UPDATE April 24 at 1:16 EST:
Former "Happy Days" actress Erin Moran "likely succumbed to complications of stage 4 cancer," the Harrison County Sheriff's Department and the medical examiner said in a statement Monday.
Standard toxicology tests were performed and the results are pending. However, officials said no illegal narcotics were found at Moran's home in New Salisbury, Indiana.
The statement did not clarify what kind of cancer Moran had.
"Happy Days" actress likely died of cancer. Statement from sheriff and coroner released a few minutes ago. pic.twitter.com/O2v1enMbgB
— Chris Turner (@ChrisTurnerWDRB) April 24, 2017
Original Story
Actress Erin Moran, who played Joanie Cunningham in the sitcoms "Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves Chachi," has died. She was 56.
Emergency responders in Indiana found her body Saturday after receiving a 911 call for "an unresponsive female," the Harrison County Sheriff's Department told CNN. An autopsy is pending.
Moran, who was a Burbank, California, native, began acting before she was 10 years old.
Moran was just 14 when she was cast as the little sister of Richie Cunningham, played by Ron Howard, on the 1970s sitcom "Happy Days."
"Such sad sad news. RIP Erin," Howard tweeted Saturday. "I'll always choose to remember you on our show making scenes better, getting laughs and lighting up TV screens."
Such sad sad news. RIP Erin. I'll always choose to remember you on our show making scenes better, getting laughs and lighting up tv screens. https://t.co/8HmdL0JKlf
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) April 23, 2017
OH Erin... now you will finally have the peace you wanted so badly here on earth ...Rest In It serenely now.. too soon
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) April 23, 2017
Henry Winkler, who played Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on the show, expressed his condolences.
So incredibly sad to hear about Erin. A wonderful, sweet, caring, talented woman.I can't really comprehend this right now.Very painful loss
— Don Most (@most_don) April 23, 2017
Don Most who played Ralph Malph on "Happy Days" did so as well.
"Happy Days" aired from 1974 to 1984.
Some of her more recent credits included "The Love Boat" and "Murder, She Wrote.
Moran was one of several "Happy Days" actors who sued CBS in 2011, saying they were owned merchandising money related to the show. The lawsuit was settled the following year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
