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Richard "Richie" Cunningham was played by Ron Howard on the sitcom Happy Days. He was the brother of Joanie Cunningham and friend to Fonzie, Ralph Malph, and Warren "Potsie" Weber.

Richie Cunningham was the kind of son every parent wants. He was exceedingly wholesome and, with his red hair and freckles, he bore more than a passing resemblance to Howdy Doody. Occasionally he got into trouble, usually in some scheme designed to attract women, but the guy didn't have a malicious bone in his body.

Many of the episodes revolved around Richie's attempts to pick up chicks, and there was little that this clean-cut teen wouldn't do to land a date. If buying a new car or joining a local gang was what it took, Richie was ready to give it a shot. Whenever he was feeling particularly lucky he would sing, "I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill."

In addition to a healthy love of women, Richie harbored an enormous amount of ambition as a writer. He first wrote for the Jefferson High Bugle, and then later became a cub reporter for the Milwaukee Journal.

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he served a short stint in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Greenland. While overseas, he married his long-time girlfriend, Lori Beth, with the Fonz standing in for the absent Richie. Lori Beth visited Richie in Greenland long enough to get pregnant. Their son was very aptly named Richie, Jr.

In the final season of the series, Richie returned to his dream of becoming a writer and moved to Hollywood to find work in the movies.

In Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Austin tells Number Two that his name is Richie Cunningham.

• Happy Days