Anson Williams Net Worth

What Is Anson Williams' Net Worth and Salary?

Anson Williams is an American actor, singer, television director, and businessman who has a net worth of $3 million.

Anson Williams is best known for playing Warren "Potsie" Weber on the ABC sitcom "Happy Days," appearing throughout the show's 11-season run from 1974 to 1984. Although "Happy Days" became one of the biggest television comedies of its era, Williams later revealed that he earned only $900 to $1,200 per episode. Realizing that the sitcom salary alone was not going to make him wealthy, he convinced creator Garry Marshall to let Potsie sing on the show. The resulting musical performances led to a recording deal and a lucrative side career performing at state fairs and resorts for roughly a decade.

After "Happy Days," Williams largely moved behind the camera and became a prolific television director. His credits include "Beverly Hills, 90210," "Melrose Place," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Star Trek: Voyager," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," "Charmed," "Baywatch," "Lizzie McGuire," and 31 episodes of "The Secret Life of the American Teenager." He also became an entrepreneur through businesses including Starmaker Products. In 2022, Williams narrowly lost a campaign for mayor of Ojai, California, by just 42 votes after a recount.

Early Life

Anson William Heimlich was born on September 25, 1949, in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in a Jewish family and attended Burbank High School, where he was captain of the track team and performed in school theatrical productions.

Williams is related to Dr. Henry Heimlich, the physician who developed the lifesaving anti-choking technique known as the Heimlich maneuver. Heimlich was technically Williams' second cousin, although Williams referred to him as his uncle.

Years later, Williams used his Hollywood connections to help promote the maneuver. After Dr. Heimlich struggled to attract widespread attention for the technique, Williams helped arrange television exposure that included an appearance on "The Merv Griffin Show." Heimlich subsequently demonstrated the technique on other major programs, helping turn it into a widely recognized emergency procedure.

"Happy Days"

Williams made his television acting debut in 1971 in an episode of "Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law."

The following year, he appeared as Potsie Weber in a segment of the anthology comedy series "Love, American Style." The episode, titled "Love and the Television Set," featured several characters who would eventually form the basis of "Happy Days."

"Happy Days" premiered in January 1974, with Ron Howard starring as Richie Cunningham. Williams played Richie's well-meaning but somewhat gullible friend Potsie, while Marion Ross and Tom Bosley played Richie's parents.

During the show's first season, Richie and Potsie were at the center of many of the storylines. That balance began shifting as Henry Winkler's Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli became the show's breakout character.

Rather than disappearing as the series evolved, Williams remained an important part of the ensemble. He was credited in more than 220 episodes and stayed with "Happy Days" through its final season in 1984.

The role earned Williams a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a television series in 1983.

"Happy Days" Salary

In 2026, Williams revealed that the cast of "Happy Days" was paid far less than modern television audiences might assume.

Williams said he earned between $900 and $1,200 per episode playing Potsie. While respectable television money in the 1970s, he emphasized that the salary was not enough to create a lifetime fortune.

That realization prompted him to look for another way to capitalize on the show's enormous popularity.

Williams had spoken with David Cassidy, who was making substantial money performing music outside "The Partridge Family," and Barry Williams, whose "Brady Bunch" fame had also generated paid musical opportunities. Because Anson could sing, he decided to attempt the same strategy.

He approached "Happy Days" creator Garry Marshall with an idea: give Richie, Potsie, and Ralph Malph a band.

Marshall agreed. The group first performed during the Season 1 episode "Give the Band a Hand," and positive audience reaction resulted in Williams singing more frequently on the series.

The exposure created a second career away from the show. Williams landed representation with a major agent and spent roughly a decade earning money performing at state fairs, resorts, and other venues. He later said the musical work was substantially more lucrative than his "Happy Days" salary.

Music Career

Williams' singing became an increasingly prominent feature of Potsie's character. He performed numerous 1950s and early rock-and-roll songs on "Happy Days" and recorded music outside the program as well.

His recordings included the single "Deeply," which reached the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977.

Unlike many television actors who were handed short-lived recording careers by their studios, Williams actively created the opportunity for himself. His live performances allowed him to monetize the enormous audience watching "Happy Days" without relying solely on his ABC paycheck.

The experience also foreshadowed the approach Williams would take throughout his career. Rather than remaining dependent on acting work, he repeatedly expanded into directing and business ventures.

Other Acting Work

While "Happy Days" remained his primary acting job, Williams also appeared as Potsie in the spinoff "Laverne & Shirley." His other television appearances included "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island."

After "Happy Days" ended, Williams appeared in the 1984 television movie "I Married a Centerfold." He later reunited with his former castmates for "The Happy Days Reunion Special" in 1992 and "Happy Days: 30th Anniversary Reunion" in 2005.

Williams made guest appearances on programs including "Fudge," "Boy Meets World," "Baywatch," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," and "The Odd Couple."

Acting ultimately became secondary to his work behind the camera.

Vince Bucci/Getty Images

Television Directing Career

Williams began moving into directing while "Happy Days" was still on the air and made it the primary focus of his post-Potsie career.

One important mentor was Ron Howard, who had already transitioned from acting into directing. Williams later recalled Howard advising him that a director's job was not to constantly talk or demonstrate authority, but to prepare thoroughly, communicate clearly, and then trust the cast and crew to do their jobs.

During the 1980s, Williams directed episodes of "ABC Afterschool Special," "CBS Schoolbreak Special," "WonderWorks," "L.A. Law," "Hooperman," and "Just the Ten of Us." He also directed the television movies "Your Mother Wears Combat Boots," "Dream Date," and "Little White Lies."

His career expanded significantly during the 1990s. Williams directed episodes of "Diagnosis: Murder," "Heaven Help Us," "Fudge," "seaQuest 2032," "The Pretender," "Clueless," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," and "Star Trek: Voyager."

He also directed nine episodes each of "Melrose Place" and "Beverly Hills, 90210."

Williams continued working steadily into the 2000s, directing episodes of "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," "Charmed," "Baywatch," and Disney Channel's "Lizzie McGuire."

One of his longest directing assignments came on ABC Family's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager." Williams directed 31 episodes between 2008 and the show's conclusion in 2013.

"Happy Days" Lawsuit

In 2011, Williams joined former "Happy Days" cast members Erin Moran, Marion Ross, and Don Most, along with the estate of Tom Bosley, in suing CBS over merchandising revenue.

The $10 million breach-of-contract lawsuit alleged that the actors had not received the percentage of merchandising proceeds promised in their original contracts. Products using the cast members' likenesses had included slot machines, T-shirts, greeting cards, games, lunch boxes, and other merchandise.

CBS initially argued that the cast members were owed only around $8,000 to $9,000 each.

The dispute was settled in 2012. Each plaintiff received $65,000, and CBS agreed to continue honoring the merchandising provisions contained in their contracts.

(Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)

Business Ventures

Williams has pursued numerous business projects outside television.

In 1987, he partnered with former "Happy Days" co-star Al Molinaro to launch a chain of restaurants called Big Al's. The venture eventually closed.

Williams later co-founded Starmaker Products with Hollywood makeup artist and product developer JoAnna Connell. The company's beauty products included PEARL Mist, Hollywood Hands, Overnight Sensation, and Pearlabrasion. Starmaker entered retail and direct-response distribution agreements during the 2000s, and Williams has remained identified as an owner of the company.

He also wrote the memoir "Singing to a Bulldog: From Happy Days to Hollywood Director, and the Unlikely Mentor Who Got Me There."

Ojai Mayoral Race

Williams moved to Ojai, California, after spending decades living in Malibu and became increasingly involved in the small Ventura County community.

In June 2022, he announced that he was running for mayor of Ojai.

The race turned out to be extremely close. After the November 2022 election, Elizabeth Stix received 1,823 votes compared with Williams' 1,781.

A formal recount in December confirmed the original totals. Williams therefore lost the mayoral race by just 42 votes.

Personal Life

Williams married actress Lorrie Mahaffey in 1978 after meeting her through "Happy Days," where she played Potsie's girlfriend Jennifer. They had a daughter, Hannah, before divorcing in 1986.

In 1988, Williams married Jackie Gerken. They had three daughters together: Olivia, Gabriella, and Stella. Williams initially filed for divorce in 2019 before withdrawing the petition, then filed again in 2020, ending their marriage after more than three decades.

Williams was diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer in 2016. Following surgery, complications, and chemotherapy, he increasingly viewed Ojai as a place to recover and reevaluate his priorities.

Years earlier, when Williams first bought his Ojai home, the real estate broker who handled the transaction was Sharon MaHarry. The two reconnected much later, after both had experienced major changes in their personal lives, and eventually began a relationship.

Williams and MaHarry married on May 6, 2023, in the backyard of their Ojai home. His longtime "Happy Days" co-star Don Most served as best man.

By 2026, Williams and MaHarry were also collaborating professionally. Williams directed "Crazy Mama: A True Story of Love and Madness," an Off-Broadway stage adaptation of MaHarry's memoir starring actress Linda Purl.

Real Estate

In 2011, Williams paid $950,000 for a home in Ojai, California. Sharon MaHarry, who would become his wife more than a decade later, was the real estate broker who sold Williams and his then-wife the property.

Williams ultimately retained the Ojai residence following his divorce. He and MaHarry later made the property their home and were married there in 2023.

The home is worth close to $3 million today.

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