Eddie Mekka


Eddie Mekka is an Armenian American actor most famous for his role as Carmine "The Big Ragoo" Ragusa on the sitcom Laverne & Shirley.

Life and career

Mekka was born Rudolph Edward Mekjian in Worcester, Massachusetts, the son of Mariam, a presser, and Vaughn V. Mekjian. He is of Armenian ancestry and a graduate of Burncoat High School.
In the early 1970s, Mekka headed the Worcester County Light Opera in Massachusetts, teaching young people how to sing. After performing on Broadway in The Lieutenant, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award, he moved to Los Angeles. He landed the role of Carmine for Laverne & Shirley in 1976, acting on the series until it was canceled in 1983. His recent television credits include 24, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Bold and the Beautiful, and as Detective Murdoch in the Fox television movie Catch Me If You Can. He had a small role in the Penny Marshall-directed 1992 film, A League of Their Own whose credits list him as "Mae's guy in bar."
On stage, he has performed in Hairspray at the Luxor in Las Vegas, Nevada and in a national tour of Grease with Cindy Williams. Mekka returned to off-Broadway on July 15, 2008, starring in Steve Solomon's long-running comedy My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm In Therapy! at the Westside Theatre.
Mekka reunited with his Laverne & Shirley co-star Cindy Williams in a November 2008 regional production of the Renée Taylor-Joseph Bologna comedy play It Had to Be You.
In 2008, Mekka wrapped production in the independent film Code Enforcer. He starred opposite Erin Moran of Happy Days.
In 2010, Mekka starred as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport, New York, from April 29 until June 20.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1976–83Laverne & ShirleyCarmine RagusaMain cast
1977Blansky's BeautiesJoey DeLucaMain cast
1977Happy DaysCarmine RagusaEpisode: "Joanie's Weird Boyfriend"
1979Greatest Heroes of the BibleUriEpisode: "The Story of Esther"
1979Happy DaysCarmine RagusaEpisode: "Fonzie's Funeral: Part 2"
1979Fantasy IslandJohnny Detroit / Wilbur WilsonEpisode: "Hit Man/The Swimmer"
1979The Love BoatMikeEpisode: "The Grass Is Always Greener/Three Stages of Love/Oldies But Goodies"
1980Fantasy IslandKen JasonEpisode: "Unholy Wedlock/Elizabeth"
1981The Love BoatStanley CorsonEpisode: "I Love You Too, Smith/Mamma and Me/Sally's Paradise"
1981The 6th Annual Circus of the StarsHimself TV special
1982Assignment BerlinLightning
1982The Love BoatBert Brodie / Jason ClarkEpisode: "Mothers Don't Do That/Marrying for Money/Substitute Lover"
1982The 7th Annual Circus of the StarsHimself TV special
1983Fantasy IslandCharlesEpisode: "Naughty Marietta/The Winning Ticket"
1988Bum RapSammy
1989BeachesActor 3
1989MoonlightingGuido ViolaEpisode: "In 'N Outlaws"
1989True BlueElvis fanaticEpisode: "Oldies, But Goodies"
1990Mulberry StreetVincent SavoiaTV pilot
1990Family MattersCharlieEpisode: "Flashpants"
1990The Munsters TodayMr. SweetzerEpisode: "The Reel Munsters"
1992A League of Their OwnMae's Guy in Bar
1992–93Guiding LightGrady
1993Taking the HeatBarbaroTV movie
1994Family MattersMr. NuttingEpisode: "Sink or Swim"
1994The Rockford Files: I Still Love L.A.GusTV movie
1994California DreamsUncle FrankEpisode: "Harley and the Marlboro Man"
1995Dream OnMelEpisode: "Significant Author"
1995The Laverne & Shirley ReunionHimselfTV special
1996Weird ScienceTommy SvachinoEpisode: "Men in Tights"
1997The Big EasyJoey LaVernEpisode: "Heavenly Body"
1997Top of the WorldJoe Burns-
1998The Jamie Foxx ShowDannyEpisode: "It's All Good, Fellas"
1998Sunset BeachSummons Process ServerEpisodes #1.416 and #1.417
1998Deadly GameDet. MurdochTV movie
2002Power Rangers Wild ForceDonEpisode: "The Tornado Spin"
2002Laverne & Shirley: Together AgainHimselfTV special
2003Himself
2004Land of the Free?Jerry
2005The Bold and the BeautifulLas Vegas MinisterEpisodes #1.4581 and #1.4582
2006Love Made EasyMobo
200624NedEpisode: "Day 5: 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m."
2006It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaBobby ThundersonEpisode: "Hundred Dollar Baby"
2006The Last StandArt
2006DreamgirlsClub Manager
2007Crossing JordanJames TalbotEpisode: "Shattered"
2007The Suite Life of Zack & CodyWestern DirectorEpisode: "The Suite Life Goes Hollywood: Part 2"
2007Stuck in the PastGrandpa
2008ERJenkinsEpisode: "Under Pressure"
2008Dirty Jokes the Movie
2008Pastor GregFJEpisodes: "Chances" and "Series Finale"
2009C Me DanceLowell
2011The Young and the RestlessBudEpisodes #1.9753 and #1.9754
2012Childrens HospitalFrankieEpisode: "Wisedocs"
2013Through a Mother's EyesDr. Henry Myer
2014Heaven Help UsChuckShort film