Eddie Mekka
| Eddie Mekka | |
|---|---|
 Eddie Mekka at a Chiller Theatre convention in 2005. | |
| Born |
Rudolph Edward Mekjian June 14, 1952 Worcester, Massachusetts, United States |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Spouse(s) |
DeLee Lively (1983-1992; divorced) Yvonne Marie Grace (1994-present) 1 child |
Eddie Mekka (born June 14, 1952) is an American actor most famous for his role as Carmine "The Big Ragoo" Ragusa on the sitcom Laverne & Shirley.
Life and career
Mekka was born Rudolph Edward Mekjian in Worcester, Massachusetts, the son of Mariam (née Apkarian), a presser, and Vaughn V. Mekjian.[1] He is of Armenian ancestry and a graduate of Burncoat High School.
In the early 1970s, Mekka headed the Worcester County Light Opera in Massachusetts, teaching young people how to sing. After performing on Broadway in The Lieutenant, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award, he moved to Los Angeles. He landed the role of Carmine for Laverne & Shirley in 1976, acting on the series until it was canceled in 1983. His recent television credits include 24, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Bold and the Beautiful, and as Detective Murdoch in the Fox television movie Catch Me If You Can. He had a small role in the Penny Marshall-directed 1992 film, A League of Their Own whose credits list him as "Mae's guy in bar."
On stage, he has performed in Hairspray at the Luxor in Las Vegas, Nevada and in a national tour of Grease with Cindy Williams. Mekka returned to off-Broadway on July 15, 2008, starring in Steve Solomon's long-running comedy My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm In Therapy! at the Westside Theatre.[2]
Mekka reunited with his Laverne & Shirley co-star Cindy Williams in a November 2008 regional production of the Renée Taylor-Joseph Bologna comedy play It Had to Be You.[3]
In 2008, Mekka wrapped production in the independent film Code Enforcer. He stars opposite Erin Moran of Happy Days.
Mekka starred as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport, New York, from April 29, 2010, until June 20, 2010.[4]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976–83 | Laverne & Shirley | Carmine Ragusa | Main cast (150 episodes) |
| 1977 | Blansky's Beauties | Joey DeLuca | Main cast (13 episodes) |
| 1977 | Happy Days | Carmine Ragusa | Episode: "Joanie's Weird Boyfriend" |
| 1979 | Greatest Heroes of the Bible | Uri | Episode: "The Story of Esther" |
| 1979 | Happy Days | Carmine Ragusa | Episode: "Fonzie's Funeral: Part 2" |
| 1979 | Fantasy Island | Johnny Detroit / Wilbur Wilson | Episode: "Hit Man/The Swimmer" |
| 1979 | The Love Boat | Mike | Episode: "The Grass Is Always Greener/Three Stages of Love/Oldies But Goodies" |
| 1980 | Fantasy Island | Ken Jason | Episode: "Unholy Wedlock/Elizabeth" |
| 1981 | The Love Boat | Stanley Corson | Episode: "I Love You Too, Smith/Mamma and Me/Sally's Paradise" |
| 1981 | The 6th Annual Circus of the Stars | Himself (performer) | TV special |
| 1982 | Assignment Berlin | Lightning | |
| 1982 | The Love Boat | Bert Brodie / Jason Clark | Episode: "Mothers Don't Do That/Marrying for Money/Substitute Lover" |
| 1982 | The 7th Annual Circus of the Stars | Himself (performer) | TV special |
| 1983 | Fantasy Island | Charles | Episode: "Naughty Marietta/The Winning Ticket" |
| 1988 | Bum Rap | Sammy | |
| 1989 | Beaches | Actor 3 | |
| 1989 | Moonlighting | Guido Viola | Episode: "In 'N Outlaws" |
| 1989 | True Blue | Elvis fanatic | Episode: "Oldies, But Goodies" |
| 1990 | Mulberry Street | Vincent Savoia | |
| 1990 | Family Matters | Charlie | Episode: "Flashpants" |
| 1990 | The Munsters Today | Mr. Sweetzer | Episode: "The Reel Munsters" |
| 1992 | A League of Their Own | Mae's Guy in Bar | |
| 1992–93 | Guiding Light | Grady | |
| 1993 | Taking the Heat | Barbaro | TV movie |
| 1994 | Family Matters | Mr. Nutting | Episode: "Sink or Swim" |
| 1994 | The Rockford Files: I Still Love L.A. | Gus | TV movie |
| 1994 | California Dreams | Uncle Frank | Episode: "Harley and the Marlboro Man" |
| 1995 | Dream On | Mel | Episode: "Significant Author" |
| 1995 | The Laverne & Shirley Reunion | Himself | TV special |
| 1996 | Weird Science | Tommy Svachino | Episode: "Men in Tights" |
| 1997 | The Big Easy | Joey LaVern | Episode: "Heavenly Body" |
| 1997 | Top of the World | Joe Burns | |
| 1998 | The Jamie Foxx Show | Danny | Episode: "It's All Good, Fellas" |
| 1998 | Sunset Beach | Summons Process Server | Episodes #1.416 and #1.417 |
| 1998 | Deadly Game | Det. Murdoch | TV movie |
| 2002 | Power Rangers Wild Force | Don | Episode: "The Tornado Spin" |
| 2002 | Laverne & Shirley: Together Again | Himself | TV special |
| 2003 | Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star | Himself (cameo) | |
| 2004 | Land of the Free? | Jerry | |
| 2005 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Las Vegas Minister | Episodes #1.4581 and #1.4582 |
| 2006 | Love Made Easy | Mobo | |
| 2006 | 24 | Ned | Episode: "Day 5: 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m." |
| 2006 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Bobby Thunderson | Episode: "Hundred Dollar Baby" |
| 2006 | The Last Stand | Art | |
| 2006 | Dreamgirls | Club Manager | |
| 2007 | Crossing Jordan | James Talbot | Episode: "Shattered" |
| 2007 | The Suite Life of Zack & Cody | Western Director | Episode: "The Suite Life Goes Hollywood: Part 2" |
| 2007 | Stuck in the Past | Grandpa | |
| 2008 | ER | Jenkins | Episode: "Under Pressure" |
| 2008 | Dirty Jokes the Movie | ||
| 2008 | Pastor Greg | FJ | Episodes: "Chances" and "Series Finale" |
| 2009 | C Me Dance | Lowell | |
| 2011 | The Young and the Restless | Bud | Episodes #1.9753 and #1.9754 |
| 2012 | Childrens Hospital | Frankie | Episode: "Wisedocs" |
| 2013 | Through a Mother's Eyes | Dr. Henry Myer | |
| 2014 | Heaven Help Us | Chuck | Short film |
