Happy Days star Erin Moran reportedly broke and homeless when she died

We were left shocked and saddened over the weekend by the tragic news that actress Erin Moran, who starred as the beautiful and bright Joanie Cunningham on the television sitcom Happy Days, had died of a suspected heroin overdose.

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She was found dead in the trailer she shared with her husband and mother-in-law in Corydon, Indiana, over the weekend, and it has now been reported that the fallen star’s final years were spent broke and homeless after being kicked out of her mother-in-law’s trailer park house.

According to RadarOnline, a source said: “Erin was going out to bars and coming home at all hours of the night, sometimes with her rowdy bar friends, and Steve’s mom just couldn’t take it anymore.”

The report claims Erin was ‘bouncing’ between b&bs and was on the verge of splitting from her husband Steve Fleischmann.

It was been claimed that Erin had become reclusive in recent months. David Holt, who lived near the actress and her family, told PEOPLE: “I used to see her all the time, walking up to get the mail or just out for a stroll. She always waved or stopped to say hello. But I hadn’t seen her for a couple of months. She kind of hibernated at the end. It’s so sad. She was a good person.”

Erin wed Walmart employee Steve in 1993 and the couple moved into his mother’s trailer in 2011. Her publicist explained in 2012: “Erin and her husband did in fact move in with her ailing mother-in-law over a year ago. They are helping take care of her, as any loving family would do.”

Later that year, she was spotted outside of a Holiday Inn hotel looking ragged after reportedly being kicked out of the trailer.

Her friend and fellow actor Paul Petersen said Erin’s pals had tried to step in and help her on many occassions but their efforts were not enough.

Paul wrote on Facebook: “We did our best with the resources available to us, but it was a very dark room. Some don’t find the light switch in time.”

Henry Winkler, who played Arthur ‘Fonzie’ Fonzarelli in the show, even tried to get her a slot on his show ‘Arrested Development’. He paid tribute to his friend moments after her death was announced, writing on Twitter: “OH Erin, now you will finally have the peace you wanted so badly here on earth, Rest In It serenely now, too soon.”

And her former ‘Happy Days’ and ‘Joanie Loves Chachi’ cast mate Scott Baio – who she also dated – took to Facebook to remember her.

He wrote: “May people remember Erin for her contagious smile, warm heart, and animal loving soul. I always hoped she could find peace in her life. God has you now, Erin.”

Scott also tweeted: “My sincere condolences. #ErinMoran #HappyDaysFamily.”