Despite her personal struggles, this star was resilient and soon got a role that would forever change her life. Playing Marion Cunningham, the warm and loving mother on “Happy Days,” wasn’t a stretch for her, as the character closely mirrored her compassionate nature.

When she landed the part, she was having a tough time. The opportunity to portray Marion was life-altering for the actress, who had dreamed of becoming an actress since childhood.

The role defined her career and became one she would always cherish. Reflecting on the show’s success, she expressed her gratitude, “It was even beyond my dreams. Who knew that we would become an American legend?”

The actress, born in Watertown, Minnesota, moved several times during her childhood before settling in Albert Lea. At 13, she changed the spelling of her name from “Marian” to “Marion” because she believed it would look better on a marquee.

Her desire to be seen and heard carried into adulthood, and at 21, she surprised her parents by eloping with fellow actor Freeman “Effie” Meskimen in 1951. The couple had two children, Jim and Ellen Meskimen, but their marriage was far from ideal.

The mother of two candidly described her husband as “an unmotivated, moody drinker,” reflecting the difficulties she faced during that time.

The actress detailed her marital woes in her 2018 memoir, “My Days: Happy and Otherwise.” She opened up about her turbulent relationship with Freeman, describing how their outwardly stable life masked deeper struggles.

Despite Effie holding a steady job and the family appearing settled, the pressure to support her children and take on every role available weighed heavily on her. She admitted, “our life […] never gave me the feeling that now things would be the way I had always wanted them to be.”

However, their marriage was far from harmonious. Arguments and yelling were frequent, with her recalling how his mood swings intensified with time. Despite her attempts to encourage him, their relationship was fraught with ongoing tension.

The relationship reached a breaking point, and the actress eventually left Freeman when “he began to have an affair with his secretary,” she revealed.

To make ends meet, she had to get creative with her finances. “I rented out one of the bedrooms in my house to pick up some money. I’d think, ‘I made $35 today.’ It was hard,” the Gilmore Girls star continued.

They finished each other’s thoughts, held hands while they spoke, and shared dreamy gazes — exhibiting all the signs of a couple deeply in love.

Reflecting on their bond in a 2010 interview, Ross said, “People are capable of very hot romances as they get older. We sort of forget that, and sort of give up on that.” In the same interview, Paul echoed her sentiments, saying, “These are the happiest days of my life.”

Tragically, their love story came to an end when Paul passed away in 2011 at 84 due to heart failure. At that point, he and Marion had spent 23 years together, building a bond that was as heartfelt as it was enduring.

Several years after Paul’s passing, Marion revealed in 2018 that she had retired two years earlier. She expressed that she had already accomplished what she wanted in her career and now preferred to focus on enjoying her life with her family.

Marion Ross continues to embrace life with joy, and her son Jim often shares glimpses of their moments on TikTok, particularly on her 95th birthday.