Coroner: Erin Moran Likely Died Of Complications From Stage 4 Cancer

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Actress Erin Moran likely died of complications from stage four cancer, officials said Monday.

Moran passed away at her home in New Salisbury, Indiana on Saturday, April 22.

Moran-Fleischmann was best known for her roles as Joanie Cunningham on "Happy Days," and its spinoff, "Joanie Loves Chachi."

"What a great, irrepressible spirit and a wonderful talent," former co-star Ron Haward said Monday. "She was this feisty, spirited girl."

Howard spoke out on "The Talk" about Moran, who played his little sister on "Happy Days" for over ten years.

She began acting at the age of 5, but didn't rise to fame until the 1970's when she started playing the role of "Joanie Cunningham."

"She was one of the biggest stars in television, beloved by millions," Entertainment Tonight's Kevin Frazier said Monday. "It even spun into the series 'Joanie Loves Chachi' that lasted two seasons. She also appeared in six episodes of 'Loveboat'."

When the actress' career began to slow down there was much speculation over her struggles with substance abuse.

"Back in 2012 we were in Indiana when she was put out of her mobile home and she was moving from hotel to hotel," Frazier recalled. "It showed how far she has fallen from those days of being Joanie Cunningham on television. That was the real struggle for her life in Indiana, she moved there with her second husband."

Frazier adds that Moran's final days were chaotic and she had friends who tried to reach out to help.

On Monday, the Harrison County Sheriff's Department and medical examiner released a joint statement that Moran "... likely succumbed to complications of state 5 cancer," adding that, "no illegal narcotics were found at the residence."

She was 56-years-old.

Former co-star and ex-boyfriend Scott Baio tweeted, "I always hoped she could find peace in her life. God has you now, Erin."

Her other co-star Henry Winkler also tweeted, "OH Erin... now you will finally have the peace you wanted so badly here on earth... Rest in it serenely now... too soon."

Authorities have not said what kind of cancer Moran had.

Standard toxicology tests were performed and the results are pending, according to Harrison County Coroner Gary Gilley.