Absolutely "shattered" HENRY WINKLER reaches out to on- the- skids HAPPY DAYS co-star ERIN MORAN.
And NOW Sources say the bighearted actor wants homeless and haggard Erin to join him on “Arrested Development.”
“Henry is absolutely shattered over what’s become of Erin,” a source close to the beloved star told The ENQUIRER.
“He desperately wants to help her get back on her feet – and what better way to do it than with a role on ‘Arrested Development’?”
Noting that the former FOX series, which was picked up by Netflix, is co-produced and narrated by Ron Howard, who played Erin’s big brother Richie Cunningham on “Happy Days,” the source said: “It would be perfect for everyone!”
Winkler has a recurring role on the show, which also featured Scott Baio, who co-starred with Erin in both “Happy Days” and its spinoff “Joanie Loves Chachi.”
Erin’s plight nearly had Winkler in tears during a recent appearance on shock jock Howard Stern’s Sirius XM radio show.
“I hope that she is able to come to terms with the fact that she has greatness in her and goes on,” an emotional Winkler told Stern, who pointed out that The Fonz portrayer “tears up” whenever Erin’s name is mentioned.
Winkler, 67 this month, told Stern that he met Erin when she was just 9 years old, adding: “She was like my little daughter!”
Erin hit Hollywood gold as spunky Joanie Cunningham on “Happy Days.” But she infuriated her former cast mates by attacking them publicly in 1992 and even accused Winkler of sexually harassing her.
Four years later, she apologized and sources say Winkler eventually forgave her.
As THE ENQUIRER reported, Erin, 52, and her husband Steven Fleischmann, 45, moved into his elderly mother’s trailer at a mobile home park in Indiana after their California home went into foreclosure.
But Steven’s mother got fed up with Erin’s nonstop partying and threw them out, according to a source.
Since then, hard-drinking Erin and her hubby have been crashing with pals or staying at motels.
Meanwhile, insiders say she’s blowing through a recent settlement she got from CBS over unpaid royalties from “Happy Days” merchandise.
“Henry couldn’t come along at a better time to try and help Erin,” praised the source. “Not everyone on ‘Happy Days’ has tried to reach out to her like he has, but you can still count on The Fonz to help a friend in need!”
