Goodbye Mr. C.

October 19, 2010 1:32 PM

"Marion and I have not climbed Mount Everest, or written the great American novel. But we've had the joy of raising two wonderful kids, and watching them and their friends grow up into loving adults... and I guess no man or woman could ask for anything more. To happy days." Tom Bosley, TV's Howard Cunningham, has died at 83

Mr. Cunningham was his most famous role, though he also appeared in Murder She Wrote a the sherrif and as the title character in Father Dowling Mysteries. Just prior to Happy Days he lent a sense of humanity to an otherwise drab Hanna-Barbera attempt at an adult sitcom, Wait Til Your Father Gets Home.

posted by evilcolonel (68 comments total)

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*sniff*
posted by Melismata at 1:34 PM on October 19, 2010

Argh, sad.

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posted by bdave at 1:39 PM on October 19, 2010

R.I.P. Tom - thanks for starring in the mandatory film about cross contamination that I had to watch to get my food handler's permit for my first job in high school. Your warm, slightly goofy demeanor made that hour barely tolerable.
posted by chaff at 1:40 PM on October 19, 2010 [8 favorites]

Strange to think that he was my age group's equivalent of Ozzie Nelson or Ward Cleaver (especially since he was putatively set in the same time frame as they were), but it's true.

He and June Cleaver passing within a day of each other is also kind of odd, in that way that deaths of the famous tend often to be.
posted by blucevalo at 1:40 PM on October 19, 2010 [5 favorites]

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posted by Debaser626 at 1:40 PM on October 19, 2010

So long, Tom.

Happy Days was probably the first sitcom I ever watched and (mostly) understood. Such a great show, although like all shows it eventually went downhill. I don't recall the exact episode where it finally became obvious that it had passed it's prime, or what the phrase is that they use to indicate something has hit that point.

Still though, Mr. C. was always awesome.
posted by bondcliff at 1:41 PM on October 19, 2010 [14 favorites]

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A friend of mine & I (both of us in our 40s) were working out when a remake of "Happy Days" would have to be set to be as remote in the past as the '50s were for us growing up. And it's the late '80s/early '90s...

yikes.

RIP, Mr. B.
posted by randomkeystrike at 1:41 PM on October 19, 2010 [5 favorites]

Only two wonderful kids, Mr. C?
posted by Curious Artificer at 1:42 PM on October 19, 2010 [6 favorites]

Two wonderful kids? What about Chuck?
posted by justkevin at 1:44 PM on October 19, 2010 [5 favorites]

Beaten while looking for the link.
posted by justkevin at 1:44 PM on October 19, 2010

"eyyyy....." :(
posted by Webbster at 1:45 PM on October 19, 2010

or what the phrase is that they use to indicate something has hit that point.

The phrase is "Jump the Shark" ... think it was the 4th or 5th season.
posted by Melismata at 1:45 PM on October 19, 2010

Thanks, Melismata. Thanks very much.
posted by bondcliff at 1:53 PM on October 19, 2010 [6 favorites]

That sigh of relief you hear is from David Doyle.

What?
posted by hal9k at 1:54 PM on October 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

He will also be warmly remembered by my generation as David the Gnome.

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posted by Mr. Anthropomorphism at 1:57 PM on October 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

There have been so few good father figures in sitcom history. Most are buffoons or oblivious, simply there to be a foil to a rambunctious kid or a sharp-witted wife.

Mr Cunningham was a great TV dad.
But he wouldn't have been anywhere near as great without Tom Bosley.
posted by grabbingsand at 1:58 PM on October 19, 2010 [6 favorites]

I wonder if there has ever been a Jew who played so many priests?
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:02 PM on October 19, 2010 [3 favorites]

I'm sure it says something about my generation -- not sure what, but something -- that I really do feel a small, but real, sense of loss when my TV moms and dads pass away. First June Cleaver, now Mr. C.

I'm not sure who to start worrying for next, but I do hope that Bill Cosby has cut back on cigars.
posted by mudpuppie at 2:03 PM on October 19, 2010 [3 favorites]

I'm not sure who to start worrying for next, but I do hope that Bill Cosby has cut back on cigars.

I think when Florence Henderson goes, then I'm truly an orphan.
posted by bondcliff at 2:04 PM on October 19, 2010 [2 favorites]

Bosley also won a Tony for his role as the mayor in "Fiorello!" in 1959.
posted by blucevalo at 2:05 PM on October 19, 2010 [4 favorites]

It's a bad week to have been raised by television.
posted by padraigin at 2:05 PM on October 19, 2010 [12 favorites]

RIP Mr C

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Strangely enough, this news made me want to watch the It's a Wonderful Life documentary that he hosts (fittingly and wonderfully) on the dvd of same.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 2:11 PM on October 19, 2010

Cliff Huxtable was close, but Mr C was the best TV dad I ever had. RIP.
posted by Foaf at 2:17 PM on October 19, 2010

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posted by anniecat at 2:19 PM on October 19, 2010

It's a bad week to have been raised by television.

No doubt. I'm really hoping Florence Henderson doesn't round out this triumvirate.

(unlike the producers of Dancing with the Stars)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:20 PM on October 19, 2010

That sigh of relief you hear is from David Doyle.

He's been dead since 1997.
posted by cropshy at 2:22 PM on October 19, 2010

No, you're thinking of David Doyle.
posted by klangklangston at 2:22 PM on October 19, 2010

Here's what happened to Chuck Cunningham, according to MIT scientists.
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posted by misha at 2:28 PM on October 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

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posted by gomichild at 2:31 PM on October 19, 2010

Damn. I would have loved to have seen the episode where Howard and Marion climbed Mount Everest.

Tom Bosley played one of the best fathers on television, hands-down. And later on he made you want to buy trash bags. He was good at whatever he did.

("To happy days." "Hey, that's the name of the show!")
posted by Spatch at 2:35 PM on October 19, 2010

I loved Happy Days when I was a kid, even though I had no sense that it was supposed to be nostalgic (it might as well have been about Martians for all I knew of the 50s), and I've sung along to "The Name's LaGuardia" on my recording of Fiorello! since I can remember (first an LP, then a CD, and now just the mp3s -- somehow skipped the cassette version).

Sad day.

But Melismata brought a smile to my face. So, there's that.
posted by tzikeh at 2:39 PM on October 19, 2010

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posted by edmcbride at 2:44 PM on October 19, 2010

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posted by jquinby at 2:48 PM on October 19, 2010

I've often theorized (in my brain mostly -- but sometimes to my boyfriends) that what happened to Chuck Cunningham might also explain the time/space weirdness that happened in connection with Happy Days and its spinoffs. Sure, Laverne and Shirley took place in the same time period. And you could explain Mork and Mindy because of Mork's alien-ness. But what about the lesser remembered Blansky's Beauties which very clearly took place in 1977 -- but featured Arnold and Pinky Tuscadero as the same age they were in the 50s-60s. (And we won't even get into Erin Moran's obviously 80s perm in Joanie Loves Chachi.)

Obviously, Chuck was sacrificed to the crack in the wall in Joanie's bedroom in order to save the Happy Days universe from ripping in two because of the disturbance in the time/space continuum, and those left behind forgot that he ever existed, no longer remembering him as a beloved son or cool older brother and never knowing him as as a hero for all the universe - Milwaukee and beyond.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:58 PM on October 19, 2010 [5 favorites]

And I post the above thread derail not in disrespect to the late Mr. Bosley but instead as a TV-raised kid (and TV enjoying adult) as a tribute.

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posted by MCMikeNamara at 3:00 PM on October 19, 2010

That makes me feel sad! I loved that show and all the people in it.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 3:01 PM on October 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

R.I.P.

You were cooler than the Fonz, he tried way too hard.
posted by benzenedream at 3:29 PM on October 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

Betty White, watch your step!
posted by briank at 3:31 PM on October 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

For some reason, one of my most long-standing memories of him was when he sang "Mumbo Jumbo It's Magic" on some HBO special in the 80s. (We didn't have cable; I was over at a friend's house. Her mom made you take off your shoes before you were allowed in.) Wish I could find a clip of it on YouTube.
posted by Gator at 3:35 PM on October 19, 2010

Those happy days were yours and mine
Those happy days were yours and mine
Those days were our happy days, Mr C.
posted by Effigy2000 at 3:59 PM on October 19, 2010

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posted by ants at 4:06 PM on October 19, 2010

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posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 4:22 PM on October 19, 2010

worrying about Abe Vigoda....
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 4:22 PM on October 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

Tom Bosley's empathic performance in the Peter Sellers movie The World of Henry Orient might have later helped get his casting in Happy Days.
posted by ovvl at 4:26 PM on October 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

He was a lot nicer than that overbearing, punitive Ward Cleaver.
posted by cogneuro at 5:35 PM on October 19, 2010

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Saw him play Cap'n Andy in "Showboat" around 15 years ago in Orange County.
posted by The Gooch at 5:36 PM on October 19, 2010

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posted by SillyShepherd at 5:56 PM on October 19, 2010

Aw man, I just got done watching Seasons 1-6 of Happy Days. While some of the episodes were pretty lame, there were also a few gems.

Consistent throughout was Tom Bosley, who I always think of as Howard Cunningham, one of the best TV dads ever.

So in the words of Ralph Malph: Bye Howie.

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posted by bwg at 6:12 PM on October 19, 2010

St. Alia of the Bunnies: "worrying about Abe Vigoda...."

No need, Abe Vigoda will never die.
posted by bwg at 6:13 PM on October 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

one mefi stated they are sad!, don't get me wrong but Tom lived a full life to 83 years old, lets celebrate his acting and knowing he could relax and enjoy life in his later years, its sad when an actor passes away at an earlier age, like -
Corey Haim, died at age 38.
Alexander Mcqueen, although not known as an actor he was well known in England for designing outfits for famous people, died at age 40.
Justin Montall, died at age 27.
My favorite singer and actress Britany Murphy, deid at age 37
and throw in Elvis, who passed away at age 42.
posted by tustinrick at 6:47 PM on October 19, 2010

You're absolutely right, of course, but I think we're taken aback by the passage of time that the loss of people like Barbara Billingsley and Tom Bosley represents.
posted by evilcolonel at 6:56 PM on October 19, 2010 [4 favorites]

I had a completely awesome imaginary grizzly bear named Bosley when I was little. Not named after this actor. (The imaginary grizzly bear was, in fact, named after Bosley on Charlie's Angels.) However, every single time I have seen Tom Bosley over the years - I always think of the best imaginary grizzly bear friend, EVAR.

So...

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posted by fluffy battle kitten at 7:00 PM on October 19, 2010

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posted by SuzySmith at 7:02 PM on October 19, 2010

I'm not sure who to start worrying for next, but I do hope that Bill Cosby has cut back on cigars.

I think when Florence Henderson goes, then I'm truly an orphan.


I keep e-mailing Florence Henderson, asking her to cut back on the cigars.

Then she writes back, "Look dude, I'm just a poster on Metafilter. It's just my user name that's called 'It's Raining Florence Henderson.' It's a lark. A goof. And you know, my account is disabled...I'm pretty sure there are laws that cover this."

So come on Flo, just send me those Cohibas. I don't care what happened between you and Barry Williams. He wasn't good for you. Those knock-off Dominicans aren't good for you.

You just go on being you, forever.

And yeah...goodbye Mr. C. I'll always wish that OSH was Cunningham Hardware.
posted by malocchio at 7:17 PM on October 19, 2010

My first memory of his voice was watching David The Gnome when I was a kid.

Slitzweitz, Mr. Bosley.
posted by ShawnStruck at 7:43 PM on October 19, 2010

This does not make me Glad.
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posted by hal_c_on at 7:54 PM on October 19, 2010

Barbara Billingsley and Tom Bosley.. aww, geez. I hate this.

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posted by Mael Oui at 8:01 PM on October 19, 2010

See ya Mr. C.

Growing up in the 50's makes it much easier to appreciate Tom for his iconic role as a Dad. He did a fantastic job.

My own Dad died when I was 6 months old in 1948, my first son was born in 1970, Happy Days started when my oldest was 4..... When you don't have a clue as to what a father should be, Mr. C (and Ozzie, and Danny Thomas, and Ben Cartwright Cartwright and a few others) were pretty good models.....
posted by HuronBob at 9:05 PM on October 19, 2010

my apologies for the strange spell check in Chrome... aaarrrg
posted by HuronBob at 9:06 PM on October 19, 2010

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posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:20 PM on October 19, 2010

> I think we're taken aback by the passage of time that the loss of people like Barbara Billingsley and Tom Bosley represents.

Very true. And I'm acutely aware of how these trips to a dot thread are increasing in frequency over the years. Our untouchable childhood icons will never die off any slower than they are right now.

Dammit, now I need a dark room and a drink. RIP, Tom.
posted by davelog at 10:03 PM on October 19, 2010

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posted by bardophile at 11:37 PM on October 19, 2010

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posted by Gary at 12:41 AM on October 20, 2010

Vale Tom Bosley.
posted by taff at 12:50 AM on October 20, 2010

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posted by fairmettle at 2:04 AM on October 20, 2010

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thanks for mentioning "Wait 'til Your Father Gets Home" as, for me in childhood, he was THAT father first before becoming a live action father. he used his voice and inflections well in the animated series, but put it all together as an actor on Happy Days.
posted by kuppajava at 8:09 AM on October 20, 2010

Jiminy Crickets!
posted by zzazazz at 9:35 AM on October 20, 2010

Now we'll never know what REALLY happened to Richie's older brother.

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posted by Aquaman at 3:08 PM on October 20, 2010