Mr. C

Just yesterday I put up a song from Fiorello!, the 1959 Broadway musical that helped turned Tom Bosley into a star.  It got me thinking, what has Bosley been doing lately?  Next thing you know, I read Tom Bosley has died.

He was a short, round fellow, more suited to be a character actor than lead. (Not too many protagonists look like Fiorello LaGuardia.) Bosley became a familiar presence in supporting roles on TV and in movies, usually playing comedy.

From '74 to '84, he played the role for which he'll be remembered, patriarch Howard Cunningham on Happy Days.  When the sitcom started, it was done fairly realistically, and it took the 50s setting seriously.  Bosley, as Ron Howard's father, was stern but understanding.  But when the show went live, it got a little more outrageous, and his character (all the characters) got sillier.  I have to admit I liked it--we didn't need a redo of Father Know's Best.

Even with the new format, he was often the calm center of the storm.  He really was a perfect comic foil, reacting to the wild plots of Richie, Potsie, Ralph Malph and, of course, Fonzie--not to mention getting frisky with wife Marion.