Mekka

Many among us will have had cause to ape his “Tequila” dance, to have made a joke about the Alamo basement, chanted “Mekka-lekka hi mekka hiney ho!” or remarked on their friends’ ”big but.”

“Rome & Jewels” was a breakthrough, but so was the never-revived “Facing Mekka,” from 2003.

US actor Eddie Mekka - best known for starring in the Laverne & Shirley TV sitcom in the 1970s-80s - has died aged 69, local media report.

He was found dead at his California home last Saturday, Mekka's brother Warren Mekjian is quoted as saying.

Mekka played Carmine Ragusa, Shirley's love interest, in the popular sitcom that run on ABC from 1976 to 1983.