Richard J. Cunningham is a fictional character played by Ron Howard in the 1970s TV 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. Richie was the original lead character, but was supplanted by Fonzie when that character's popularity came to dwarf that of Richie and the other characters (however, Ron Howard and Henry Winkler (Fonzie) continued to share top billing in the opening credits of the show).
