, Episode 17) Role: Nancy Walker guest stars as Nancy Blansky, Howard Cunningham's cousin from Las Vegas. In this special clip show, Richie and Joanie plan a surprise party for their parents' wedding anniversary. Nancy's arrival adds a lively dynamic to the celebration, introducing her as a vibrant, showbiz-savvy relative. Her character's presence serves as a bridge between the nostalgic flashbacks and the current festivities, providing both humor and a fresh perspective. Fun Fact: This episode, which aired on February 4, 1977, served as a backdoor pilot for Blansky's Beauties, a spin-off series that premiered just eight days later on February 12, 1977 . In the new series, Nancy Blansky is portrayed as a seasoned Las Vegas showbiz veteran who acts as a den mother to a group of aspiring showgirls. Despite the character's introduction in the 1950s setting of Happy Days, Blansky's Beauties is set in the contemporary 1977 timeline, creating a unique cross-era connection between the two shows. Episode Title: "A Sight for Sore Eyes" (Season 3, Episode 23) Role: Fonzie experiences persistent headaches and reluctantly visits Dr. Malph, who diagnoses him with a vision issue requiring glasses. Fonzie, concerned that wearing glasses might compromise his cool image, resists the idea, leading to humorous attempts by his friends to change his mind. Fun Fact: Jack Dodson is best known for his role as Howard Sprague on The Andy Griffith Show. His recurring role as Dr. Mickey Malph on Happy Days allowed him to bring the same kind of soft-spoken charm to a new generation of viewers. He appeared in multiple episodes across different seasons, establishing Dr. Malph as one of the show's few adult characters outside the Cunningham family who interacted regularly with the younger cast. Enjoy much more about the world of 'Happy Days' The 'Happy Days' Cast Reunites to Share Favorite Memories, On-Set Secrets and Heartfelt Moments How 'Happy Days' Nearly Got Canceled—Until Fonzie, Richie and an Audience Saved the Show (EXCLUSIVE) 17 Rare 'Happy Days' Behind-the-Scenes Photos Featuring Ron Howard, Henry Winkler and Many More
CNN
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
‘Happy Days' cast members reunited this weekend
Sunday, Monday, happy days. Fans of the beloved series 'Happy Days,' which aired from 1974 to 1984, got a treat this weekend when some of the cast members came together at Steel City Con outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Anson Williams and Don Most joined a panel discussion about the series. The convention shared video from the event on their social media. 'We are very happy to be here in Pittsburgh,' said Winkler who played Arthur 'The Fonz' Fonzarelli on the show. He later said that it had been 'the first time that we have appeared this way in 50 years.' Howard, who grew up on screen and went on to become a Oscar-winning director, starred as Richie Cunningham on the sitcom. 'It feels like it's been 50 minutes, because we're having so much fun hanging and this was sort of our great excuse to come together, so thank you,' he said at the event. 'And by the way, it's just been amazing.' The classic series was so popular that it spurned several spinoffs, including 'Laverne & Shirley' and 'Mork & Mindy.'
CNN
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
‘Happy Days' cast members reunited this weekend
Sunday, Monday, happy days. Fans of the beloved series 'Happy Days,' which aired from 1974 to 1984, got a treat this weekend when some of the cast members came together at Steel City Con outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Anson Williams and Don Most joined a panel discussion about the series. The convention shared video from the event on their social media. 'We are very happy to be here in Pittsburgh,' said Winkler who played Arthur 'The Fonz' Fonzarelli on the show. He later said that it had been 'the first time that we have appeared this way in 50 years.' Howard, who grew up on screen and went on to become a Oscar-winning director, starred as Richie Cunningham on the sitcom. 'It feels like it's been 50 minutes, because we're having so much fun hanging and this was sort of our great excuse to come together, so thank you,' he said at the event. 'And by the way, it's just been amazing.' The classic series was so popular that it spurned several spinoffs, including 'Laverne & Shirley' and 'Mork & Mindy.'
Buzz Feed
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
15 Heartbreaking Celebrity Deaths That Shocked The World, And People Are Still Mourning
We may not know celebrities personally, but it doesn't make their deaths any easier to process. In fact, Redditor Phantom30071 recently asked which death hurt fans the most, and here are 15 beloved people mentioned: Note: These responses have been editor for length and clarity. 1. Alan Rickman died in 2016 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 69. "Woke up to a text from my mom. Thought she fell for some clickbait headline on the internet (boomer parent problems) but then realized it was real. Cried in my bed before work. Received lots of messages throughout the day, even from ex-boyfriends, asking if I was all right. (Obviously, yes, just sad about a parasocial relationship with a celeb!)" — ArtisticCoconut8510 "I miss his voice." — 306heatheR 2. Robin Williams died in 2014 by suicide, according to a coroner's report. He was 63. "He was everywhere when I was growing up. I remember watching Mork & Mindy as a kid and, of course, all of his movies and voice roles over the years. I was saddened by his passing, especially given the circumstances surrounding it." — TheycallmeTTT "We ain't never had a friend like him. 😔" — ScorpionX-123 "He was the first and only celebrity death I've cried at." — ashenelk 3. Steve Irwin died in 2006 after a stingray stabbed his chest and heart. He was 44. "I remember being a kid, and his show was on every morning before I went to school. So, I would eat breakfast or get my hair done while he was on TV. And then, one day, my parents broke the news that he was dead, so the show wouldn't have any more new episodes. I didn't cry or anything because this was my first brush with death. And it just unreal. Like, how could he die? Men like him were supposed to be invincible. They were supposed to get so old they broke records. Instead, he was dead? It didn't make any sense to me." — JinxTheEdgyB "I have a cartoon saved of Steve Irwin holding a ghost kitty, saying, 'You're alright mate, I've got you now.' Someone sent it to me when my cat died. I still lose it when I see it. He was truly an angel on earth." — That_Cat7243 4. Maggie Smith died in 2024. Her family did not share a cause of death. She was 89. "Her death hurt me so bad. I loved her as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies." — Remote-Direction963 "I loved her movies." — kateuncovered "I find, when the older heroes pass, I can at least be happy that they had a full life well lived." — T1nyJazzHands 5. Carrie Fisher died in 2016 of sleep apnea and other factors, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. She was 60. "And then her mother, Debbie Reynolds, died right after.:'(" — verynotberry "She died right before Rogue One came out. My mom and I saw it in theaters, and when Princess Leia came on the screen, my mom said, 'She looks so beautiful.' I burst into tears." — Tater-Tot-Casserole "The last thing I saw on my phone before turning it off in the theatre before seeing Rogue One was a notification about Carrie Fisher's death (That's how I found out). It was ROUGH seeing Leia in that last scene." — CrunchyFrogWithBones "Yes, this one was deeply upsetting. I don't usually admire celebrities, but reading her books connected something in my brain about my own mental illnesses and trauma that allowed me to finally start a healing journey. I'm pretty sure I even got a job because of her. During the interview, I was speaking to someone who worked at Roundabout Theatre Company when Wishful Drinking was a stage show there, and I asked her about her time working there." — ratherpculiar "Princess Leia was the icon of my childhood. As a girl who loved Star Wars pre-Disney but after the prequel trilogy was released, she was like one of the few women in the series. Especially to be a badass rebel leader. Carrie Fisher just made it feel like it wasn't an all-dude club. I was so sad when she died. It hurt a piece of my childhood." 6. Andre Braugher died in 2023 of lung cancer. He was 61. "I'm a 48-year-old man (who has watched B99 straight through five times), and I started crying the second I saw the news." — eennrriigghhtt "This one was so painful. Brilliant actor, lovely man — he deserved so many more great years." — Sunnygirl66 7. Brittany Murphy died in 2009 of pneumonia and other factors, according to the LA County Coroner's Office. She was 32. "I can't even imagine all the amazing things she'd be doing now if she was still alive! Such a great actress." — catsandnaps1028 8. Chris Cornell died in 2017 by suicide, according to an autopsy report. He was 52. "I woke up to texts from friends telling me the news. I had seen him on his last solo tour and had tickets to his then-current tour with Soundgarden but couldn't make it. I thought oh, they'll tour again. I'll catch 'em next time. One of my top favorites." — Terrilickle "I was a wreck the day I found out. Ended up spending my whole day playing Soundgarden and Audioslave songs for my 9th graders, talking about grunge and mental health and everything I felt like. Still miss him." — Velfar "This is the only celebrity death that ever hurt me. He was my favorite all-time vocalist. Wish I would have been able to see him live. 😔" — C_IsForCookie 9. James Earl Jones died in 2024. He was 93. "I felt like I did when I was a little kid back when The Lion King first came out and Mufasa died." — ThisistheHoneyBadger "I teared up at his tribute in the beginning of Mufasa: The Lion King." — NJbeaglemama "He lived a long, accomplished life. When someone passes in their 90s, there is a bit of celebration as they have successfully lived longer than 90% of other people. Idk, that's my logic on it." — suspicious_hyperlink 10. Betty White died in 2021. She was 99. "She was one wild lady." — ECU_BSN "Betty White was a treasure. Imagine living to 99, and yet people say you died too soon." — shesadollyrocker 11. David Bowie died in 2016 after a battle with cancer. He was 69. "He was the first musician I remember legitimately being into as a kid. I was in college when he died and had an open morning to study. I got on the internet and saw everyone posting pictures of him and thought oh, how nice, some Bowie appreciation! Then I put two and two together, googled it, and sat on the couch the rest of the morning watching old concert videos and crying." — hypnogogick "My mum texted me out of the blue about Bowie like a family friend had died, and it truly felt that way. It's not like we were the biggest fans or Bowie was the soundtrack to my childhood, but he was just always there and we weren't quite ready to miss that I guess. 'Life on Mars' will always be the most beautiful song to me, though, and that song will always be there." — PercussiveRussel 12. Prince died in 2016 of an accidental overdose, according to the Associated Press. He was 57. "Got engaged after my first Prince gig. Can't believe I'll never dance with him again. (Prince, I mean. Still dancing with my husband 21 years later. There's joy in repetition.)" — moodyfloss "Prince was the absolutely most devastating celebrity death to me. Our entire city is still in mourning." — myjah 13. Chester Bennington died in 2017 by suicide, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. He was 41. Chiaki Nozu / WireImage "I had to leave work when I heard it happened." — jllewis30 "My son was a young teen and absolutely idolized Chester. His dad and I didn't want him to hear it on the news, so we told him. All three of us were in tears." — somuchyarn10 14. Freddie Mercury died in 1991 from complications of AIDS. He was 45. "I lost so many good friends to AIDS in the late '80s and [throughout the] '90s. So thankful it's not a death sentence anymore, but so sad at how many good people lost their lives." — anaserre "I remember waking up to the news on my clock radio. In retrospect, it was just so unnecessary. I really think Freddie's death brought on a lot of awareness of HIV, took away shame, showed it could happen to anyone, and made safe sex a topic which could be discussed." — Wretched_Colin 15. Finally, Chadwick Boseman died in 2020 of colon cancer. He was 43. "As a loyal MCU fan, I know he would've been a key player in the franchise post- Endgame. Plus, from what I hear, he wanted to make T'Challa (who was very serious most of the time) have a bit more fun, similar to the version he played in What If...?" — n_mcrae_1982 "This one made me a lot more sad than it should have. I didn't really know much about the guy. I saw Black Panther but didn't really have an opinion about it either way. I never saw an interview with him or saw any other movie he was in. But when he died and I heard that he knew he had cancer and was still working and still smiling, it really broke me. I felt bad for the guy. So it was less a 'celebrity' thing and more just a human thing." Dial 988 in the US to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Other international suicide helplines can be found at The Trevor Project, which provides help and suicide-prevention resources for LGBTQ youth, is 1-866-488-7386.
