History Characters / HappyDays

** Wanna find out what happens when you mess with his ride, [[TooDumbToLive it's your funeral.]]

%%* ShesGotLegs

--> '''Played by:''' Linda Purl

* PerpetualSmiler: A lot of her scenes at the dinner table or family couch show her with a cheerful smile on her face. It's of great emphasis in the intro when the spinning record preceding the cast billing, and her actresses' credit, show with her with a vivacious teeth-grinning smile, perfectly demonstrating that she's a NiceGirl behind her [[LittleMissSnarker sass]][[BrattyTeenageDaughter iness]].

* GeniusDitz: While she's a delusional boy-crazy ditz, In "Just a Piccalo", she manages to memorize ''an entire phone book'', and this just to impress a snobby GirlPosse group who gave her a seemingly impossible task to join their club. Unfortunately, even if Jenny passes the memory test brilliantly, [[KickTheDog they don't let her join the club anyway.]]

* GeniusDitz: While she's a delusional boy-crazy ditz, In "Just a Piccalo", she manages to memorize ''an entire phone book'', and this just to impress a group of popular girls who gave her a seemingly impossible task to join their club. Unfortunately, even if Jenny passes the memory test brilliantly, [[KickTheDog they didn't let her join the club anyway.]]

Joanie's best friend [[ChildhoodFriends whom she has known ever since the age of six]]. Was originally an [[TheGhost unseen character]] only mentioned whenever Joanie was going over to her place or calling her over the phone, before finally [[UnseenNoMore making her first on-screen appearance in Season 8]], where she's portrayed now as a boy-crwzy ditz than the voice of reason she was made out to be to Joanie in her past mentions.

* PinkMeansFeminine: Subverted, despite her signature colour being pink, she's a BikerBabe and WrenchWench.

** This was actually subverted in some episodes, with one example being "Joanie Busts Out" when Joanie gets away with traveling to New York to apply for a modeling audition in which nudes are specialized, without her parents finding out at the end when she's back home. [[UpToEleven Made all the more shocking by the fact that Joanie is only 17 in this episode]], three years away from the then-age of majority.

* HasAType: A running gag in mid-seasons had Joanie develop an obsession with "{{hunk}}s", calling any attractive boys she came into contact with by the name. [[UpToEleven It got to the point where she wanted one for Christmas]].

* NiceHat: His Grand Poobah hat from the Leopard Lodge.

* NiceHat: In earlier seasons, he used to wear hats. He stops wearing them in later episodes.

* NiceHat: Al also sports a spotted hat as a token of his membership in the Leopard Lodge.

--> '''Played by:''' Scott Baio

--> '''Played by:''' Ted [=McGinley=]

--> '''Played by:''' Pat Morita

--> '''Played by:''' Heather O'Rourke

[[folder:Raymond "Spike" Fonzarelli]]

* GirlyGirlWithATomboyStreak: She's a [[LittleMissSnarker sassy]] [[HormoneAddledTeenager boy-crazy]] [[TheCheerleader cheerleader]] initially part of a Girl Scout organization, [[GirlsLoveStuffedAnimals loves stuffed animals]], embodies the '50s schoolgirl fashion by wearing skirts (usually knee-length and plaid), a pink hair ribbon, ankle-length socks, and ballet flats, and [[SeeminglyWholesomeFiftiesGirl wants to be a bad girl when her parents aren't looking]]...but she's also [[HiddenDepths a good basketball player]] and a quick learner of jujitsu.

%% * PantyShot: A couple in her cheerleader outfit.

[[folder:Spike Fonzarelli]]

[[folder:Richard "Richie" Cunningham]]

[[folder:Warren "Potsie" Weber]]

[[folder:Arthur "The Fonz/Fonzie" Fonzarelli]]

[[folder:Joanie Louise Cunningham-Arcola]]

[[folder:Alfred "Al" Delvecchio]]

[[folder:Charles "Chachi" Arcola]]

[[folder:Lori Beth Allen-Cunningham]]

[[folder:Matsumo "Arnold" Takahashi]]

The initial {{Trope Namer|s} for BreakoutCharacter, Fonzie is the famous [[TheCasanova casanova]] and motorcyclist who's admired for his badassery, namely his superhuman powers. He sometimes [[SmugSuper acts self-obsessed]], [[HiddenHeartOfGold but his heart is in the right place]]. His parents ran out on him, forcing him to leave with his grandmother until moving into the spare room above the Cunninghams'.

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: The {{Trope Namer|s}, unfortunately. He ceased making appearances on the series after the second season and was never mentioned again, to the point that his existence isn't even acknowledged by his father at the end of the series.

-->'''Howard''': Well, what can I say? Both of our children are married now and they're starting out to build lives of their own. And I guess when you reach a milestone like this you have to have to reflect back on, on what you've done and, and what you've accomplished. Marion and I have not climbed Mount Everest or written a great American novel. But we've had the joy of raising two wonderful kids, and watching them and their friends grow up into loving adults. And now, we're gonna have the pleasure of watching them pass that love on to their children. And I guess no man or woman could ask for anything more. So thank you all for being, part of our family... To happy days.

The initial TropeNamer for BreakoutCharacter, Fonzie is the famous [[TheCasanova casanova]] and motorcyclist who's admired for his badassery, namely his superhuman powers. He sometimes [[SmugSuper acts self-obsessed]], [[HiddenHeartOfGold but his heart is in the right place]]. His parents ran out on him, forcing him to leave with his grandmother until moving into the spare room above the Cunninghams'.

* PercussiveMaintenance: The [[Administrivia/NamingATrope Former]] [[TropeNamers Trope Namer]] for this ability. He can fix many things by hitting them, known as the "Fonz Touch" or "Fonzie Bang".

Richie and Joanie's older brother who was characterized as a DumbJock basketball player leaving for college with what little screentime he had. Eventually vanished from the series and was never acknowledged again, with no in-series explanation provided for his disappearance, thereby making him the TropeNamer of ChuckCunninghamSyndrome.

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: The TropeNamer, unfortunately. He ceased making appearances on the series after the second season and was never mentioned again, to the point that his existence isn't even acknowledged by his father at the end of the series.

* BadassBeard: One episode has him growing one, but ultimately deciding to shave it at the end. Potsie collects some of the leftover hair to sell to a waiting crowd of girls outside.

* MixedAncestry: Had a Chinese mother and a Japanese father.

* BadassBoast: '''Fonzie:''' Hey, it's not the uniform, it's the man ''in'' the uniform and remember, the man in this uniform ''can break your face!''.

* EmotionallyTongueTied: When Fonzie tries to admit to Richie that he was wrong, it comes out "I was wr-rr—-rr—- I was wrrr—-rr ... I was not exactly right." He also has difficulty saying he's sorry.

%% * FourTemperamentEnsemble: Choleric.

* FriendToAllChildren: One surefire way to bring out Fonzie's soft side is to put a kid in his care. In the episode where Fonzie and the guys try to join Howard's Shriners club, Fonzie is vocal about how he doesn't want to be in the club, until he sees the charity work they do for children.

* NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent: He's Italian, but with an American accent.

* BookSmart: He gets goods grades in both high scool and college, and has a passion for journalism.

* AllLovingHero: Probably the nicest character on the show. She is very nice towards all of Richie's and shows concern even for people who don't deserve it.

* ChildhoodFriends: With Richie, as evidenced by their close friendship in early episodes. Lampshaded a couple of times in later seasons. It's mentioned more than once (such as in "A Potsie is Born" ) that Richie and Potsie had been best friends since childhood, and it’s shown in a flashback that they both met Ralph and Fonzie as teenagers .

* PutOnABus: After Season 9, she leaves the show, and in season 10, she is no loner in the opening credits.

* FlatCharacter: He hasn't much of a personality beyond being the OnlySaneMan among his peer group, [[EndearinglyDorky somewhat awkward]] and nerdy, and sentimental over one particular girl. It's hard to pick a character trait that stays with him through at least one season.

%% * SchoolNewspaperNewshound: In "The Muckrackers."

%% * AllLovingHero: Probably the nicest character on the show. <-- This doesn't explain how her kindness extends to everyone she knows.

%% * WomenAreWiser: At least she's less judgmental than Howard and usually more reasonable.

%% * ChildhoodFriends: With Richie, as evidenced by their close friendship in early episodes. Lampshaded a couple of times in later seasons. <-- What made their friendship close?

%% * {{Flanderization}}: His stupidity.
* TheFriendNobodyLikes: In the later seasons, no one (especially Howard) ever seems to enjoy his company.
* GeniusDitz: Potsie's an excellent singer and was smart enough to study psychology in college.

%% * TheLancer: Was originally supposed to be this to Richie, before Fonzie became the show's BreakoutCharacter. <-- Doesn't explain ''how'' he was supposed to play this role.

%% * MyFriendsAndZoidberg: In one of the later episodes, Fonzie says almost this exact quote about him. <-- Needs the specific quote for context.
%% * NotImportantToThisEpisodeCamp: Countless times in the last two seasons.

%% * TookALevelInDumbass: From Richie's worldly confidant to Ralph's dim-witted sidekick.

%% * TheUnfavorite: To his father, despite being an only child.
* WellDoneSonGuy: Subverted. Most of the time he doesn't even seem to care whether his father notices him or not.

%% * BumblingDad: At times, although he's smarter than most examples, he has his irrational moments.
%% * TheComicallySerious: Just because he's serious and stern, it doesn't mean he can't be funny in his own way.

%% * DeadpanSnarker: He's probably one of the snarkiest characters, along with his daughter Joanie.

%% * ParentExMachina: Even more often than Marion.

%% * StandardFiftiesFather: Without a doubt, one of the greatest TV dads in history.

* TheTonsillitisEpisode: One episode has him get his tonsils removed.

%% * {{Badbutt}}: Especially during Season Four and beyond, but he's never smoked or used extreme violence, or anything like that.

%% * BigBrotherMentor: To Richie, Potsie and Ralph. Later to Chachi, even though they're cousins. The cousins grow especially close in the last seasons, with Fonzie serving as Chachi's best man for his and Joanie's wedding. <-- Doesn't explain how he plays that role to the first three.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He originally dates young women for their looks, is generally sarcastic and wisecracking, full of himself and can be quite narcissistic but his heart of gold grows more as the series goes on. He does stand up for what is right, he does care about his friends, he respects women mainly because his grandmother took him in and raised him, and is called "the king of cool" for a reason.

%% * LadykillerInLove: First with Pinky Tuscadero in Season 4. In season 10, with Ashley Pfister.

* NiceGuy: Becomes this through CharacterDevelopment, as his kindness becomes more evident, and he has a very strong moral compass. Before this, [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold he still was a good person at heart, but he was more narcissistic and a bit of a womanizing jerk]].

%% * ParentalSubstitute: For Chachi.

%% * ThePornomancer: The TV UrExample.

%% * RuleOfCool: The Fonz abides by this law.

%% * BoundAndGagged: In "Fonzie's Funeral Part 2".

%% * ClassClown: The pratical joker of the group.
%% * {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: He's quite goofy and eccentric, although less of a ditz than Potsie.

%% * TheDitz: Not as dim as Potsie, but still not very bright.

%% * FieryRedhead: Not angry (usually), but very energetic.
%% * {{Flanderization}}: His cowardice and fondness for telling jokes.

%% * LargeHam: Becomes this around Season 4 as a result of his {{flanderization}}.

%% * LockedInARoom: With Richie, Fonzie, and Potsie in "Time Capsule."
%% * LovableCoward: Starts to become a bit scaredy in Season 3, taken to extremes in later episodes.
%% * NiceHat: In earlier seasons.

%% * AnnoyingYoungerSibling: In the early seasons, Richie found her annoying.

%% * ChickMagnet: Even Joanie knows that many girls find him attractive.

%% * DoggedNiceGuy: Towards Joanie in the beginning.
%% * DropInCharacter: Before he and Joanie started dating, and was more welcome when they were a couple.
* FirstKiss: Shares one with Joanie so that the pair could become an OfficialCouple.

* PlotRelevantAgeLift: When he was introduced, he was younger than Joanie by at least two years. But by Season 7, he's stated to be the same age as her so they can become an OfficialCouple.

%% * TheBusCameBack: In a couple of episodes of the last season.

%% * HappilyMarried: To Richie, as of Season 8.
%% * LoveInterest: To Richie.
%%* NiceGirl

%% * PutOnABus: After Season 9.

* AccidentalMarriage: With Fonzie in "Bride and Gloom." Later, it turns out that the marriage was not really valid.

%%* JerkWithAHeartOfGold

%%* TeamDad

* PromotionToOpeningTitles: In Season 6.
* PutOnABus: For the spinoff show, ''Joanie Loves Chachi.''

* TagalongKid: Initially, at least.

* BackForTheFinale: Lori Beth & Richie returned in the series finale Passages Part 2, where they attended Joanie and Chachi's wedding.
* TheBusCameBack: In a couple of episodes of the last season.

* HappilyMarried: To Richie, as of Season 8.
* LoveInterest: To Richie.

* PromotionToOpeningTitles: In Season 8. Ironically this was the same season her boyfriend Richie was PutOnABus.
* PutOnABus: After Season 9.
* RecurringExtra: In Seasons 5-7.

* AllWomenAreLustful: ''No kidding.'' She is lustful and expects females in general to be. She's also the one who taught Joanie that divorced ladies were "hot to trot".
* AttentionWhore: Seen in many episodes, like when she desperately tries to impress a group of {{Alpha Bitch}}es.

* GenkiGirl: More perky than the levelheaded Joanie.

* GoodBadGirl: Despite being very boy-crazy, she is not a bad person.
* HormoneAddledTeenager: Very, ''very'' much so.

* LightFeminineAndDarkFeminine: The Dark to Joanie's Light.

* OddFriendship: With K.C. Cunningham in season 10.

* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: The Girly Girl to K.C.'s Tomboy.

--> '''Played by:''' Gavan O'Herlihy, Randolph Roberts

* AlliterativeName: '''C'''huck '''C'''unningham
* AloofOlderBrother: Due to being rarely seen, he and Richie are not particularly close.

* MistakenForCheating: In one episode, Fonzie has been teaching her how to dance, but everyone else thinks that she's cheating on Howard with Fonzie. Weirdly, they blame ''Fonzie'' instead of Marion.

%% * NiceGirl: More affable and friendly than her husband.

%% * HonorBeforeReason: "The Fonzarelli Code."

* TroubledButCute: Token bad boy of the show and ChickMagnet. Of course, he becomes less and less "bad" and troubled as time went on, due to the writers twigging to the fact that he was becoming a role model.