'Happy Days' Star Had Stage Four Cancer, Was Being Helped by Fellow Ex-Child Actors

An autopsy report revealed Monday that the cause of death for Erin Moran, former child star of the 70s and 80s sit com "Happy Days," was most likely cancer.

According to TMZ, the Sheriff's office in Harrison County, Indiana said Monday a "joint investigation into Mrs. Moran's death was conducted" and "a subsequent autopsy revealed that Mrs. Moran likely succumbed to complications of stage four cancer."

The autopsy report put to rest suspicions raised by The National Enquirer that the "Joanie Loves Chachi" actress died of a lethal heroin overdose.

"Standard toxicology tests were performed and the results are pending, however no illegal narcotics were found at the residence," the Sheriff's Office statement read.

Meanwhile, as friends and fans mourn Moran's passing, the founder of an advocacy group for juvenile actors is speaking out on social media.

"An entire community of former kid actors is not only taking note, but will long remember this kind-hearted soul who soldiered on until at age 56 she was done," wrote Paul Petersen, founder of A Minor Consideration on the group's Facebook page.

Peterson's group, which advocates for and provides support to former child stars, was working to help Moran. The group was founded in response to a tragic trio of child star suicides.

Peterson, a former child star from the popular 1950's comedy "The Donna Reed Show" continued.

"At least a half-dozen 'formers' were actively reaching out to Erin in the last week of her life. These aren't publicity photos her friends are posting, but family portraits. From Paris to London, from New York to LA, our members were in there pitching, doing what they could to help. Do not doubt that for a minute."

"Erin had friends and she knew it. Abandonment was not the issue. The perversity of human frailty is at the root of this loss, not failure," wrote Petersen.