Happy Days Star Passes Away

Fans of the TV Show "Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves Chachi" will remember this beloved character who died in a California hospital this past Friday. Surprise, his hometown was Kenosha, Wisconsin before he made it in television. Here's the latest.

Al Molinaro, who played the beloved chef at the drive-in on "Happy Days" ... died in a California hospital on Friday.

According to TMZ, "Molinaro's son confirmed the actor's death ... stating that Al had very bad gall stones, but Al elected not to have surgery due to his age. He was 96".

On one of my all time favorite TV Shows "Happy Days", he played Big Al Delvecchio, who started out as the chef at Arnold's Drive-In. He eventually became owner of the Fonz's favorite hangout, and remained on "Happy Days" for 10 years.

You may also remember Al Molinaro also played the Big Al role on the spin-off, "Joanie Loves Chachi". His character would famously spin long stories that always started with,  "Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep."

Al is survived by his wife, Betty and his son Michael .. who tells us the actor was extremely proud of his family and his roots in Kenosha, Wisconsin.