At the age of 13, she changed the spelling of her name from "Marian" to "Marion" because she thought it would look better on a marquee.
Best remembered by the public for her role as "Marion Cunningham" on the television series "Happy Days" (1974).
In 1972 Marion was hired to play Marion Cunningham in an episode of the comedy series "Love, American Style" (1969) called "Love and the Happy Days." On the show, she was the mother of a teenager named Richie (played by Ron Howard) and the wife of Howard Cunningham (played by Harold Gould. Two years later, when the segment was developed into a TV series called "Happy Days" (1974), Marion was invited back to play her part and so was Howard, while Gould was replaced by Tom Bosley.
Mother of actor Jim Meskimen and actress Ellen Plummer.
Mother-in-law of Tamra Meskimen.
Older sister, Alicia, and younger brother, Gordon.
Raised in Albert Lea, Minnesota, the Albert Lea Civic Theatre was renamed the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center on June 7, 2008 in honor of the veteran actress. Her life partner Paul Michael sang "The Impossible Dream" during the dedication ceremony and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed a proclamation declaring June 7th "Marion Ross Day".
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2001.
She and her late companion, Paul Michael, co-starred in Southern California stage productions of "Over the River and Through the Woods", and "Love Letters".
She appeared on Broadway in 1987 with Jean Stapleton in a revival of "Arsenic and Old Lace."
She credits her late friend, character actress Sandra Gould, with helping her get the "Happy Days" (1974) role. She was invited to a dinner hosted by Gould and a casting person from "Happy Days" also was in attendance. Not long after the dinner Marion got a call from the studio.
She is the Associate Artist for the Old Globe Theater in San Diego, California.
She lives in the San Fernando Valley, California in a country-style home which she calls "Happy Days farm"