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Don Most met the love of his life when she appeared on Happy Days
Morgan Hart played a pretty blonde who kissed the Fonz, but it was Ralph Malph who romanced her in the real world.
When Morgan Hart appeared on Happy Days, she played a pretty blonde named Angela who smooches Fonzie, but by the end of "Fools Rush In," a totally different cast member had struck her fancy behind the scenes.
Ralph Malph actor Don Most almost wasn't cast on Happy Days because producers thought maybe Richie should be the only redhead.
Fortunately for Most, the producers plugged him into the cast anyway, because when Morgan arrived onset that day, Happy Days' second favorite redhead met his true love.
For Hart, Happy Days was only her second role ever, having only previously played a minor role just called "Girl" for an episode of The Incredible Hulk. Her career was only beginning.
For Most, though, Hart arrived at a moment when he was feeling a lot of pressure to perform on Happy Days, as one of its most visible stars. The stress of wanting the show to do as well as possible in the ratings had somewhat soured him to all the fame and fortune that came with playing Ralph Malph.
"I remember vividly there was a period when Happy Days was at the top of the ratings and I was doing really well, at least as far as money was concerned," Most told McCall.com. "I had all of these things going on and I was still not happy."
But then he met Morgan. Soon, they were dating, and then they became completely smitten, and then they were happily wed — almost two years to the day after her Happy Days episode aired.
Most knew she was the one, because the moment she entered his life, his zest for life returned. Eventually, he realized that what he was discovering was that happiness in life wasn’t all about money and success.
"Having a family made me realize that too much emphasis is placed on things of a material nature," Most said. "Sure, it's important to [have security], but the emphasis on [wealth] is out of balance. There are so many other things that can bring you peace and contentment."
In a photo printed in The Palm Beach Daily in 1982 a few months after they said "I do," Morgan poses beaming in an off-the-shoulder white dress, leaning into Most, the perfect picture of lovestruck newlyweds.
Most told The Kansas City Star that year that his only hesitation before proposing was considering any conflict that might arise between two actors in the same family.
Clearly, his love for Morgan helped melt those fears away.
"I was concerned about possible career conflicts," Most said. "Egos come into play, such as when one person is doing better professionally than the other. There's also the chance to meet lots of interesting and attractive people. In our situation, I think we can work it out."
The Mosts have worked it out, still married, supporting one another through sickness and health, right up to this day.
Back on their wedding day in 1982, the Daily News came upon the couple and captured how happy Donny was to have taken Morgan as his bride after their fateful meeting on Happy Days:
"Good reason why Donny Most of Happy Days fame and actress Morgan Hart were looking blissfully happy the other night at the 37th St. Hideaway: They were quietly married a week ago at his home in Malibu."
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21 Comments
And 2) the show regardless of its Nielson number of the year, was popular (enough) as the article points out. I had to go back and reread the article because it was a bit disjointed due to all the quotes. It could’ve been summed up by saying: Donny Most was under pressure, looking for meaning, while his future wife could've been attracted to the series' co-star, she fell for the supporting actor instead, and they lived happily ever after for 38+ years and going strong!!
Thanks MeTV Staff writers for doing all research, and providing us with a neat backstory!! We love those!
But I think as time went on, they realized the appeal wasn't the time period, but the characters. I think that was the real reason, the cost of period accuracy second.
As time went on, it just seemed like a sitcom, the situation mostly at home.
Thank you for saying it better than I did!!
But a fun question, made me look up the details! 😉
Thanks for keeping people straight 😉