Ric Carrott was an American actor active during the 1970s Youthfullooking and handsome Carrotts only regular television series role was as Captain Chris Gentry on the Saturday morning childrens series Space Academy but he made guest appearances on numerous popular shows of the decade These included Nanny and the Professor The Partridge Family Love American Style Dirty Sally The Bob Newhart Show The Odd Couple The Blue Knight The Streets of San Francisco Lucas Tanner SWAT Cannon and later The Rockford Files Starsky and Hutch Barnaby Jones Fantasy Island and Threes Company Carrott originated the role of Chuck Cunningham in the pilot for Happy Days which aired as a segment of Love American Style Love and the Happy Days later played by Gavan OHerlihy in the series His film work includes roles in The Swinging Cheerleaders also known as Locker Room Girls Earthquake Slashed Dreams Mother Jugs Speed Marathon Man and the television movies A Summer Without Boys Hurricane SST Death Flight and When Hell was in Session