Al Molinaro

A veteran scene-stealer with a knack for playing lovable losers, character actor Al Molinaro was a beloved presence to television audiences in the 1960s and 1970s thanks to regular appearances on "Get Smart" (NBC-CBS, 1965-70) and "The Odd Couple" (ABC, 1970-75), before playing his signature role, Al Delvecchio, on "Happy Days" (ABC, 1974-84). Molinaro left the show in 1982 to join the spin-off "Joanie Loves Chachi" (ABC, 1982-1983) and briefly starred in his own series, "The Ugily Family" (ABC, 1980), putting the breaks on his thriving television career. But Molinaro's familiarity to viewers made for a natural transition to commercials, where he enjoyed a long stint as an overly helpful grocer in spots for On-Cor frozen foods. Though largely removed from acting by the mid-1990s, Molinaro nonetheless earned a new generation of fans, thanks to an appearance as Al in Weezer's music video for "Buddy Holly," and endless reruns of "The Odd Couple" and "Happy Days." Al Molinaro died at the age of 96 in Glendale, California on October 30, 2015.