Actor Eddie Mekka Death Cause Net Worth, What Happened To The Laverne and Shirley Cast? Eddie, a member of the Laverne and Harley cast, has died, but the cause of death has yet to be revealed.
Eddie Mekka is a well-known American actor best remembered for his part in the television series Lavern and Shirley. He also appeared in the television series Carmine Ragusa as Carmine Ragusa.
According to tweets from his friends and coworkers, the actor passed away on November 27, 2021.
Actor Eddie Mekka Death Cause: What Happened To The Laverne and Shirley Cast?
Actor Eddie Mekka has died at the age of 69, but his death cause is not announced yet in the media. However, some of his friends have announced the news through their social media posts.
RIP actor Eddie Mekka. I had the honour to call him a friend…… a great guy , fun and generous always reaching out when he was in town for theatre with comp tickets …… pic.twitter.com/5uExD9hA91
— I want everyone to succeed (@ChrisLeahey1) December 2, 2021
They said that he passed away at his Newhall, California, but did not share his death’s cause. However, the popular television sitcom Laverne and Shirley cast amassed public attention and love through his role.
He was called “The Big Ragoo,” a part-time boxer, one-time delivery boy for The Pizza Bowl, and former Golden Gloves champion in the television sitcom.
However, he is constantly working to make it big as a dancer and singer. He is also a high school sweetheart of Shirley, who later goes on to open Ragusa dance Studio in Burbank, CA.
Who is Eddie Mekka?
Eddie Mekka is an American film, television and stage actor, who is probably still best known to the world as Carmine ‘The Big Ragoo’ Ragusa in the TV comedy series “Laverne & Shirley” (1976-1983), and most recently as Danny Morelli in the film “Hail Mary!” in 2018, among other various roles that he has secured in his career.
Early Life, Family, and Education
Born Rudolph Edward Mekjian on 14 June 1952 under the Gemini zodiac sign, in Worcester, Massachusetts USA, he is the son of an Armenian World War II veteran Vaughn Mekjian, and his wife Mariam, an Italian, who worked as a presser. He grew up in his hometown, and went to Burncoat High School.
Career Beginnings
Before acting, Eddie was the head of the Worcester County Light Opera in Massachusetts, where he taught young talents to sing. However, interested in acting, Eddie secured a role in the rock opera “The Lieutenant” (1975) on Broadway, which earned him a Tony Award nomination.
Rise to Prominence
Following this success, Eddie moved to Los Angeles, and instantly landed the role of Carmine ‘The Big Ragoo’ Ragusa in the sitcom “Laverne & Shirley”. The series lasted from 1976 to 1983, and Eddie featured in 150 episodes out of 178, co-starring with such stars as Cindy Williams, David L. Lander, and Penny Marshall.
Concurrently, Eddie featured in several other projects, including the TV series “Blansky’s Beauties” as Joey DeLuca in 1977, and also made a few appearances in the popular series “The Love Boat” from 1979 to 1982. Also in 1982, he was Soghomon Tehlirian in the drama film “Assignment Berlin”, starring alongside Val Avery and Roger Jackson, and before the end of the ‘80s, Eddie appeared in the films “Bum Rap”, and “Beaches”, both in 1988, while in 1989 he guest-starred in the TV series “Moonlighting”.
Career Decline
With the start of the ‘90s, Eddie’s career declined somewhat, and he made only a few minor appearances in several films.
In 1992 he had a minor role in the sports comedy-drama film “A League of Their Own”, starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Lori Petty, and in 1993 he appeared in the thriller action-comedy film “Taking the Heat”, with Tony Goldwyn, Lynn Whitfield, and George Segal as the main stars of the film. The following year he appeared in the television action crime-drama movie “The Rockford Files: I Still Love L.A.”, starring James Garner, Joanna Cassidy, and Joe Santos, and he finished the decade with roles in the action-thriller film “Top of the World” (1997), and in the action crime-comedy film “Catch Me If You Can” (1998).
Career Resurgence
In the second half of the 2000s, Eddie’s career experienced a resurgence, firstly in the drama film “Dreamgirls”, with Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, and Eddie Murphy in the lead roles – the film won two Oscars and more than 60 other awards, and a total of 92 nominations. In 2017 he starred in the drama film “Silver Twins”, and in 2018 in the comedy film “Hail Mary!”. Furthermore, Eddie guest-starred in several television series, including “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody”, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”, “24”, and many others.
On Stage Career
In addition to his success on screen, Eddie has featured in several successful theater productions.
He appeared in the musical “Hairspray”, performed at the Luxor in Las Vegas, Nevada, and also toured the USA with “Grease”. He starred in the play “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m In Therapy!”, performed at the Westside Theatre. To speak further of his accomplishments, Eddie featured in the comedy play “It Had to Be You”, in which he reunited with Cindy Williams, his co-star from “Laverne & Shirley”. In 2010 he starred as Tevye in the play “Fiddler on the Roof”, performed at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport, New York, which lasted from 29 April to 20 June.
Eddie Mekka Estimated Net Worth Of $500,000
Eddie Mekka has an estimated net worth of $500,000. He accumulated it from his work as an actor. In addition, he has featured in many films and TV series, which helped him earn his living and get wealth.
Eddie Mekka Net Worth: Edward Rudolph Mekjian was born on the 14th June 1952 in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA of American and Armenian descent. He is an actor known as Eddie Mekka, probably best recognized for starring in the role of Carmine Ragusa in… https://t.co/aXhk4ZsSTn
— Celebrity Net Worth (@RichestNews) April 6, 2019
Besides Laverne and Shirley, he has also made appearances on many other films and television programs. Beaches, A League of their own, Top of the World, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, Dreamgirls, etc., are some of the films he did.
Similarly, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Moonlighting, The Munsters Today, Califonia Dreams, Dream On, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Crossing Jordan, etc., are some of the television series he performed.
Was Eddie Mekka Married?- Find Out Details On His Wife
Eddie Mekka was married to actress DeLee Lively from 1983 until 1992 – they didn’t have children.
Two years after his divorce, he married a woman named Yvonne Marie Grace, and the couple has welcomed a daughter, Mia.
Eddie Mekka was married to Yvonne Marie Grace in 1994. However, she is his second wife. They have a kid together named Mia. He is the father of only one child.
He previously tied the knot with DeLee Lively. The pair were together for almost a decade. They were married from 1983-1992. She was also an actress, but there is not much information about her on the internet.
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