Tom Bosley wasn't upset that he had to share the stage in Happy Days
"I don't miss front and center," said the actor.
It can be tough playing second fiddle if your ego can't stand the pain. Some people just can't stand staying in a supporting role if it means losing their chance in the spotlight. On the other hand, some people understand that someone else's stardom doesn't dim your own and that there are no small parts, only small actors.
For Tom Bosley, Howard Cunningham was a smaller role that had an enormous impact. While the Happy Days actor was a constant presence throughout the series, much of the series focused on the lives of the young people in the series, like Richie and Joanie Cunningham. Still, actors like Marion Ross and Tom Bosley were integral parts of the series, with viewers looking up to the actors as if they were their own parents.
When pressed whether he was upset by his lesser screentime in favor of his younger costars, Bosley was quick to disagree.
"I don't miss front and center," Bosley said during an interview with the Kansas City Star. "I'm a character actor. You can't be the star of every show. When this is over, I'll look for something else."
Moreover, the success of Happy Days was an achievement shared by the entire cast and crew. "Star or not, you can't knock what happens when you're in a successful television series," he said.