Marion Ross was one committed mom, both on-screen and off. She’s best remembered as Marion Cunningham, head of the household on the 1974 series Happy Days.

While she and her character shared the same name, they also shared a similar parenting style and dedication to their families. That was part of the Happy Days magic.

Balancing motherhood and an acting career wasn’t always easy, but Ross saw it as a way to provide for her children while following a passion that made her happy. Happy Days was also a happy set to be on, with its successful 11-season run.

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In a 1974 interview with The Indianapolis Star, Ross discussed the balance between her home life and her work.

"Right now, I’m about 50/50 between family and career," Ross said.

At the time, her children were 11 and 14. Ross said she included them in nearly every decision, even when weighing whether to take a part in a play, or a series.

She also admitted she was cautious about making choices that could jeopardize her emotional well-being.

"I know how rattly and vulnerable I am," Ross said. "I’m always afraid of going all the way into acting because I can get hurt. I can’t bear to be hurt, so I train myself not to want too much."

She worried that later in life she might feel she hadn’t fully lived certain roles, so Ross was dedicated to hitting the mark in all aspects — both career and family.

"But I get the feeling that when I’m 60, I’ll look back and say, ‘Did I really have children?’ I already feel that way about my marriage," Ross said.

Ross said the stability and schedule of Happy Days made it easier to balance both worlds, providing steady pay and flexibility so she could be present for her children instead of coming home exhausted and disengaged. It was all happy days for the Happy Days star.