Henry Winkler Honors ‘Happy Days’ Costar Marion Ross on Her 97th Birthday
What To Know
- Marion Ross, best known for playing Marion Cunningham on Happy Days, celebrated her 97th birthday on October 25.
- Her son Jim Meskimen and former costar Henry Winkler shared heartfelt tributes on social media, with Winkler calling her a “magnificent woman, artist and friend.”
- Fans flooded social media with birthday wishes and fond memories, praising Ross as an iconic and beloved TV mom from the long-running sitcom.
Marion Ross just celebrated her 97th birthday — and her Happy Days costar, Henry Winkler, and son, Jim Meskimen, shared touching tributes honoring the iconic actress.
On October 25, the star behind the beloved ’70s and ’80s sitcom mom, Marion Cunningham, turned 97. Both Winkler, who played her surrogate son, Fonzie, and Meskimen, Ross’ real-life son, took to social media to honor her on her big day.
Meskimen declared via Instagram, “My mom and yours, Marion Ross, turns 97 today! She loves you, too!”
View this post on Instagram
In the comments, fans showered Ross with well-wishes and fond memories of watching her on Happy Days, which aired for 11 seasons from 1974 to 1984.
One Instagram user declared, “Happy, happy, happy 97th Birthday to our forever TV mom, Marion Ross! You will always be Mrs. C, the heart and soul of Happy Days. Hope your day is filled with good times and lots of sweet memories.”
Another follower shared, “God bless her. Happy birthday!! She will always be Mrs. C. 🎂🎉.”
Someone else echoed, “Happy Birthday!!!!🎂🎂🎂🎂 She’s an AWESOME person and a TV Icon!!!!!!”
Yet another fan wrote, “Happy 97th to a true original!👏👏👏.”
A magnificent woman , artist and friend . HAPPY B DAY Marion … love, Henry https://t.co/uSBrKGuIas
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) October 26, 2025
Meanwhile, Winkler, 79, took to X with a birthday shoutout for Ross, writing, “A magnificent woman, artist and friend. HAPPY B DAY Marion … love, Henry.”
In the comments, one X user commented, “This is so wholesome. The Happy Days cast really was like a family. Marion Ross seems like such a genuine person and 97 years young is incredible.”
Another fan wrote, “Happy birthday to the TV Mom many of us grew up with and loved!”
A different X user shared, “Your relationship with ‘Mrs C’ on the show was sweet!”
Yet another follower exclaimed, “Coolest TV mom of all time!”
In addition to Ross and Winkler, Happy Days starred Tom Bosley, Erin Moran, Anson Williams, Ron Howard, Don Most, Al Molinaro, Scott Baio, and others.
Happy Days, streaming on Paramount+