Richie Cunningham

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For the football player of the same name, see Richie Cunningham (football player).

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Richard Cunningham
First appearance	"Love and the Happy Days"
Last appearance	"Fonzie's Spots"
Cause/reason	Joined the Army
Created by	Garry Marshall
Portrayed by	Ron Howard
Information
Gender	Male
Occupation	Reporter, Soldier, Screenwriter
Family	Joanie Cunningham (sister), Marion Cunningham(mother) Howard Cunningham (father) Chuck Cunningham (brother) Lori Beth Cunningham (wife) Richard Cunningham Jr. (son) Roger Phillips (cousin) Flip Phillips (cousin) KC Cunningham (cousin)

Richard "Richie" Cunningham was played by Ron Howard on the sitcom Happy Days. He was the brother of Joanie Cunningham and Chuck Cunningham, and friend to Fonzie, Ralph Malph, and Warren "Potsie" Weber.

[edit] Character traits

Richie Cunningham was the quintessential example of the All-American, 1950s, affable teenager. He was exceedingly wholesome and, with his red hair and freckles, he bore more than a passing resemblance to Howdy Doody. Occasionally he got into trouble, usually in some scheme designed to attract women, but he did not have a malicious bone in his body.

Many of the episodes revolved around Richie's attempts to pick up women, and there was little that the clean-cut teen would not do to land a date. If buying a new car or joining a local gang was what it took, Richie was ready to give it a shot. Whenever he was feeling particularly lucky he would sing Fats Domino's, "I found my thrill... on Blueberry Hill". On the occasions that he would become angry or annoyed, he would call any opponents "bucko", even calling The Fonz this on several occasions.

In addition to a healthy love of women, Richie harbored an enormous ambition as a writer. He first wrote for the Jefferson High Bugle, and then later became a cub reporter for the Milwaukee Journal, although in the First Season Episode "Because She's There" he told his blind date, Phyllis, that he wanted to eventually go to Law School and become a lawyer.

During his stint on the show, Richie remained best friends with Fonzie, Ralph Malph, and Potsie Weber. He was always ready to help any of these friends if they got into trouble and also looked after his younger sister Joannie as she grew up. In the First Season it was referred to that he and Potsie were best friends and grew up together since childhood; this was alluded to again in the Seventh Season Episode, "A Potsie Is Born."

After high school, Richie went to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and soon met his girlfriend and future wife Lori Beth in a library. Richie studied journalism at the university and always remained alert for any opportunity to further his writing career.

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he served a short stint in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Greenland. While overseas, he married his long-time girlfriend, Lori Beth, with the Fonz standing in for the absent Richie. Lori Beth visited Richie in Greenland long enough to get pregnant. Their son was very aptly named Richie, Jr.

In the final season of the series, Richie returned to his dream of becoming a writer and moved to Hollywood with Lori Beth and his child to find work as a screenwriter .