Eddie Mekka
Mekka in 2005
Born	Edward Rudolph Mekjian[1] (1952-06-14)June 14, 1952 Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	November 27, 2021(2021-11-27) (aged 69) Newhall, Santa Clarita, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1974–2018
Spouses	DeLee Lively ​ ​ (m. 1983; div. 1992)​ Yvonne Marie Grace ​ (m. 1994)​
Children	1

Edward Rudolph Mekjian (June 14, 1952 – November 27, 2021), known professionally asEddie Mekka, was an American actor, best known for his role as Carmine Ragusa on the hit television sitcomLaverne & Shirley.

Mekka was born inWorcester, Massachusetts, the son of Mariam (née Apkarian), a dry cleaning presser, and Vahe Vaughn Mekjian, a factory worker.^[1][2][3] His family was ofArmenian andItalian descent. His father was aWorld War II veteran.^[4] He graduated fromBurncoat High School and attended theBerklee College of Music.^[5]

In the early 1970s, Mekka headed theWorcester County Light Opera inMassachusetts, teaching young people how to sing.^[5] After performing onBroadway inThe Lieutenant, for which he was nominated for aTony Award,^[6] he moved toLos Angeles.^[7] He landed the role of Carmine "The Big Ragu" Ragusa forLaverne & Shirley in 1976, acting on the series until its 1983 cancellation.^[6]

Mekka starred in roughly 50 TV shows and movies throughout his career. His television credits included24,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 movieCatch Me If You Can.^[8] He had a small role in thePenny Marshall-directed 1992 film,A League of Their Own as the dance partner of Mae (Madonna) in the bar.^[7][9]

Onstage, he performed inHairspray atthe Luxor inLas Vegas, Nevada,^[10] and in a national tour ofGrease withCindy Williams.^[11][12] Mekka returned to off-Broadway theatre on July 15, 2008, starring in Steve Solomon's long-running comedyMy Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm In Therapy! at theWestside Theatre.^[8]

Mekka had regular solo singing performances for many years from the 1990s into the 2000s throughout the Naples^[13] and the Fort Lauderdale, Florida areas.

Mekka reunited with hisLaverne & Shirley co-star Cindy Williams in a November 2008 regional production of theRenée Taylor-Joseph Bologna comedy playIt Had to Be You.^[14][15]

In 2008, Mekka wrapped production in the independent filmCode Enforcer. He starred oppositeErin Moran ofHappy Days.^[16]

In 2010, Mekka starred asTevye inFiddler on the Roof at the John W. Engeman Theater inNorthport, New York, from April 29 until June 20.^[17][18]

Mekka was married to actress DeLee Lively from 1983 to 1992. He married Yvonne Marie Grace in 1994. Together they had one daughter, Mia.^[19]

Mekka died inNewhall, Santa Clarita, California, on November 27, 2021, at the age of 69.^[20][21][22]

• Official website
• Eddie Mekka atIMDb
• Eddie Mekka at theInternet Broadway Database

• 1952 births
• 2021 deaths
• 20th-century American male actors
• 21st-century American male actors
• American male film actors
• American male musical theatre actors
• American male stage actors
• American male television actors
• American people of Armenian descent
• Male actors from Worcester, Massachusetts

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Articles with hCards
• IBDB name template using Wikidata