1980: Ron Howard and Donny Most Exit 'Happy Days'
This day in 1980 marked the Season 7 season finale of Happy Days, and the last episode in which Ron Howard and Donny Most appeared as series regulars.
The two actors — who famously portrayed Richie Cunningham and Ralph Malph on the classic sitcom — elected to leave the series to pursue other interests. Howard had already begun working on behind-the-camera writing, directing and producing projects. (One project, which he co-executive produced, was the 1980 romantic comedy Leo and Loree, starred Most and actress Linda Purl.)
When Happy Days returned for Season 8, Richie and Ralph had joined the Army, and were stationed in Greenland. Richie's girlfriend, Lori Beth (played by Linda Goodfriend) continued to appear on the show. She and Richie were married over the phone (with Henry Winkler's Fonz serving as Richie's proxy) toward the end of Season 8, and in Season 9 she gives birth to their son.
Howard and Most made guest appearances in the "Welcome Home" episode, which aired during the show's eleventh and final season. Howard also appeared in the series finale.