Eddie Makka, who played Laverne & Shirley's Carmine “The Big Ragoo” Ragusa, dies at 69

The Hollywood Reporter

Makka, who died last Saturday at his home in Newhall, California, starred on the ABC sitcom as Carmine “The Big Ragoo” Ragusa, the high-school sweetheart of Cindy Williams' Shirley and her on-again, off-again boyfriend. "My darling Eddie," tweeted Williams. "A world-class talent who could do it all.  I love you dearly. I'll miss you so much. But oh the marvelous memories..." Williams and Makka reunited in the 2000s in a touring production of Grease. Fellow Laverne & Shirley star Michael McKean added: "A sad goodbye to Eddie Mekka this morning. A genuinely good guy and purveyor of cheer whenever things got cheerless. Value these people. RIP, Eddie."