This beloved TV star, who turns 96 on October 25, 2024, is most recognized for her memorable role in the classic sitcom “Happy Days,” where she graced the screen for all 11 seasons. However, she has traveled far beyond that iconic chapter in her career, overcoming numerous personal challenges along the way.
The actress on the set of “Happy Days,” 1975 | Source: Getty Images
Despite the personal struggles she faced, this resilient star found her way to a role that would forever change her life. Playing Marion Cunningham, the warm and loving mother on “Happy Days,” wasn’t a stretch for her, as the character closely mirrored her own compassionate nature.
At the time she landed the part, she was having a tough time in her life. The opportunity to portray Marion was life-altering for the actress, who had dreamed of becoming an actress since childhood.
It was a role that not only defined her career but one she would always cherish. Reflecting on the show’s success, she expressed her gratitude, “It was even beyond my dreams. Who knew that we would become an American legend?”
The actress, born in Watertown, Minnesota, moved several times during her childhood before settling in Albert Lea. At just 13, she changed the spelling of her name from “Marian” to “Marion” because she believed it would look better on a marquee.
The actress on the set of “Happy Days,” 1982 | Source: Getty Images
Feeling unnoticed as a child, she explained in a 2018 interview that this sense of invisibility fueled her ambition. “I didn’t get any attention. But inside, there was somebody screaming, ‘Look at me!’ That makes you become an actress,” said the veteran star.
Her desire to be seen and heard carried into adulthood, and at 21, she surprised her parents by eloping with fellow actor Freeman “Effie” Meskimen in 1951. The couple had two children, Jim and Ellen Meskimen, but their marriage was far from ideal.
The actress and Ellen Ross attend Fifth Annual Mother-Daughter Fashion Show on March 27, 1986, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
The mother of two candidly described her husband as “an unmotivated, moody drinker,” reflecting the difficulties she faced during that time.
The actress detailed her marital woes in her 2018 memoir, “My Days: Happy and Otherwise.” She opened up about the turbulent relationship she had with Freeman, describing how their outwardly stable life masked deeper struggles.
Despite Effie holding a steady job and the family appearing settled, the pressure to support her children and take on every role available weighed heavily on her. She admitted that the “never gave me the feeling that now things would be the way I had always wanted them to be.”
Over time, she came to realize that Freeman was a “functioning alcoholic.” The actress explained how he drank every evening until he passed out, yet still managed to wake up early, read the paper, and go to work, seemingly functioning well.
The actress speaks at her book signing for “My Days: Happy and Otherwise” on March 27, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
However, the marriage was far from harmonious. Arguments and yelling were frequent, and she recalled how his mood swings intensified as time went on. Despite her attempts to encourage him, their relationship was fraught with ongoing tension.
Despite her efforts to hold the marriage together, the relationship reached a breaking point. The actress eventually left Freeman when “he began to have an affair with his secretary,” she revealed.
Reflecting on their bond in a 2010 interview, Ross once said, “People are capable of very hot romances as they get older. We sort of forget that, and sort of give up on that.” In the same interview, Paul echoed her sentiments, saying, “These are the happiest days of my life.”
Tragically, their love story came to an end when Paul passed away in 2011 at the age of 84 due to heart failure. At that point, he and Marion had spent 23 years together, building a bond that was as heartfelt as it was enduring. She had lived with Paul, whom she fondly referred to as “the love of my life.”
Paul Michael and Marion Ross during Reception for Blake Edwards, Honorary Academy Award Recipient on February 26, 2004, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Several years after Paul’s passing, Marion revealed in 2018 that she had retired two years earlier. She expressed that she had already accomplished what she wanted in her career and now preferred to focus on enjoying her life with her family.
