Eddie Mekka, who starred as the 'Big Ragu' on 'Laverne & Shirley,' dies at 69

• Eddie Mekka, who starred in the ABC sitcom "Laverne & Shirley," died on Saturday, TMZ reported.
• Mekka played Carmine "The Big Ragu" Ragusa on the hit series.

Eddie Mekka, a star in the ABC sitcom "Laverne & Shirley," died on Saturday.

Mekka, who played Carmine "The Big Ragu" Ragusa on the American television series, died at his home in Newhall, California, his brother Warren Mekjian told TMZ.

TMZ reported that the police were called to Mekka's home after neighbors and friends hadn't heard from him in a few days.

The Tony-nominated actor was 69 years old and leaves behind one daughter.

Mekjian told TMZ that Mekka had recently been in the hospital for blood clots though the cause of death hasn't been revealed.

Born in Massachusetts, Mekka got his start at the Worcester County Light Opera and received his Tony Award nomination in 1975 for his role in "The Lieutenant."

He also had a role in the 1977 American sitcom series "Blansky's Beauties," a spin-off of Garry Marshall's "Happy Days."

Mekka's representatives could not be immediately reached by Insider for comment.