One of the most prolific actresses of the ’80s was spotted on a rare outing in Los Angeles on Wednesday, much to the delight of longtime fans.
The character actress, 68, best known for playing Annette, Chachi’s cousin (Scott Baio) on Happy Days and its spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi, appeared in high spirits as she ran a few errands on a sunny afternoon.
Dressed in a red-and-white striped top and black leggings, her casual look was a far cry from the 1950s-style outfits she donned on the iconic sitcom alongside Ron Howard as Richie, Erin Moran as Joanie, Henry Winkler as Fonzie, and Marion Ross as Marion.
The actress also stole the spotlight as Kevin’s classmate Wendy in the ’80s sitcom Mr. Belvedere.
One of her most iconic scenes was delivering laughs alongside Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), where she played a Student Driver.
Can you guess the mysterious star?
One of the most prolific actresses of the ’80s was spotted on a rare outing in Los Angeles on Wednesday, much to the delight of longtime fans
The character actress, 68, best known for playing Annette, Chachi’s cousin (Scott Baio) on Happy Days and its spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi, appeared in high spirits as she ran a few errands on a sunny afternoon
If you said Winifred Freedman, you’re right!
Born on July 23, 1957, in Granite City, Illinois, Freedman carved out a memorable career in film and television that made her a familiar face of ’80s and ’90s entertainment.
She got her start in movies with early roles in cult favorites like The Last American Virgin (1982) with Lawrence Monoson.
She then went on to act in Crossroads (1986) with Ralph Macchio, and Ratboy (1986) with Sondra Locke.
Freedman quickly showed her versatility, appearing alongside action star Chuck Norris in Hero and the Terror (1988).
She later appeared in hits like You Can’t Hurry Love (1988), The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), Hero and the Terror (1988), and The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989).
On television, Freedman made a splash in series like Happy Days and Joanie Loves Chachi.
She continued to balance film and TV work throughout the late ’80s, starring in the comedy You Can’t Hurry Love (1988) with David Leisure and the critically acclaimed The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) alongside Michelle Pfeiffer.
If you said Winifred Freedman, you’re right! (pictured 2013)
On television, Freedman made a splash in series like Happy Days and Joanie Loves Chachi
Dressed in a red-and-white striped top and black leggings, her casual look was a far cry from the 1950s-style outfits she donned on the iconic sitcom alongside Ron Howard as Richie, Erin Moran as Joanie, Henry Winkler as Fonzie, and Marion Ross as Marion
She got her start in movies with early roles in cult favorites like The Last American Virgin (1982)
One of her most iconic scenes was delivering laughs alongside Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), where she played a Student Driver
She also appeared in the TV movie Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation (Fox, 1991–92), before shifting more fully to television in the ’90s with roles on Goode Behavior (1996–97), Common Law (ABC, 1996–97), Profiler (1996–2000), and Dharma & Greg (ABC, 1997–2002).
Freedman’s career continued into the 2010s with a recurring role on the family series Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street (2013–15), proving that her charm and talent have remained timeless.
Of course, she is most famous for Happy Days, as it remains one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, capturing the nostalgia of 1950s America with its mix of heart, humor, and iconic characters.
The show launched in 1974 and ran for an impressive 11 seasons, following the hijinks of Richie (Howard), his family, and the unforgettable Fonzie (Winkler).
Its massive popularity led to several spinoffs, including Joanie Loves Chachi, which starred Freedman as Chachi’s cousin, giving her a chance to shine alongside Baio and Moran.
Other spinoffs and related series, like Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy, expanded the Happy Days universe even further, proving the show’s influence on pop culture extended far beyond Wisteria Lane.
For Freedman, Happy Days and Joanie Loves Chachi weren’t just credits on her résumé — they cemented her place in television history.
Even decades later, the actress remains recognizable to fans for her charm and humor she brought to a beloved TV universe.
