Ron Howard Reunites withHappy DaysCostars Anson Williams and Don Most, 51 Years After Series' Premiere

Mar. 15, 2025

Anson Williams, Donny Most, Ron Howard in ‘Happy Days’ in 1975.Photo:ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Some 40 years afterHappy Dayscame to an end,Ron Howardsays he still has fond memories of his time on set.Three members of the cast — Howard, Anson Williams and Don Most — reunited for a panel discussion at MegaCon Orlando on Friday, Feb. 7.“We were all young, ambitious guys but we were always thinking ahead,” Howard, 70, shared of their early days, remembering card games between takes andtours with their baseball team.But years later, he admitted, “I realized I hadn’t watched an episode in a long time.“Howard was waiting for a flight one day when he decided to watch a random episode, “and it was the greatest feeling,” he said, “because I know why the show was a hit: it was good. And we were good.““We were so cohesive as an ensemble unit,” he added. “We really connected in a great way. And it’s one of the reasons the show has endured.“He compared the experience to a “freshman dorm, just going on all the time.“Ron Howard and Henry Winkler on ‘Happy Days’ in 1976.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via GettySet in 1950s and ’60s Milwaukee,Happy Daysfollowed the Cunningham family: father Howard (Tom Bosley), mother Marion (Marion Ross), son Richie (Howard) and daughter Joanie (Erin Moran), as well as Richie’s friends Potsie (Williams) and Ralph (Most) — and, of course, local bad boy, Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler).The show was also famous for welcoming big guest stars, includingRobin Williams.“He blew our minds with what he was immediately inventing,” Howard said of the actor’s time on set during hisMork & Mindydays. The cast knew “this was a next-level talent. I’ve never seen anything quite like that.“But it was actor Pat O’Brien who actually had them “speechless,” Williams, 75, shared of the cameo that left them most star-struck. (O’Brien guested on a 1982 episode in what would become his final filmed appearances before his death in 1983.)The show ran for 11 seasons on ABC from 1974 to 1984. When asked if they would do a reboot of the series, the men joked it’d have to be calledThe Golden Boys.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.‘Happy Days’ stars Ron Howard, Don Most and Anson Williams at MegaCon 2025 in Orlando.Virginia Chamlee/PeopleOn the Jan. 30 episode of9021OMG, Williamsreflected on his friendshipswith his costars, and how creator Garry Marshall helped forge their connection.“We have been close friends for decades,” he said, noting that Winkler, Howard and Most are “literally a text away.”“It’s just been a wonderful friendship. And just to have that kind of friendship that many years? It’s pretty unique,” he said. “But that has a lot to do with Garry Marshall, our mentor.”Marshall,who died in 2016 at age 81, “really cared about us,” Williams said, “not just as a showrunner, but as young people because we didn’t know much.”As William recalled, “He said, ‘You guys are gonna be famous. You don’t deserve it. But you’re gonna be famous. There’s gonna be a light on you. Your responsibility is, you take the light and put it on someone that does deserve it.’ ”At MegaCon, Howard called Marshall “the best boss I ever worked for.”

Some 40 years afterHappy Dayscame to an end,Ron Howardsays he still has fond memories of his time on set.

Three members of the cast — Howard, Anson Williams and Don Most — reunited for a panel discussion at MegaCon Orlando on Friday, Feb. 7.

“We were all young, ambitious guys but we were always thinking ahead,” Howard, 70, shared of their early days, remembering card games between takes andtours with their baseball team.

But years later, he admitted, “I realized I hadn’t watched an episode in a long time.”

Howard was waiting for a flight one day when he decided to watch a random episode, “and it was the greatest feeling,” he said, “because I know why the show was a hit: it was good. And we were good.”

“We were so cohesive as an ensemble unit,” he added. “We really connected in a great way. And it’s one of the reasons the show has endured.”

He compared the experience to a “freshman dorm, just going on all the time.”

Ron Howard and Henry Winkler on ‘Happy Days’ in 1976.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Set in 1950s and ’60s Milwaukee,Happy Daysfollowed the Cunningham family: father Howard (Tom Bosley), mother Marion (Marion Ross), son Richie (Howard) and daughter Joanie (Erin Moran), as well as Richie’s friends Potsie (Williams) and Ralph (Most) — and, of course, local bad boy, Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler).

The show was also famous for welcoming big guest stars, includingRobin Williams.

“He blew our minds with what he was immediately inventing,” Howard said of the actor’s time on set during hisMork & Mindydays. The cast knew “this was a next-level talent. I’ve never seen anything quite like that.”

But it was actor Pat O’Brien who actually had them “speechless,” Williams, 75, shared of the cameo that left them most star-struck. (O’Brien guested on a 1982 episode in what would become his final filmed appearances before his death in 1983.)

The show ran for 11 seasons on ABC from 1974 to 1984. When asked if they would do a reboot of the series, the men joked it’d have to be calledThe Golden Boys.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

‘Happy Days’ stars Ron Howard, Don Most and Anson Williams at MegaCon 2025 in Orlando.Virginia Chamlee/People

Virginia Chamlee/People

On the Jan. 30 episode of9021OMG, Williamsreflected on his friendshipswith his costars, and how creator Garry Marshall helped forge their connection.

“We have been close friends for decades,” he said, noting that Winkler, Howard and Most are “literally a text away.”

“It’s just been a wonderful friendship. And just to have that kind of friendship that many years? It’s pretty unique,” he said. “But that has a lot to do with Garry Marshall, our mentor.”

Marshall,who died in 2016 at age 81, “really cared about us,” Williams said, “not just as a showrunner, but as young people because we didn’t know much.”

As William recalled, “He said, ‘You guys are gonna be famous. You don’t deserve it. But you’re gonna be famous. There’s gonna be a light on you. Your responsibility is, you take the light and put it on someone that does deserve it.’ ”

At MegaCon, Howard called Marshall “the best boss I ever worked for.”

source: people.com