Sources say Fry had an auto-immune disease and died waiting on a liver transplant. I spoke with some current and former employees who worked on Happy's Place, they were still friends with Mike Fry. They say the news of his passing hit them like a ton of bricks.
Happy's Place announcer Majic Mark stopped by WFFT to share his memories of his friend Mike Fry. He says he had a soft spot for children and it showed when a daycare full of kids showed up to the set, all dressed as little Happy "The hobo's."
Craig Beaverson played Froggy on the show, he says was floored by the news of Fry's passing. He says Fry was one of the most-entertaining people he'd ever met. He was a former Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey clown and had even gone to clown college.
Jim Muhler directed Happy's Place and remained friends with Happy over the years, he too says he was shocked by the news but he wasn't surprised that Fry never let on about his illness.
Friends says he'll be sorely missed.
He left WFFT in 1990 to start Fancy Fortune Cookies, which is still in existence today. He is survived by his wife and daughter. He was 51 years old.
