Ralph Hector Malph is a character on ''

Happy Days ''Happy Days'' is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marshall, it was one of the most su ...

'' played by

Donny Most Don Most (born August 8, 1953) is an American actor and singer, best known for his role as Ralph Malph on the television series ''Happy Days''. Early life Most was born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York City. He lived in Flatbush, Broo ...

Background of character

He usually had two things on his mind, girls and jokes. His jokes usually got little or no reaction from any other character, yet he continued his catchphrase, "I still got it!" Ralph was a practical joker and often used novelty items such as whoopie cushions,

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, spring-loaded eyeball glasses, and joy buzzers. In the first season, Malph's girl-chasing was the primary focus of his character. He occasionally got dates but generally he was not very successful at it, although he was more successful than Richie Cunningham and Potsie. As the seasons progressed, he was shown to be easily frightened and often panicked greatly at the least and greatest occurrences. Originally the series tended to focus on Richie and Potsie, often in schemes to attract women, with Ralph as a third wheel. In the early seasons, Ralph was considerably "cooler" than Richie and Potsie, being a member of the gang, The Gems, and having a hot rod car. As the series shifted its focus to concentrate more on

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and his friendship with Richie, Ralph was more often paired with Potsie. This was evident even more when the characters graduated from high school, when Ralph and Potsie rented and shared an apartment together, and they often argued. In the first episode of this arrangement, "The Apartment", Richie also moved in with them but, due to the pair's continual squabbling, Richie decided to move back home. In one episode where they were feuding, "Ralph vs. Potsie", they divided the apartment with white tape and assigned each other one side of the room, but they eventually patched up their differences. Ralph returns home after being honorably discharged from the

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in the episode entitled "Welcome Home" and he decides to become an optometrist just like his father. Ralph goes off to college and this serves as his last appearance in ''Happy Days''. One small continuity error remains with the character of Ralph's father. Originally, his father owned a woman's dress store in town and his name was Harry Malph (played by Mike Monahan in the first-season episode "Because She's There"), but when the show shifted to a studio audience format in the third season, Ralph's father was shown to be an optometrist, Mickey Malph, played first by

Alan Oppenheimer Alan Oppenheimer (born April 23, 1930) is an American actor. He has performed numerous roles on live action television since the 1960s, and he has had an active career doing voice work since the 1970s. Early life Oppenheimer was born in New Yor ...

and then subsequently and more famously by Jack Dodson. Additionally, in the same first-season episode, Ralph's mother was named Hazel and was played by Gracia Lee; from the third season onward, however, she was referred to as Minnie Malph, and her character was never shown on camera again. In

Phish Phish is an American rock band formed in Burlington, Vermont, in 1983. The band is known for musical improvisation, extended jams, blending of genres, and a dedicated fan base. The band consists of guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike G ...

's song "Clear Your Mind," the "Ralph" verse references Ralph Malph, likely in a nod to the practical jokes they are instigating means "they still got it."

Trivia

*In the episode "Hollywood: Part 2" Ralph's middle name was revealed to be Hector. *He is one of the two characters (the other being Potsie) to be absent from the series finale. *He once kissed Joanie Cunningham in the episode "Welcome Home" when he saw how beautiful she looked.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Malph, Ralph Happy Days characters Television characters introduced in 1974 Teenage characters in television