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'Happy Days' Star Erin Moran Likely Died From Cancer: Autopsy

Erin Moran, Joanie Cunningham of 'Happy Days,' had late-stage cancer, an autopsy has found.
Image: Erin Moran
This Feb. 19, 1982 file photo shows actress Erin Moran of the television show, "Happy Days" in Los Angeles.Wally Fong / AP file

An autopsy of "Happy Days" star Erin Moran showed that she probably died of late-stage cancer, authorities said Monday.

Moran, 56, was found dead in her Indiana home on Saturday. Investigators from Harrison County concluded that she "likely succumbed to complications of stage 4 cancer," the county's sheriff and coroner said in a joint statement. They did not say what type of cancer Moran had.

Related: Erin Moran, Who Played Joanie on ‘Happy Days,’ Dead at 56

The actress played Joanie Cunningham for most of the sitcom's decade-long run in the 1970s and 1980s. She was only 13-years-old when the show began in 1974.

The sitcom was set in the 1950s in Milwaukee and Moran played the little sister of Richie Cunningham, who was played by Ron Howard.

"I'll always choose to remember you on our show making scenes better, getting laughs and lighting up tv screens," Howard wrote on Twitter.

She also starred in a spinoff, "Joanie Loves Chachi," with Scott Baio.

Moran also made appearances in "Murder, She Wrote," and "The Love Boat."

Image: Set still from Joanie Loves Chachi
Marion Ross, Tom Bosley, Erin Moran, and Scott Baio on the set of "Joanie Loves Chachi".Paramount Television / Courtesy Everett Collection