She Started with Only $35 a Day! How This 96-Year-Old Actress Defied the Odds and Found Fame

This famous Hollywood actress faced a difficult marriage but embraced her role as a single mother with strength and determination. She was sure that “nothing” would stop her.

This beloved TV star, turning 96 on October 25, 2024, is best known for her unforgettable role in the classic sitcom *Happy Days*. She appeared on the show for all 11 seasons, charming audiences for years. But her story didn’t end there—she has gone through many personal challenges and has come a long way since those iconic days on *Happy Days*.

Her life is a testament to resilience and shows how she has thrived, both in her career and in her personal journey.

This famous Hollywood actress faced many personal struggles but found a role that changed her life forever. Playing Marion Cunningham, the loving mother on Happy Days, fit her well since the character shared her own caring personality.

At the time she got the role, she was going through a rough time. The chance to play Marion was life-changing for her, as acting had been her dream since she was a child.

The role didn’t just shape her career; it became one she cherished. Looking back on the show’s success, she felt grateful, saying, “It was beyond my dreams. Who knew we’d become an American legend?”

Born in Watertown, Minnesota, she moved a lot growing up before settling in Albert Lea. At 13, she changed the spelling of her name from “Marian” to “Marion” because she thought it looked better for an actress.

In a 2018 interview, she said that feeling ignored as a child made her want to be noticed. “I didn’t get any attention. But inside, I was saying, ‘Look at me!’ That’s what makes you want to become an actress,” she shared.

Her desire to be noticed stayed with her as she got older. At 21, she surprised her family by eloping with actor Freeman “Effie” Meskimen in 1951. They had two kids, Jim and Ellen, but their marriage was challenging.

She later described her husband as “an unmotivated, moody drinker,” which made things hard.

In her 2018 memoir My Days: Happy and Otherwise, she shared details about her troubled marriage with Freeman. Despite appearances of a stable life, the pressures to provide for her kids and take any acting role she could were intense. She never felt that things would be as she’d dreamed.

She eventually realized that Freeman was a “functioning alcoholic.” He drank heavily every night but still managed to get up, read the paper, and go to work each day, making it seem like he was doing fine.

But their marriage was far from peaceful. They argued often, and his moods became harder to handle over time. Despite her efforts to help him, their relationship grew more strained.

Eventually, she decided to leave him after she learned he was having an affair with his secretary.

After nearly 20 years, they divorced. Talking about this tough time, she said, “When I was 40, I got divorced. No one had a job for me, and I had two little kids.”

To support her family, she got creative. “I rented out one of the bedrooms in my house. I’d think, ‘I made $35 today.’ It was tough,” she recalled.

After her difficult first marriage, Marion found love again at 60 with actor Paul Michael. They shared a warm and affectionate bond and seemed deeply in love.

In a 2010 interview, she said, “People can have very passionate romances even as they get older. We forget that sometimes.” Paul agreed, adding, “These are the happiest days of my life.”

Sadly, Paul passed away in 2011 at 84 from heart failure, ending their 23-year love story. Marion had spent many happy years with Paul, whom she called “the love of my life.”

In 2018, Marion revealed that she had retired two years earlier, saying she’d achieved everything she wanted in her career and now wanted to focus on her family.

She often turned down new roles, choosing to enjoy her time with family instead of taking on more projects.

Marion’s son Jim sometimes shares glimpses of their family time on TikTok. For her 95th birthday, he posted a sweet photo of them together, bringing warm responses from fans, with one saying, “She’s amazing!” and others praising her charm and kindness.

Marion Ross’s legacy continues to inspire. Even in retirement, she remains a beloved star, bringing joy both on and off the screen.