Eddie Mekka Biography – Eddie Mekka Wiki
Eddie Mekka was an American actor best known for his role as Carmine Ragusa on the television sitcom Laverne & Shirley. Mekka was best known for his role as Carmine “the Big Ragoo” Ragusa, Shirley Feeney’s boyfriend, on Laverne and Shirley. The sitcom aired on ABC from 1976 to 1983.
In the early 1970s, he went to the Worcester County Light Opera in Massachusetts, teaching young people how to sing. After performing on Broadway in The Lieutenant, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award, he moved to Los Angeles. He got the role of Carmine ‘The Big Ragoo’ Ragusa for Laverne & Shirley in 1976, acting on the series until it was canceled in 1983.
His recent television credits include 24, The Love Boat, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Bold and the Beautiful, and Detective Murdoch in the Fox television movie Catch Me If You Can. He had a small role in the Penny Marshall-directed 1992 film, A League of Their Own as the dance partner of Mae (Madonna) in the bar.
On stage, he has performed in Hairspray at the Luxor in Las Vegas, Nevada, and in a national tour of Grease with Cindy Williams. Mekka went back to off-Broadway on July 15, 2008, starring in Steve Solomon’s long-running comedy My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m In Therapy! at the Westside Theatre. He reunited with his Laverne & Shirley co-star Cindy Williams in a November 2008 regional production of the Renée Taylor-Joseph Bologna comedy play It Had to Be You. In 2008, he wrapped production in the independent film Code Enforcer. He starred opposite Erin Moran of Happy Days. In 2010, he starred as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport, New York, from April 29 until June 20, 2010.
He graduated from Burncoat High School. He then attended the Berklee College of Music and earned a Tony nomination for his leading role in the 1975 Broadway musical “The Lieutenant.”
Eddie Mekka Age
Mekka was born Rudolph Edward Mekjian in Worcester, Massachusetts, on June 14, 1952, in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. He died on November 27, 2021, in Newhall, Santa Clarita, California, United States. He was 69 years.
Eddie Mekka Wife
He married his second wife, Yvonne Marie Grace in 1994. Together they had one daughter. Prior to that, he was married to actress DeLee Lively from 1983 to 1992 when they eventually divorced.
Eddie Mekka Children
He had one daughter with his second wife, Mia Mekjian.
Eddie Mekka Parents
He was the son of Italian mother Mariam and Armenian father Vaughn Mekjian. His mother was a presser and his father was a World War II veteran. He is survived by his two brothers, Warren and Wayne, and his sister, Lenore.
Eddie Mekka Height
He stood at a listed height of 5 feet 2 inches (1.6 meters) tall.
Eddie Mekka Death
He died in Newhall, Santa Clarita, California, on November 27, 2021, at the age of 69. Mekka died at his home in Newhall, California, said his brother, Warren Mekjian. It was unclear how or when he died. Mekjian said that there was no indication that his death was suspicious and that he died Friday or Saturday.
After Mekka’s neighbors did not hear from him for a “couple of days,” they checked in on him and found his body in his home, Mekjian said, adding that he received the call of his death Saturday morning.
“Eddie was always joking, laughing, loved to sing and dance — he was a good storyteller and very talented,” Mekjian said. “He’s going to be missed.”
His Facebook fan page also announced that Mekka “passed away peacefully” Saturday at his home in Newhall, California.
Eddie Mekka Cause of Death
He died in Newhall, California, on November 27, 2021, at the age of 69. The cause of his death has not been stated.
