Al Molinaro: Actor whose hangdog face was perfect for much-loved roles in 'The Odd Couple' and 'Happy Days'

Molinaro played Murray, the poker-loving policeman as 'The Odd Couple' enjoyed a five-year run

Molinaro, left, and Henry Winkler as The Fonz in 1981 in an episode of ‘Happy Days’ (AP)

Al Molinaro specialised in lovable blue-collar roles and played his penguin-like physique, beaked nose and wayward eyebrows for laughs in the sitcoms The Odd Couple and Happy Days. When he was 21 he moved from his home town in Wisconsin to California, where he gradually established himself in the entertainment industry while running a collection agency. “I spent 20 years here before I got anything going,” Molinaro he recalled. “You’ve just got to be in the right place at the right time.”

His luck began with an improvisation class in which he met the actress Penny Marshall, who she introduced him to her brother, producer Garry, who in 1970 was casting for a new sitcom based on the hit Neil Simon play The Odd Couple. Molinaro played Murray, the poker-loving policeman for the series’ five-year run.

In 1976 Molinaro replaced Pat Morita as the owner of Arnold’s malt shop, the teen hang-out in Happy Days. Big Al Delvecchio was part of an ensemble of 1950s archetypes that included the hip rebel Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler) and the clean-cut Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard).

Molinaro left in 1982, continuing as Big Al in the short-lived spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi. After that he worked mostly as a TV pitchman for products such as paper towels, hydrocortisone cream and frozen dinners. He had a restaurant chain, Big Al’s, which went bust, and was Big Al in the 1994 video of the song “Buddy Holly” by the band Weezer.

Umberto Francesca Molinaro (Al Molinaro), actor: born Kenosha, Wisconsin 24 June 1919; married 1948 Jacquelin Martin (marriage dissolved; one son), 1981 Betty Farrell; died Glendale, California 30 October 2015.

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