Eddie Mekka

Born in Massachusetts to parents with Armenian roots, Eddie Mekka is a veteran character actor. During the 1970s, Mekka worked in theater, running a local opera company in his hometown of Worcester, and eventually appearing on Broadway. Relocating to Hollywood to pursue a career in television, Mekka got his big break in '76 when he was cast as Carmine Ragusa on the popular sitcom "Laverne & Shirley." During his seven-year stint on the show, he also appeared on its sister series, "Happy Days," and made guest appearances on other successful programs such as "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island."

Although Mekka wasn't very active during the '80s and '90s, his career began to pick up in the new millennium. Not only did Mekka return to the stage for a variety of productions, he also made one-off appearances on hit shows such as "24," "Crossing Jordan," and "ER," and had a bit part in the feature film "Dreamgirls." Eddie Mekka died on November 27, 2021 in Newhall, CA at the age of 69.