At 73, Anson Williams Overcomes Cancer & Weds Third Wife With ‘Happy Days’ Co-Star As His Best Man

May 19, 2023 by apost team

Anson Williams is quite the talented man best known for his role as Warren “Potsie” Weber on the hit TV series “Happy Days.” Over the years, Williams has shown off his talents as an actor as well as a singer and director. He has been on quite a few popular shows over the years, but it’s safe to say that nothing quite compares to his long-standing run on the beloved “Happy Days.”

Williams was born on Sept. 25, 1949, in Los Angeles, California. However, the legal name that he was born with is Anson William Heimlich. Interestingly enough, his father, Haskell Heimlich, changed the spelling of the family name to Heimlick. However, Williams’ uncle, Dr. Henry Heimlich, did not. The name may look familiar as it is actually the namesake of the Heimlich maneuver used for treating choking victims.

Williams went on to attend Burbank High School, where he became the captain of his school’s track team. He also acted in several school productions. There’s no doubt that he was always destined for stardom, as just a few years after graduating from high school, he found his footing in the entertainment industry. In 1972, Williams was cast as Potsie Weber in a segment for “Love, American Style” alongside other characters that were spun off into the series “Happy Days.” Another actor in the series was Don Most, who portrayed Ralph Malph.

Williams and Most went on to form a heartwarming friendship with each other that has lasted so long, Most was even Williams’ best man at his wedding! Williams overcame several struggles along the way, including overcoming cancer, but he finally found his happily ever after at the age of 73.

Over the course of his career, Williams has starred in a handful of impressive productions and has also become a well-respected director. Some of the programs he has worked on include “Melrose Place,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Lizzie McGuire” and “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.”

Of course, though, Williams earned his claim to fame with his role as Potsie on “Happy Days.” The series ran from 1974 to 1984, with Williams appearing in over 200 episodes during its run. During this time, Most also appeared in the series, although less often than Williams, as he was only in 168 episodes. Once Henry Winkler’s Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli character began gaining traction from fans, more people became interested in the series, thus leading to Potsie and Ralph’s unbreakable friendship.

The show was clearly incredibly important to Williams as he made true friendships during its run. His first wife, Lorrie Mahaffey, even portrayed his onscreen girlfriend in later seasons. Williams also found music success during his time on the TV series before venturing into the world of directing afterward.

However, Williams also endured hardships along the way. He was diagnosed with Stage 2 colon cancer in 2016 and underwent two surgeries, spending three weeks in the hospital, according to Closer Weekly. After receiving a clean bill of health, Williams had a “wake-up call” and a fresh outlook on life.

“I turned it into a positive,” he said. “I learned I have a purpose for living.” Williams added, “I needed to reprioritize my life. It actually became beneficial for me in that I became so much stronger about what I believe in.”

apost.com

The turn of events helped Williams gain “a deeper appreciation” for his family, which includes five daughters and several grandchildren. “I always knew I loved them and they were important, but now it’s at a whole new level.”

However, Williams still hadn’t found his happily ever after at that time. He moved to Ojai, California, shortly after his bout with cancer, which seemed to rejuvenate his spirits. “I owe a lot to Ojai for that, for my health, my sanity and the ability to move forward,” Williams explained. He loved the city so much that he even ran for mayor but lost to Betsy Stix.

Williams has struggled with his love life as well. His marriage to Mahaffey ended in 1986. Afterward, he was married to Jackie Williams for over 30 years, with their marriage ending in 2019, according to the Daily Mail.

However, the Daily Mail reported that in May 2023, Williams, 73, tied the knot with Sharon MaHarry. MaHarry is a real estate agent who also used to work as an advertising executive and author.

The ”Happy Days” International Fanclub Facebook page shared beautiful photos from the pair’s wedding day with the caption, “ANSON and SHARON congratulations on your wedding ❤️ May your joining together bring you more joy than you can imagine🥂❤️ #ansonwilliams #happywedding.”

One of the most heartwarming moments, though, was that Most served as Williams’ best man for the big day! They have a wonderful friendship, as Williams has even referred to Most as his “brother.”

Williams shared his own photo from the wedding that showed Most standing next to him while he and his wife stood across from each other. Williams captioned the post, “A magical moment in time.”

He also said, “It’s never too late to get it right!”

What do you think about Anson Williams finding love later in life? Were you surprised to see his “Happy Days” co-star as his best man? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones.