Anson Williams says singing on Happy Days began with a plan to earn money beyond his television paycheck.
The actor, 77, revisited that decision with Steve Kmetko on the October 5 episode of Still Here Hollywood, explaining how he helped turn Potsie Weber into the show’s lead singer.
Williams recalled earning roughly $900 to $1,200 per episode during the sitcom’s early years. He considered that reasonable money at the time.
“It’s not a lifetime of earnings there,” he said. He had already performed in musicals and nightclubs, giving him experience he could bring to the series.
David Cassidy and Barry Williams Gave Him the Idea
Williams first spoke with David Cassidy, who told him how well he was doing financially through singing outside The Partridge Family. A conversation with Barry Williams, who played Greg Brady on The Brady Bunch, reinforced the idea. Barry described the success of the Brady cast’s live singing act while their sitcom was in its final year.
“If I can convince Garry to put a band on the show, maybe I can get booked and maybe I can get some extra income,” he recalled on the podcast, as reported by PEOPLE.
He approached series creator Garry Marshall with a pitch built around Arnold’s Drive-In. The show already featured cars and teenage romances, he argued, so a band would fit its world.
Garry Marshall Had Him Sing to a Bulldog
Marshall offered to try the idea in an upcoming episode involving a fraternity party. He told Williams to choose a song, then added a condition, Potsie would sing to a bulldog.
According to Williams’ recollection, Marshall did not have time to hear him sing beforehand. The dog gave the scene a comic premise whether the performance turned out to be good or bad.
Williams chose Elvis Presley’s “All Shook Up.” The band included Potsie alongside Ron Howard’s Richie Cunningham and Don Most’s Ralph Malph.
After the episode aired, viewers sent letters responding to the music. Marshall asked Williams to keep singing and gave him responsibility for choosing the songs, Entertainment Weekly reported.
The Concert Bookings Became a Better Payday
Williams signed with an agent and began performing at resorts and state fairs, work he said continued for about a decade. He described the resulting career as “monetarily much better” than his television work.
In a separate October 2024 interview with Forbes, Williams put his live-performance earnings at $17,000 a night. He also said he signed with Chelsea Records after getting the opportunity to sing on television.
Marshall later praised him for finding an opportunity that benefited both his career and the sitcom, Williams recalled.
Ron Howard Helped Him Move Into Directing
After Happy Days ended in 1984, Williams built a television directing career with credits including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, Charmed, Lizzie McGuire and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
In the same podcast conversation, he credited Howard with teaching him to trust the people he hired and speak when adjustments were needed. He also learned to prepare thoroughly so the production would have time to concentrate on performances.
Williams is now directing Crazy Mama: A True Story of Love and Madness at New York’s 59E59 Theaters. Written by Sharon Scott Williams and starring Linda Purl with musician Will Huse, the play draws on its author’s memoir about growing up with a mother struggling with mental illness. The production runs through October 18.