If you spent your Thursday nights in the 1970s watching Richie, Fonzie, and the gang down at Arnold’s, you probably have a soft spot for Potsie Weber. Anson Williams played that lovable character for all ten years Happy Days ran on ABC, from 1974 all the way to 1984.
Now 77, Williams is talking openly about what those years actually paid. And the number might surprise you.
Not Exactly a Million-Dollar Gig
On the October 5th episode of the Still Here Hollywood Podcast with Steve Kmetko, Williams laid it out plainly. In the early days of the show, he was earning $900 an episode. That climbed to $1,200 in year two and $1,800 by year three.
“On Happy Days, we didn’t have the same salaries they had today. Not even close. It was fine back then, but you’re not going to have a, you know, it’s not a lifetime of earnings there.”
By today’s standards, where lead actors on hit network shows can pull in hundreds of thousands per episode, those numbers feel like a different world. Because they were.
His Solution: Take the Band on the Road
Williams did not sit around wishing for a bigger paycheck. Instead, he came up with an idea that changed everything for him. He pushed to add a rock band to the Happy Days storyline, which led directly to a recording contract and a steady stream of live performance bookings.
The contrast between his TV pay and his concert pay tells the whole story. While he was earning $900 a week on the show, Williams was pulling in $17,000 a night on tour. He told The Unshackled Owner that instead of complaining about the low salary, he found a way to use his Happy Days fame as a launching pad.
What Came Next and the Lawsuit You May Not Have Known About
After his decade on the show, Williams built a second career behind the camera. He went on to direct episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210 and Diagnosis Murder. He also created Alert Drops, an all-natural product made with citric acid designed to help with drowsiness.
There was also a legal chapter. In 2011, Williams joined four other Happy Days cast members in suing CBS over the use of their likenesses on merchandise. The group included Marion Ross, Don Most, Erin Moran, and Patricia Bosley on behalf of her late husband Tom Bosley’s estate.
The case settled out of court. According to The Hollywood Reporter, each plaintiff received $65,000 plus future royalties on merchandise featuring their images.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Williams has built a net worth of $3 million through his combined work as an actor, singer, producer, and businessman.
Not bad for a guy who started at $900 a week. Turns out, Potsie was smarter than he looked.
