Once again, we have some sobering news to share with you.
Eddie Mekka, the actor best known for his role as Carmine Ragusa on the hit ABC sitcom
Laverne & Shirley, has sadly just passed away.
Eddie's brother Warren Mekjian confirmed this tragic news on Thursday, December 2, 2021.
According to Warren, Eddie, who was endearingly nicknamed “The Big Ragoo' on the series
that made him into a star, passed away a few days prior on November 27th.
He was 69.
Warren reminisced when talking to Fox News that everyone - himself included - was “proud
of Eddie's accomplishments on TV” and referred to him as a very funny guy.
“Eddie always loved to dance, sing and make jokes”, Warren stated before adding that
“He always tried to make people laugh and enjoy themselves”.
The late actor's brother was unable to share a cause of death at this time, but he did
confirm that Eddie passed away alone at his home in Newhall, California.
He was found by police while apparently conducting a wellness check.
Warren also mentioned that Eddie had to be hospitalized about six months ago when he
was diagnosed with a blood clot, but it's unclear as of right now whether or not that
played any part in his death.
Pat Benti, one of Eddie's dear friends, likewise shared the news of his death on his Facebook
page on Wednesday evening.
Pat too, was unable to share further details about his fellow Berklee College of Music
alum's death but did add that he passed on 'peacefully'.
On that social media post, Pat wrote “R.I.P Big Ragu; it is with deep regret that we share
with you the passing of Eddie Mekka” Pat went on to request that fans of Eddie share
their memories of him and send their condolences to his family on the late actor's fan page.
Pat wrapped up his mournful post by sending him off with a fitting 'Rest In Peace”.
In honor of Eddie Mekka's memory, Join Facts Verse as we take a look at his life story
while covering some of the highlights of his decades-spanning career in the entertainment
industry.
Eddie Mekka's Early Life
Mekka was born Rudolph Edward Mekjian on June 14, 1952, in Worcester, Massachusetts.
[WRITERS NOTE: Worcester is pronounced Wuh-ster
He was the son of Armenian father Vaughn Mekjian and Italian mother, Mariam.
His father was a veteran of the second world war, and his mother was a presser, which is
someone who operates machinery that removes wrinkles from clothing and shapes and forms
other fabric items.
After graduating from Burncoat High School, Mekka enrolled at the prestigious Berklee
College of Music in Boston, where he studied music and theater.
Early on in the 1970s, Mekka led the Worcester County Light Opera, where he taught young
people the ropes of singing.
After he performed on Broadway in a production of rock opera The Lieutenant, which scored
him a Tony Award nomination, he relocated to Los Angeles.
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Stay tuned to learn what some of Eddie Mekka's other Laverne & Shirley co-stars had to say
after learning of their old friend's death.
Eddie Mekka's Career In Show Business
Once he had found his way to LA, that's when Eddie made his big break on television when
he was cast in the role of Carmine 'The Big Ragoo' Ragusa on Laverne & Shirley in 1976.
Mekka stuck with the series for its entire eight-season run which aired from January
27, 1976 to May 10, 1983.
The show ended up being a huge hit and became the most-watched television program in America
by its third season.
Ultimately it would receive six Golden Globe nominations as well as one Emmy Nod.
Laverne & Shirley was, in fact, a spin-off of Happy Days, and it followed the lives and
Laverne DeFazio, portrayed by Penny Marshall, and Shirley Feeney, played by Cindy Williams
– two close friends and roommates who worked at the fictional Shotz Brewery in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin during the 1950s.
Mekka's character, Carmine Ragusa, was Shirley's old high-school flame and on-again-off-again
romantic interest.
Ragusa, or 'The Big Ragoo' as he was nicknamed, was a part-time boxer and former Golden Gloves
amateur boxing champion fighter who owned a dance studio and was constantly trying to
make it big as a singer and dancer.
He finally achieved his dreams at the end of the series when he auditioned for a major
role in a Broadway production of the musical Hair and ended up landing the part.
Aside from his time on Laverne & Shirley, Mekka appeared in close to 50 television shows
and films throughout his career.
According to IMDB, some of his television credits included turns on series like It's
Always Sunny in Philadelphia, ER, The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody, 24, and The Bold and
the Beautiful.
He also notably played Detective Murdock in the 2002 Stephen Spielberg produced film Catch
Me If You Can.
Mekka also had a minor role in the 1992 film A League of their Own, which was directed
by his Laverne & Shirley co-star Penny Marshall.
In that film, he played the dance partner of the character Mae, who was played by Madonna.
A lifelong lover of theater, Mekka performed in the musical Hairspray at the Luxor Casino
in Las Vegas and went on a national tour of Grease alongside his other Laverne & Shirley
co-star Jane Williams.
Mekka later returned to off-Broadway once again in 2008 when he starred in Steve Solomon's
acclaimed long-running comedy play My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm in Therapy
at the Westside Theatre in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan.
Also in 2008, Mekka reunited with Cindy Williams once again for a production of Renne Taylor
and Joseph Bologna's comedy play It Had To Be You.
That same year, he also appeared in the independent film Code Enforcer starring alongside Happy
Day's Erin Moran.
From April 29 to June 20, 2010, Mekka played Tevye in a production of the musical Fiddler
on the Roof at the John W. Engerman Theater in Northport, New York.
In 1983, Mekka got married to actress Delee Lively.
The couple was married for nine years before divorcing in 1992.
Just two years later, in 1994, he married Yvonne Marie Grace.
He and Grace ended up having one daughter together, Mia.
Some of Mekka's last movie credits were in independent films like 2017s Silver Twins
and 2018s Hail Mary!.
Mekka's last television credit was in a 2012 episode of the Adult Swim dark comedy series
Childrens Hospital playing the one-off character Frankie.
Eddie Mekka's Legacy Will Live On
Mekka is survived by his daughter, Mia, and his three siblings.
He had two brothers, Waren and Wayne, and a sister, Lenore.
But aside from his blood family, Mekka is also survived by his Lavern & Shirley television
family.
After learning of his death, Cindy Williams, the 74-year-old actress who played Shirley
Feeney, tweeted about the late actor calling him 'a world-class talent who could do it
all'.
In her tweet, William's also included a video highlighting some of Mekka's most memorable
moments from Laverne & Shirley.
Many of these clips showcased Mekka's singing and dancing skills.
Another Laverne & Shirely co-star, Michael McKean, who played the character Lenny Kosnowski,
also tweeted a heartfelt goodbye to his old friend, referring to him as the 'purveyor
of cheer whenever things got cheerless'.
Sadly Penny Marshall, the actress who played Laverne, passed away in 2018 at the age of
75.
David Lander, the actor who played Squiggy, likewise died at the age of 73 in 2020.
The creator of the series, Garry Marshall, brother of Penny Marshall, died in 2016 at
81.
If you're interested in watching Laverne & Shirley, the entire series, as well as Happy Days,
is available for steaming Free on Pluto TV.
We can't think of a better way to pay our respects to Mekka than by watching the show
that helped put him on the map.
And afterward, be sure to check out some of his other lesser-known works.
For example, Mekka appeared in the 2009 Christian drama film C Me Dance which was actually endorsed
by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as well as The Dove Foundation.
And you might not have realized it, but he also played a club manager in the 2006 Academy
Award-winning film Dreamgirls which was adapted from a 1981 Broadway musical of the same name.
Fans of Laverne & Shirley are no doubt a bit heartbroken to learn that 'The Big Ragoo'
has passed on, but his memory will live on for quite some time, considering the enduring
popularity of that series.
What were some of your favorite memories of Eddie Mekka?
And can you think of any other shows or films that he appeared in that we failed to mention?
Let us know in the comments section down below.
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