What Happened to Marion Ross After ‘Happy Days’?
Marion Ross is best remembered as Marion Cunningham, the embodiment of a perfect ’50s mother on Happy Days. However, the actress, who turns 97 on October 25, 2025, began acting in the 1950s, and had a six-decade career that included many surprising roles that went far beyond the classic sitcom. Here are some of her most interesting non-Happy Days roles you may have forgotten:
Ginny Thorpe on The Lone Ranger
In 1954, Ross appeared on The Lone Ranger in the episode “Texas Draw,” playing Ginny Thorpe in one of her first credited roles. Sharing the screen with the masked hero and Tonto was a significant step for a young actress breaking into television.
Sophie Berger on Brooklyn Bridge
CBS/Everett Collection
In the early 1990s, Ross earned acclaim for her role as Sophie Berger on the CBS series Brooklyn Bridge. The show, which followed a Jewish-American family in 1950s Brooklyn, won a Golden Globe and Ross’ performance as the family matriarch also earned her two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
Rosie Dunlop in The Evening Star
Paramount/Everett Collection
Ross moved onto the big screen in 1996 with The Evening Star, the sequel to Terms of Endearment. She played Rosie Dunlop, the loyal housekeeper to Shirley MacLaine‘s Aurora Greenway, a role that earned her another Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Grandma Bernice Forman on That ’70s Show
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection
In the late ’90s, Ross returned to sitcoms, appearing on That ’70s Show as Grandma Bernice Forman, Eric’s outspoken grandmother. In several episodes, she played the sarcastic character, a far cry from her Happy Days role, but one that delighted fans nonetheless (especially those who loved to see her on another sitcom set in a previous era).
Beulah Carey on The Drew Carey Show
Warner Bros./Everett Collection
In the late 1990s, Ross took on a recurring role on The Drew Carey Show as Beulah Carey, Drew’s mother, across 16 episodes. The show often poked fun at her wholesome Happy Days image, even referencing Mrs. Cunningham in a tongue-in-cheek gag.
Roles in the Scooby-Doo Franchise
Ross even joined the long-running Scooby-Doo franchise, playing more than one role in the extended Scooby universe. n 2010, she voiced Grandma Moonbeam in an episode of Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated. That same year, she played Hilda Trowburg in the live-action film Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster.
Grandma SquarePants on SpongeBob SquarePants
Ross also lent her voice to the world of Bikini Bottom. Beginning in 2001, she voiced Grandma SquarePants, SpongeBob’s sweet but sometimes overindulgent grandmother. She returned to the role in multiple episodes across the series, even reprising the part in 2024.
Lorelai “Trix” Gilmore and Marilyn Gilmore on Gilmore Girls
One of Ross’s most memorable later-career roles came on Gilmore Girls. She played the intimidating Lorelai “Trix” Gilmore, Richard’s strong-willed mother, who appeared in several episodes. Ross also portrayed Marilyn Gilmore, Richard’s cousin, in different episodes.
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TVs Top Moms
May 2022
Celebrate top TV moms from the ’50 to the ’90s including 8 things you didn’t know about Donna Reed plus weird and wacky TV moms.
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