“Fans of classic television were delighted to spot one of Happy Days’ most memorable stars out and about in Los Angeles this week, as the actress made a rare appearance at age 71.”, — write: www.dailymail.co.uk
The TV favorite looked effortlessly radiant behind the wheel of her SUV, flashing a sunny smile.
Dressed in a laid-back blue plaid shirt and well-worn jeans, she was nearly unrecognizable from her glammed-up days on-screen—especially when compared to the flashy showgirl attire she sported in her short-lived 1977 spinoff Blansky’s Beauties.
The Florida-born actress didn’t stop with sitcom fame, later popping up in fan-favorite films like Beaches and Pretty Woman.
She even took on a risqué role in the 1994 comedy Exit to Eden alongside Rosie O’Donnell.
Can you guess which iconic supporting star this is?
If you guessed Lynda Goodfriend, you nailed it!
Goodfriend joined Happy Days in its fifth season as Lori Beth Allen, Richie Cunningham’s wholesome college sweetheart, eventually becoming his wife in a special long-distance wedding ceremony officiated via telephone from Army training.
Though originally introduced as a recurring character, Lynda’s warm chemistry with Ron Howard and endearing screen presence quickly made her a fan favorite, earning her a more regular role in the later seasons.
Happy Days ended in 1984, after running for 11 seasons and a total of 255 episodes.
‘Without a doubt, the eight years I spent on the hit TV show, Happy Days, playing Lori Beth, Ron Howard’s girlfriend, were the most fun of all the work I’ve done,’ she told the New York Film Academy in 2023.
She added, ‘I also toured with a Broadway production called Good News with Alice Faye.
‘We did nine months on the road before we opened on Broadway, performing and getting reviews in all the major cities in the US. Being on tour – That was a blast!’
Goodfriend graduated from Coral Gables High School in Florida and went on to earn a BFA in drama from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
Before her breakout on Happy Days, she starred as Ethel ‘Sunshine’ Akalino on the short-lived series Blansky’s Beauties and later joined Happy Days alongside co-star Scott Baio.
She first appeared on the show in a guest role as Kim during Season 4 before returning in Season 5 as the beloved Lori Beth, Richie Cunningham’s sweet-natured girlfriend and eventual wife.
Goodfriend remained on the show for eight seasons, becoming a fan favorite and staple of the series.
Beyond her sitcom fame, she appeared in several Garry Marshall films, including Pretty Woman, Beaches, Nothing in Common, and Exit to Eden.
She also performed on Broadway in Good News (1974) and appeared in classic productions like Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, and She Loves Me.
Behind the scenes, she directed TV projects, including the pilot Four Stars, and in 2009, the short film The Perfect Crime.
Goodfriend also founded the Actors Workout Theater and School in NoHo, worked in talent management, and currently serves as acting chair at the New York Film Academy.