The Suicide of 'Happy Days' Actress & Former Child Star Kathy O'Dare: 14 Sad Years Later

Photo byClassic TV Preservation Society

It's been more than a decade since the suicide of former child/teen actress Kathy O'Dare on July 18, 2010. She was best known for her appearance on classic TV's Happy Days, playing Mary Lou Milligan, a love interest to Ron Howard's Richie Cunningham. She appeared in what was the iconic sitcom's second pilot episode "All the Way," which aired at the start of the first season. Behind the scenes, O'Dare struggled with mental illness. This is her story.

A Closer Look

Kathy O'Dare was born Kathleen Rose D'Orazi on August 27, 1957, in Eagle Rock, CA, in Los Angeles County, to Tony and Miltreta D'Orazi. She began performing at just three years old, and later appeared on legendary shows such as the Banana Splits and The Brady Bunch, and on the big screen in films like Eat My Dust (1975), which starred Ron Howard.

In the early 1950s, D'Orazi's father, Tony D'Orazi, starred for three years on the TV show, Uncle Tony O'Dare, First Cartoonist of the Air. He was also an acclaimed artist in the Eagle Rock area.

His Sister's Keeper

In 2023, Kathy O'Dare's brother David D'Orazi, wrote a book about her life, titled, Is Everybody Happy?, based on his sister's journals and scrapbooks.

Kathy suffered from schizophrenia, and D’Orazi hoped writing her story would help shed light on living with mental illness and assist others in helping their loved ones with similar struggles lead a better life.

His Background

David F. D’Orazi is a successful salesman and Los Angeles native, an alumnus of the University of California, Irvine, where he earned a biology degree, and California State University, Los Angeles, where he received a master of business degree. He also performs magic at the Magic Castle in Hollywood.

D'Orazi's initial publication, The In-Between Artist: The Story of Tony D’Orazi, is an honest account of his father’s life and challenges with mental illness before, during, and after his artistic career.

Final Impression

Unfortunately, like all too many former child stars and Hollywood stars in general, Kathy O'Dare did not live a happy life and suffered an even more tragic death.