# Al Molinaro
**Al Molinaro** (born Umberto Francesca Molinaro; June 24, 1919 – October 2015) was an American television character actor best known for playing Al Delvecchio, the owner of Arnold's Drive-In, on the ABC sitcom *Happy Days*, and Murray the cop on *The Odd Couple*.[2](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-al-molinaro-dies-at-96-20151030-story.html) He was a familiar supporting presence on American television from the early 1970s through the early 1990s, later reaching a new audience through a Weezer music video and commercials for On-Cor frozen dinners.[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/al-molinaro/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | June 24, 1919, Kenosha, Wisconsin; birth name Umberto Francesca Molinaro[2](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-al-molinaro-dies-at-96-20151030-story.html) |
| Died | October 2015, Glendale, California, aged 96; cause was complications from a gallbladder infection[2](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-al-molinaro-dies-at-96-20151030-story.html) |
| Signature role | Al Delvecchio, owner of Arnold's Drive-In on Happy Days; he succeeded Pat Morita as the owner of Arnold's Diner.[3](https://obits.al.com/news/al-molinaro-1919-2015) • [8](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/oct/31/al-molinaro-obituary-happy-days-odd-couple) |
| Other major role | Murray the cop (Murray Greshler) on *The Odd Couple*, the ABC sitcom created by Garry Marshall[2](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-al-molinaro-dies-at-96-20151030-story.html) |
| Earlier part | Agent 44 on *Get Smart*, replacing Dave Ketchum[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/al-molinaro/) |
| Later work | Joe Alberghetti on CBS's *The Family Man*, 22 episodes; commercials as the On-Cor frozen-dinner spokesman[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/al-molinaro) |
| Emmy recognition | No Emmy nominations listed by the Television Academy[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/al-molinaro) |
## Early life
Molinaro was born in [Kenosha, Wisconsin](https://www.edgepedia.org/kenosha-wisconsin), about 40 miles from [Milwaukee](https://www.edgepedia.org/milwaukee), the city that later served as the setting of *Happy Days*. The ninth of ten children of Italian immigrants, he went by Albert at the suggestion of a teacher.[2](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-al-molinaro-dies-at-96-20151030-story.html) Several of his siblings built prominent careers in Wisconsin, including a brother who became a judge and another who served as a state assemblyman; Molinaro chose acting instead.[2](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-al-molinaro-dies-at-96-20151030-story.html)
**A late start.** He moved to California in the 1950s but did not begin working as an actor for years. When a friend suggested acting, his response, as he told the *Kenosha News* in 2004, was simply "I'll do that," and he took a [Greyhound](https://www.edgepedia.org/greyhound) bus west. "I spent 20 years here before I got anything going, and from that I got lucky," he told the paper.[2](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-al-molinaro-dies-at-96-20151030-story.html) He worked in local television programs and advertising before reaching national parts.[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/al-molinaro/) His first credited role is variously given as a 1969 guest spot on *Get Smart*[3](https://obits.al.com/news/al-molinaro-1919-2015) or, in some sources, the 1954 film *Love Me Madly*, an appearance that remained unconfirmed.[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/al-molinaro/)
## The Odd Couple and Get Smart
Molinaro worked his way up through bit parts on sitcoms such as *Green Acres* and *Bewitched* before replacing Dave Ketchum as Agent 44 on *Get Smart*. The role called for his hangdog expression: Agent 44 was stationed in uncomfortable and improbable hiding places, including mailboxes, lockers, and wine barrels, to deliver information to Maxwell Smart ([Don Adams](https://www.edgepedia.org/don-adams)).[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/al-molinaro/)
In 1970, Molinaro landed his first major role as Murray the cop on *The Odd Couple*, the ABC adaptation of [Neil Simon](https://www.edgepedia.org/neil-simon)'s play produced by [Garry Marshall](https://www.edgepedia.org/garry-marshall). The character, a poker-playing friend of the mismatched roommates Felix Unger ([Tony Randall](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-randall)) and Oscar Madison (Jack Klugman), appeared across the series' five-season run.[3](https://obits.al.com/news/al-molinaro-1919-2015) Robert J. Thompson, who leads the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University, placed Molinaro in the tradition of 1970s comedy supporting players: "All of those shows had some really solid second and third bananas, and Al Molinaro was one of them."[2](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-al-molinaro-dies-at-96-20151030-story.html)
## Happy Days
Molinaro's connection to Marshall came through [Penny Marshall](https://www.edgepedia.org/penny-marshall), Garry's sister, with whom Molinaro shared an acting class in the early 1970s. Garry Marshall, watching Penny perform at an improvisation show, noticed Molinaro's "raw but very funny" ad-libbed portrayal of a priest and later cast him on both *The Odd Couple* and *Happy Days*. Marshall wrote in his 1995 book *Wake Me When It's Funny* that he held up Molinaro's story as proof that it is never too late to follow a dream.[2](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-al-molinaro-dies-at-96-20151030-story.html)
Published accounts differ on when Molinaro joined *Happy Days*. The Television Academy's biography says he joined the cast in 1974 for the show's second season.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/al-molinaro) The Legacy.com obituary and a Parade retrospective say he joined in the fourth season, replacing [Pat Morita](https://www.edgepedia.org/pat-morita) as owner of the diner, and the Los Angeles Times dates the replacement to 1976, the same season *Happy Days* was television's most-watched show.[3](https://obits.al.com/news/al-molinaro-1919-2015) • [7](https://parade.com/entertainment/50-years-ago-today-happy-days-unexpectedly-replaced-one-of-its-most-beloved-characters-and-things-were-never-the-same) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-al-molinaro-dies-at-96-20151030-story.html)
As Al Delvecchio, the tire-bellied chef of Arnold's 1950s malt shop, with its wood paneling, orange booths, and neon "A" sign, Molinaro supplied a benevolent adult presence to the teenage plots. His signature phrase, "yeeap, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep," often trailed off into a sigh. He also played the character's twin brother, the Rev. Anthony Delvecchio.[3](https://obits.al.com/news/al-molinaro-1919-2015) The Los Angeles Times counted more than 100 episodes as Delvecchio,[2](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-al-molinaro-dies-at-96-20151030-story.html) while the Television Academy lists nearly 150 credited episodes of *Happy Days*.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/al-molinaro)
Molinaro left the show in 1982, two years before its finale, to follow the character into the spin-off *Joanie Loves Chachi*, starring [Scott Baio](https://www.edgepedia.org/scott-baio) and [Erin Moran](https://www.edgepedia.org/erin-moran), in which Al was the stepfather of Chachi.[5](https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/al-molinaro-character-actor-on-happy-days-and-odd-couple-dies-at-96/2015/10/30/b59dfe54-7f75-11e5-afce-2afd1d3eb896_story.html) He had also briefly starred in his own Marshall-produced series, *The Ugily Family* (ABC, 1980).[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/al-molinaro/)
## Later career and the Weezer video
His final recurring role came as Joe Alberghetti, the main character's father-in-law and housekeeper, on the CBS comedy *The Family Man* in the early 1990s, over 22 episodes in a single season.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/al-molinaro) • [3](https://obits.al.com/news/al-molinaro-1919-2015) He made occasional guest appearances on shows including *Laverne & Shirley*, *The Love Boat*, *Fantasy Island*, *Punky Brewster*, and *Step by Step*, and had small film roles in *Love Me Madly* and *Freaky Friday* (1976).[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/al-molinaro) • [3](https://obits.al.com/news/al-molinaro-1919-2015)
**Commercials and a second audience.** His familiarity to viewers made commercials a natural outlet, and he had a long stint as the overly helpful grocer in spots for On-Cor frozen dinners.[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/al-molinaro/) He told the *Chicago Tribune* in 1990 that his selectiveness kept him off the big screen: "I'm so square that I won't be in a movie that has four-letter words in it. That puts me pretty much totally out of films these days."[2](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-al-molinaro-dies-at-96-20151030-story.html) In 1994, he reprised Al Delvecchio in Weezer's music video for "Buddy Holly," which placed the band performing at the drive-in alongside footage evoking *Happy Days*, introducing the character to a new generation.[3](https://obits.al.com/news/al-molinaro-1919-2015) • [1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/al-molinaro)
## Death
Molinaro died at a hospital in [Glendale, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/glendale-california), at age 96, of complications from a gallbladder infection (described in the Legacy.com obituary as gallstone complications), according to his son Michael.[2](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-al-molinaro-dies-at-96-20151030-story.html) Obituaries differ on the exact date: the Television Academy records October 29, 2015,[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/al-molinaro) while the Washington Post and TV Insider record October 30, 2015.[5](https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/al-molinaro-character-actor-on-happy-days-and-odd-couple-dies-at-96/2015/10/30/b59dfe54-7f75-11e5-afce-2afd1d3eb896_story.html) • [4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/al-molinaro/) He was survived by his wife Betty Farrell, whom he married in 1981, his son Michael from his first marriage, a brother, Oliver, and three grandchildren.[2](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-al-molinaro-dies-at-96-20151030-story.html) • [6](https://www.latimes.com/espanol/entretenimiento/articulo/2015-10-31/hoyla-muere-el-actor-al-molinaro-estrella-de-happy-days-20151031)
## References
1. [Al Molinaro, Emmy Awards and Nominations, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/al-molinaro)
2. [Al Molinaro, character actor known for role on 'Happy Days,' dies at 96, Los Angeles Times (Marisa Gerber, October 30, 2015)](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-al-molinaro-dies-at-96-20151030-story.html)
3. [Al Molinaro (1919-2015), diner owner on Happy Days, Legacy.com (October 31, 2015)](https://obits.al.com/news/al-molinaro-1919-2015)
4. [Al Molinaro, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/al-molinaro/)
5. [Al Molinaro, character actor on 'Happy Days' and 'The Odd Couple,' dies at 96, The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/al-molinaro-character-actor-on-happy-days-and-odd-couple-dies-at-96/2015/10/30/b59dfe54-7f75-11e5-afce-2afd1d3eb896_story.html)
6. [Muere el actor Al Molinaro, estrella de "Happy Days", Hoy Los Ángeles (October 31, 2015)](https://www.latimes.com/espanol/entretenimiento/articulo/2015-10-31/hoyla-muere-el-actor-al-molinaro-estrella-de-happy-days-20151031)
7. [Al Molinaro Changed Happy Days Forever After Pat Morita's Exit, Parade](https://parade.com/entertainment/50-years-ago-today-happy-days-unexpectedly-replaced-one-of-its-most-beloved-characters-and-things-were-never-the-same)
8. [Al Molinaro obituary](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/oct/31/al-molinaro-obituary-happy-days-odd-couple)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1940s to 1960s › Surnames M*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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