'Laverne and Shirley' star Eddie Mekka found dead in California home   

Washington: US actor Eddie Mekka—best known for starring in the hit sitcom ‘Laverne & Shirley’ has passed away. He was 69.

Reports citing Eddie’s brother Warren Mekjian as saying, he was found dead at his California home last Saturday. 

Reports further added that the concerned neighbours decided to alert police after not hearing from the actor for a few days.

Mr Mekjian said there was no indication that his brother's death was suspicious. Hence, there was no evidence of foul play. 

He had recently gone to the hospital and was struggling to walk due to the blood clots, his brother told. 

Mekka played Carmine Ragusa, Shirley's love interest, in the popular sitcom that run on ABC from 1976 to 1983. 

Born in Massachusetts on 14 June 1952, Mekka rose to fame for his lead role in the Lieutenant musical in 1975, garnering a Tony Award nomination for best actor. 

In 1982, he married actress DeLee Lively, divorcing in 1992. Two years later Eddie remarried Yvonne Marie Grace, with whom he had a daughter.

He later moved to Los Angeles and played in a number of TV series, including ‘The Love Boat’ and ‘Family Matters’. 

His final acting credit came in the 2018 football comedy flick “Hail Mary!”