Tom Bosley, who played the lovable father in the ABC hit 70s sitcom "Happy Days," passed away on Tuesday at a hospital near his Palm Springs, California home due to a severe staph infection. He was 83.

Former co-star and film director Ron Howard, who played Bosley's son Richie Cunningham in the show, expressed sorrow over his death while praising him as a person who made everyone laugh.

"Remarkable on so many levels, Tom's insight, talent, strength of character and comic timing made him a vital central figure in the Happy Days experience. A great father and husband, and a wonderful artist, Tom lead by example, and made us all laugh while he was doing it," Howard said, according to Radaronline.com.

Marion Ross, who played Bosley's wife Marion Cunningham in the comedy show, also mourned his death and praised his intelligence and leadership that made the show a huge success running from January 1974 to May 1984.

After the show, Bosley became the sheriff character Amos Tucker in the TV show "Murder She Wrote" and crime-solving priest Father Frank Dowling in "The Father Dowling Mysteries."

Prior to Happy Days, Bosley was a Broadway star who won a Tony best actor award for his portrayal of former New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia in the musical "Fiorello!."