‘Happy Days’ Marion Ross Cried ‘Every Day’ Turning Single Mom after Split — At 94, Retired Grandma Looks Great
Marion Ross’s rise to fame as an actress is not accidental. The star of “Happy Days” admitted that she has always wanted to be a famous actress. As a child, she would often pretend to be the lead in a play in her room and gracefully bow at curtain call. As a little girl in Albert Lea, Minnesota, Ross would often imagine herself getting up on a stage to star in extraordinary adventures and heartrending dramas.
She entertained herself by imagining she was a famous actress who had to appease her raving crowd of fans with smiles, bows, and a slew of autographs.
At one point, Ross was hired to serve dinner at someone’s house, and to her astonishment, the person who hired her for the job was friends with a producer. While working, the host revealed to the producer that Ross had dreams of becoming an actress. With a flourish, he presented his card to Ross and told her to go see him.
Ross didn’t have to waiter for too long before she finally had her big break. She started starring in a number of films, making a name for herself as a talented actress. She shared that the most important thing she learned about being a successful performer was to “sell” yourself and your character to the crowd.
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Ross learned early on that a good actor is a convincing one who could make the audience forget they were watching a play or a film but could draw them into the story entirely. She also made up her mind that she would have a career in film. She didn’t want to go into soap operas, and the stage could only take her so far, financially speaking. Although Ross adored the theatre, films and TV paid her bills, so she stuck with it. At the same time, she started to build a family. The actress recalled how she and her first husband flew out to Arizona for a brief and largely unplanned marriage to Freeman Meskimen, an aspiring actor at the time.
Ross recalled that she supported his dreams but also quickly realized that Meskimen didn’t have the dedication to become an actor. She also said she often took over all the essential duties in their relationship. She picked their home, then looked after all the daily chores, including taking care of the bills.
Ross Is Alive and Happy with Her Life
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These days, Ross is content with how her life turned out. Although she faced many hardships, she made it through each and every one with grim determination, finally finding her way back to a happy life. Now, at the age of 94, she lives a simple life with those she loves most close to her.
Although she’s not working anymore, the actress is enjoying her retirement immensely. She invested much of the money she made shooting “Happy Days” in the home she now lives in, which she lovingly refers to as Happy Days Farm. She spends most of her time enjoying retirement, baking brownies for her family and having fun with her granddaughter.
Ross’s Life after Her Divorce
With two children to care for, a costly divorce from Meskimen, and fewer and fewer acting jobs turning up, Ross was desperate. At one point, she starred in films and made ample money, but after her divorce, Ross was reduced to taking every part offered to her, no matter how insignificant.
