Richard J. "Richie" Cunningham is a fictional character played by Ron Howard on the sitcom Happy Days. He is the second son of Howard and Marion Cunningham, brother of Joanie Cunningham and Chuck Cunningham, and a friend of Fonzie, Ralph Malph, and Potsie Weber. Cunningham was the original lead character, but was supplanted by Fonzie when that character's popularity came to dwarf that of Cunningham's and the other characters (however, Ron Howard and Henry Winkler (Fonzie) continued to share top billing in the opening credits of the show).

Howard also played the character in several other shows: he appeared in guest appearances on Love, American Style and Laverne & Shirley, and was a regular on the animated series The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang.

Character traits

Richie Cunningham was the quintessential example of the white All-American, 1950s teenager. 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 he did not seem to have a malicious bone in his body.

Richard Anthony "Richie" Cunningham (born August 18, 1970 in Houma, Louisiana) is a former All-Pro National Football League placekicker who played for the Dallas Cowboys, the Carolina Panthers, and the Jacksonville Jaguars during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He attended Terrebonne High School and the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.

Early years

He attended Terrebonne High School and went on to play football at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he was the kickoff specialist since his freshman year and became the team's placekicker until his junior year.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys (first stint)

Cunningham was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys in 1994, but was released at the end of training camp after being beaten out by Chris Boniol.

Green Bay Packers

He signed with the Green Bay Packers in 1996 and although he had an excellent preseason, including a game-winning field goal against the Baltimore Ravens, the team decided to keep Chris Jacke.