Henry Winkler

Early life

1939–1945: Family history

Winkler's parents, Ilse Anna Marie (née Hadra) and businessman Harry Irving Winkler,{{cite web|url=https://atom.emerson.edu/index.php/henry-winkler-collection |access-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026172309/https://atom.emerson.edu/index.php/henry-winkler-collection |url-status=live}} were German Jews living in Berlin during the rise of Nazi Germany. By 1939, rising hostilities against Jews led his father to conclude that it was time to leave Germany. He arranged to take his wife on a six-week business trip to the United States.

Winkler's uncle, Helmut Winkler, fled to the Netherlands in January 1940 and went into hiding in Amsterdam. He and his mother, Pauline Olga Winkler, who had emigrated to the Netherlands in January 1939, were deported to Auschwitz in September 1942 and murdered. The building where Helmut had lived in Berlin was destroyed in an air raid in November 1943. A commemorative Stolperstein is embedded in the sidewalk in front of the post-war building erected on the site.

1945–1963: Early life and education

Henry Franklin Winkler was born on October 30, 1945, on the West Side of New York City's Manhattan borough. The "H" in his first name is a reference to his Uncle Helmut, while his middle name refers to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/philboas/2019/02/26/henry-winkler-fonzie-parents-escaped-holocaust-nazi-germany/2986614002/ |access-date=January 25, 2022 |archive-date=April 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413205145/https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/philboas/2019/02/26/henry-winkler-fonzie-parents-escaped-holocaust-nazi-germany/2986614002/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 2, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003042204/https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/henry-winkler?clip=61553#interview-clips |url-status=live}} He has an older sister named Beatrice.

Although his family did not keep kosher, Winkler was raised in the traditions of Conservative Judaism. During his childhood, Winkler and his family spent their summers at Lake Mahopac, New York, and as a teenager he was a water skiing instructor at Blue Mountain camps.

While growing up, Winkler had a difficult relationship with his father, who wanted him to continue the family business. When his father grew frustrated with Winkler's focus on acting, he would ask his son why he had brought the business over from Germany to the United States. Winkler would respond: "Besides being chased by the Nazis, Dad, was there a bigger reason than that?"{{cite web |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926160829/https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-jewish-chronicle/20061201/282295315708934 |url-status=live

Difficulties in school

Winkler first attended P.S. 87 on West 78th Street, Manhattan,{{cite news |access-date=October 2, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003044457/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/henry-winkler-enjoying-run-cool-coincidences-60938898 |url-status=live |access-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-date=September 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908154452/http://dyslexia.yale.edu/story/henry-winkler/ |url-status=live

Although Winkler graduated from the McBurney School in 1963,{{cite web |access-date=August 29, 2021 |archive-date=August 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830145512/https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/02/the-miseducation-of-the-fonz/385103/ |url-status=live

1963–1967: Emerson College

Winkler applied to 28 colleges but was admitted to only two of them. He enrolled in Emerson College in Boston in 1963, where he majored in theater and minored in child psychology, as he considered becoming a child psychologist if he did not succeed as an actor.{{cite web |access-date=September 19, 2021 |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921141051/https://abc7ny.com/happy-days-henry-winkler-the-fonz-70/1059286/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-date=October 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004000248/https://today.emerson.edu/2011/09/28/fraternity-offers-networking-reception-for-students/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003054530/https://issuu.com/yalerep/docs/yrt_story_repertory_theatre?fr=sNGM0NzE5MzE2OTA |url-status=live |access-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003233754/http://archive.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/gallery/emerson_comics?pg=4 |url-status=live |access-date=August 29, 2021 |archive-date=August 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829211022/https://www.channelguidemag.com/tv-news/2008/12/19/henry-winkler-stars-in-the-most-wonderful-time-of-the-year/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 2, 2021 |archive-date=July 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728121035/https://today.emerson.edu/2021/05/10/a-list-of-every-person-to-receive-an-honorary-degree-from-emerson-college/ |url-status=live

1967–1970: Yale School of Drama

During his senior year at Emerson, Winkler decided to audition for the Yale School of Drama. Although his then-undiagnosed dyslexia led to his forgetting the Shakespearean monologue he was supposed to perform, forcing him to improvise, Winkler was still admitted to the M.F.A. program in 1967.{{cite news |access-date=October 2, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003054537/https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/henry-winkler?clip=61557#interview-clips |url-status=live

He appeared in They Told Me That You Came This Way; Any Day Now, Any Day Now; and The Bacchae (as a member of the chorus). During the summers, he and his Yale classmates stayed in New Haven and opened a summer stock theater called the New Haven Free Theater. They performed various plays including Woyzeck, where he portrayed the title role, and Just Add Water for improv night. He also performed in the political piece, The American Pig at the Joseph Papp Public Theater for the New York Shakespeare Festival in New York City, with classmates James Keach, James Naughton, and Jill Eikenberry. In addition, he also appeared in a number of Yale Repertory Theatre productions while still a student, including, The Government Inspector, The Rhesus Umbrella, Don Juan, Endgame, and The Physicists. He also appeared in Sweeney Agonistes and Hughie. Winkler would later credit his time at Yale as critical to his future success.{{cite web |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926180936/http://archives.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/2012_07/where.html |url-status=live

Out of his original cohort of 25 actors at Yale, Winkler was one of 11 who graduated when he received his MFA in 1970. Over two decades later, in May 1996,{{cite web |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926180037/https://buffalonews.com/news/winkler-gives-advice-to-yale-grads/article_fca8252b-8c2b-5507-87dd-f4f56960dee0.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 31, 2021 |archive-date=September 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901061153/https://commencement.yale.edu/yale-college-class-day-speakers-since-1979 |url-status=live

Career

1970–1973: Early career

Yale Repertory Theatre company

After receiving his MFA in 1970, Winkler was one of three students from his graduating class of 11 who were invited to become a part of the Yale Repertory Theatre company. He joined on June 30, 1970, was paid $173 a week,{{cite web |access-date=November 1, 2021 |archive-date=November 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101162533/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/henry-winkler-fonzie-happy-days-jacket-auction-1235039969/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 2, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003054528/https://yalerep.org/seasons/1970-71-yale-repertory-theatre/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003054538/https://yalerep.org/productions/georg-buchners-woyzeck-and-samuel-becketts-play/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003054539/https://issuu.com/yalerep/docs/yrt_two?fr=sNmQ4ZDE5MzE2OTA |url-status=live |access-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003224821/https://studylib.net/doc/7853010/yale-repertory-theatre---yale-university-library |url-status=live

New York and California

In the fall of 1971, Winkler was invited to be a part of the play Moonchildren which would open at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Three weeks into rehearsals, director Alan Schneider fired him as Winkler had been hired to fill the space until the actor that Schneider really wanted was available. At the time, Winkler was certain that because he had been fired, he would never be hired as an actor again.

Winkler moved back to New York, and began to audition for plays, movies, and commercials. He was able to earn a living through performing in commercials,{{cite news |access-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-date=October 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004025458/https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/henry-winkler?clip=61560#interview-clips |url-status=live

Winkler's first appearance on Broadway was as "John" in 42 Seconds from Broadway, a play that opened and closed on March 11, 1973. He swore to himself that one day he would "make that right". By 1973, he had roles in two independent films, The Lords of Flatbush{{cite web |access-date=June 7, 2022 |archive-date=June 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607224356/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57qyc22NjY0&feature=youtu.be |url-status=live

By 1973, his agent told him that it was time to leave New York and explore possibilities in California. Although Winkler was initially resistant, thinking he was not a good fit for Hollywood, his agent was persistent. Winkler ultimately decided that he had earned enough money through his work in commercials to try Hollywood for one month. He and his Lords of Flatbush co-star, Perry King, thus traveled to Los Angeles on September 18, 1973. After meeting with his agency's west coast branch, and spending five days going to auditions, Winkler was hired for a small part on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, appearing in Season 4, Episode 10, "The Dinner Party".{{cite web |access-date=October 2, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003032146/https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2019/10/02/henry-winkler-book-alien-superstar |url-status=live |access-date=September 18, 2021 |archive-date=September 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919032531/https://www.avclub.com/henry-winkler-made-his-first-big-splash-as-mary-tyler-m-1846407073 |url-status=live

1973–1984: ''Happy Days'' and stardom

|access-date=October 2, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003032436/https://palmbeach.floridaweekly.com/articles/heyy/ |url-status=live

"The Fonz" was initially written as a minor role and developed as the foil for the central protagonist of the series, Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard). Winkler made his own interpretation of the character during the first episode, choosing not to comb his hair, chew gum, or keep a box of cigarettes rolled in his sleeve like actors typically did with this type of character. Although he tried to explain this philosophy to the producers, he was told he had to follow the script and comb his hair. He thus stood at the mirror, motioned in a way that suggested "Hey I don't have to because it's perfect," and in doing so, created the seminal moment which defined the character. ABC executives did not want to see Fonzie wearing leather, thinking it would imply that the character was a criminal. Thus, during the first season, Winkler wore two different windbreaker jackets, one of which was green. Director Garry Marshall argued with the executives about the jacket, and eventually they made a compromise: Fonzie could wear the leather jacket, but only in scenes with his motorcycle. Marshall thus made certain that his motorcycle was written into every scene. In reality, Winkler did not know how to ride a motorcycle. As he almost crashed it the first time he tried, he subsequently never rode the motorcycle during the series.

By the middle of the second season in December 1974, "The Fonz" began his transition as a breakout character when he was featured as the central protagonist in the episode, "Guess Who's Coming to Christmas". By the third season, he became the lead of the series, as the storylines shifted away from the original protagonist, Richie Cunningham, to "The Fonz". Winkler recalled in a 2018 interview that he directly addressed the issue with Ron Howard, who portrayed Cunningham. According to Winkler, Howard told him that although he "was signed on as the star, you did nothing except be as good as you could be. It's good for the show, we're friends." In 2021, Howard reiterated these points by stating that Winkler had been "sort of a big brother" to him.

In a 2018 interview with Winkler, journalist Michael Schneider suggests that it was at this point that the character "became the biggest icon on television" at that time. Winkler responded by stating that he "went from somebody who had no sense of self" to a situation that was "scary". He has also admitted that while he shares some characteristics with "The Fonz" such as loyalty to friends and an undercurrent of anger that he drew from his struggles with school as a child, they were fundamentally different from one another.

During his decade on Happy Days, Winkler also appeared in a variety of roles in film and on television. In film, he appeared in Heroes (1977) with Harrison Ford and Sally Field and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama. He later appeared in Carl Reiner's The One and Only (1978) and in Ron Howard's 1982 directorial debut, Night Shift with Shelley Long before she appeared in Cheers and a then-unknown Michael Keaton. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his work in Night Shift.

In television, he served as executive producer and host for the 50-minute television version of the documentary, Who Are the DeBolts? And Where Did They Get Nineteen Kids? (1978), which was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Series or Special.{{cite web |access-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-date=September 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929043132/https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=john&p=436&item=T80:0398 |url-status=live |access-date=October 15, 2021 |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906145228/http://www.lib.usm.edu/legacy/degrum/public_html/html/research/findaids/savitz.htm |url-status=live

In addition, Winkler starred in An American Christmas Carol (1979),{{cite web |access-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-date=September 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929043131/https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/an-american-christmas-carol/umc.cmc.7ecuo61yu36wrlv2l7twvinbx |url-status=live |access-date=November 21, 2021 |archive-date=November 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122013044/https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=david+frost&f=people&c=all&advanced=1&p=5&item=T79:0111 |url-status=live

Winkler was the co-host with Cheryl Ladd of the 1979 Emmy Awards.

Post- ''Happy Days''

After Happy Days ended in 1984, Winkler was typecast, and could not get acting roles until 1991. He later stated that his "agent would put me out there and people would say, 'You know, he's great, he's a wonderful guy, really good actor. Funny, So funny. But he was the Fonz.'" Winkler, who desired to be a working actor, felt "rudderless" during this period; desiring to continue a presence in the industry, he started the production company Fair Dinkum Productions in the late 1970s. The name fair dinkum was taken from Australian English slang, meaning something is "honest" or "authentic". In 1987, he inked a new feature film and development pact with the studio.

In 1984, Winkler directed, and was executive producer for, the CBS Schoolbreak Special: "All the Kids Do It" starring Scott Baio,{{cite web |access-date=September 22, 2021 |archive-date=September 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929153618/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8adaee55 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907171712/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-30-ca-5285-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 27, 2021 |archive-date=October 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028151637/https://imagine-entertainment.com/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=5.6.5 |url-status=live

Winkler was an executive producer for Rob Reiner's second film as a director, The Sure Thing (1985).{{cite news |access-date=September 24, 2021 |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927055127/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-03-01-ca-23849-story.html |url-status=live |author-link= |access-date=October 17, 2021 |archive-date=January 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104144737/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/01/arts/in-the-old-west-a-gun-with-a-past.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 17, 2021 |archive-date=October 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018172750/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2651107/cowboy-hall-ceremony-honors-achievers-in-western-art-forms |url-status=live |access-date=October 15, 2021 |archive-date=October 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016101231/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/460339/a-family-again/#credits |url-status=dead |access-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-date=September 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929043131/https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/so-weird/cast/1000244198/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 1, 2021 |archive-date=September 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901165233/https://variety.com/2002/tv/news/winkler-will-take-center-square-behind-scenes-1117866043/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-date=September 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901170401/https://ew.com/article/2002/03/18/here-are-daytime-emmy-nominations/ |url-status=live

1991–2003: Acting roles

Winkler returned to acting in the early 1990s. He starred in the 1991 television film, Absolute Strangers, and in the short-lived 1994 television series Monty with David Schwimmer (before his debut on Friends).{{cite web |access-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-date=September 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928062535/https://ew.com/article/2016/08/19/william-shatner-henry-winkler-star-trek-v-monty-better-late-than-never/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008190456/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7dfa6399 |url-status=dead

In 1996, he appeared in his friend Wes Craven's 1996 film Scream as foul-mouthed high school principal Arthur Himbry. His role was uncredited, however, as the producers were concerned that he would only be seen as The Fonz, and thus distract from the film. After the screening, he received positive feedback for his role and was subsequently asked to participate in the publicity campaign for Scream.

In 2000, Winkler was nominated for a Primetime Emmy, Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, for his portrayal of Dr. Henry Olson in three episodes of The Practice. He also portrayed Stanley Yelnats III in Holes (2003).{{cite web |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927055129/https://www.tvguide.com/movies/holes/cast/2030138356/ |url-status=live

Work with Adam Sandler

Winkler began to collaborate with Adam Sandler in the 1990s, after Sandler included Fonzie in the Saturday Night Live skit, The Chanukah Song (1994).{{cite web |access-date=September 24, 2021 |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927102131/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX5Z-HpHH9g |url-status=live |access-date=September 24, 2021 |archive-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213063538/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/10/movies/film-review-you-think-hell-is-wild-welcome-to-new-york.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927055100/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/you-dont-mess-zohan-125457/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-date=November 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116042056/https://www.vulture.com/2017/04/sandler-wexler-might-be-adam-sandlers-masterpiece.html |url-status=live

Work with John Ritter

Winkler worked on a few projects with his longtime friend, actor John Ritter, whom he first met in 1978 at ABC's 25th anniversary party, when Winkler was still on Happy Days, and Ritter was Jack Tripper on the television series Three's Company.{{cite magazine |access-date=September 1, 2021 |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921133407/https://ew.com/article/2003/12/26/farewell-henry-winkler-pays-tribute-john-ritter/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 22, 2021 |archive-date=September 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929154756/https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=china+beach&p=4&item=B:13488 |url-status=live |access-date=September 1, 2021 |archive-date=May 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531025554/https://variety.com/1993/tv/reviews/abc-sunday-night-movie-the-only-way-out-1200434758/ |url-status=live

Later in 1999, Neil Simon gave Winkler the chance to be involved with his first theatrical production since 1973, when he asked him to do a read-through of The Dinner Party. Given the problems he had with cold-readings, Winkler initially panicked. However, he asked for the script in advance in order to memorize it, and managed to get through the reading. Simon eventually contacted Winkler again, and asked him to be in the theatrical version he was staging, to which Winkler agreed. He was also excited to be working with Ritter again. Although their initial debut was not well-received, they were invited to perform the play in Washington, D.C. with a few casting changes, and it received positive reviews. The play then moved to Broadway, and again received positive reviews.{{cite magazine |access-date=September 1, 2021 |archive-date=September 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917232052/https://variety.com/2000/legit/reviews/the-dinner-party-2-1200464686/ |url-status=live

In September 2003, he was slated for a guest appearance on Ritter's show, 8 Simple Rules. However, during the filming of the episode, Ritter became ill and had to be taken to the hospital, dying hours later. The episode was never completed, and Winkler's role was dropped.{{cite news |access-date=September 13, 2021 |archive-date=September 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913234918/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2021/08/26/john-ritter-death-kaley-cuoco-henry-winkler-reflect/5598553001/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 16, 2021 |archive-date=September 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916152909/https://ew.com/article/2003/09/15/what-will-become-john-ritter-less-8-simple-rules/ |url-status=live

2003–2019: ''Arrested Development''

In 2003, Mitch Hurwitz wanted Winkler to portray the incompetent lawyer Barry Zuckerkorn on one episode of Arrested Development.{{cite web |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927013527/https://www.thedailybeast.com/henry-winkler-is-finally-more-than-the-fonzand-could-win-his-first-emmy-for-barry |url-status=live |access-date=October 17, 2021 |archive-date=February 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213080156/http://www.goldderby.com/2004-goldderby-tv-awards/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907174707/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/12/sag-award-nominees-2014 |url-status=live

Arrested Development is known for its inside jokes.{{cite magazine |access-date=October 27, 2021 |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116070227/https://www.vulture.com/2013/05/398-arrested-development-quotes-jokes-easter-eggs.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 30, 2021 |archive-date=September 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930141545/https://www.thewrap.com/henry-winkler-barry-fonzie-shark-jump-very-proud/ |url-status=live

2003–2019: Hank Zipzer

Winkler's career as an author began with the Hank Zipzer series of children's books about the adventures of a dyslexic child, which he co-wrote with Lin Oliver. During the early 2000s, when Winkler experienced "a lull in [his] acting career", his manager Alan Berger suggested that he write children's books about the difficulties he experienced as a child before he knew that he was dyslexic. Winkler was resistant to the idea until Berger suggested that Winkler co-write the books with an experienced author.

Berger introduced Winkler to Oliver, and the two met for lunch and created the character of Hank Zipzer. Winkler chose the name Hank from the nickname for Henry, and Zipzer from the name of a neighbor in the apartment building that he grew up in. Winkler and Oliver's writing process, which involved developing ideas during in-person discussions, drew upon their mutual background in television. According to Winkler, the system drew upon his strengths as an actor, allowing him to work through ideas out loud.

The original series spanned 17 books, published from 2003 to 2010. Following that, Winkler and Oliver wrote a prequel series, Here's Hank (2014 to 2019), which explores Hank's life as a second-grader before he was diagnosed as dyslexic.{{cite web |access-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-date=October 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016101226/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp1SiTyFrsY |url-status=live |access-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-date=October 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016101218/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg-Ei5WNvjA |url-status=live

Winkler and Oliver also created the television adaptation Hank Zipzer, which ran for three seasons, from 2014 to 2016. The series appeared on the children's BBC Channel, as they could not find an American buyer for it. After the series was successful on the BBC, it was broadcast on the Universal Kids Channel in the United States. Winkler played the music teacher Mr. Rock, who was based on a teacher at McBurney who encouraged Winkler. They also produced the 2016 stand-alone television film Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe.

2004–present: Acting roles

Theater

Winkler returned to the stage in 2006 as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the New Wimbledon Theatre, London. He reprised the role in Woking for Christmas 2007. For the 2008/2009 season, he played Captain Hook at the Milton Keynes Theatre, and once again for the 2009/2010 panto season at the Liverpool Empire. A few years later in 2012, Winkler made his third Broadway appearance as "Chuck Wood" in The Performers (November 14–18).

Television and film

Winkler has continued his work as a character actor in television and film. In television, he was nominated in 2004 for a Daytime Emmy, Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program,{{cite web |access-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-date=March 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317025301/http://www.emmyonline.org/emmy/32nd_daytimewinners_a.html |url-status=live

His film roles include Uncle Ralph in the Christmas film The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2008),{{cite web |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927055128/https://www.tvguide.com/movies/most-wonderful-time-of-the-year/cast/2000282614/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927055058/https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/here-comes-the-boom/umc.cmc.4dxof6tihiowh8icmubdups7o |url-status=live |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927055123/https://ew.com/article/2016/02/10/donald-trumps-art-of-the-deal-movie/ |url-status=live

2016–2018: ''Better Late Than Never''

Winkler was both an executive producer for and star of the American reality-travel show, Better Late Than Never. He starred along with William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw, George Foreman, and Jeff Dye, in this adaptation of the South Korean reality series, Grandpas Over Flowers.

Winkler was the focus of the Season 2 episode "Berlin: How Do You Say Roots in German?" as the group explored the city from which his parents escaped in 1939.{{cite web |access-date=October 13, 2021 |archive-date=August 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831030627/https://www.nbc.com/better-late-than-never/video/how-do-you-say-roots-in-german/3644494 |url-status=live

2018–2023: ''Barry''

When Bill Hader developed the HBO comedy Barry with Alec Berg, he asked HBO if they could "get" Winkler for the part of acting teacher Gene Cousineau. According to Hader, he was "out of [his] mind" when HBO told him that Winkler was coming to audition for the role. In addition, Winkler's son Max, who is a director, helped him to prepare for this audition.

Work for the first season of Barry began in 2016.{{cite web |access-date=July 4, 2023 |archive-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705000955/https://deadline.com/2023/06/henry-winkler-barry-series-finale-writers-strike-interview-1235414575/ |url-status=live

Winkler received his first Primetime Emmy Award in 2018 for his portrayal of Gene Cousineau. He also won two Critics' Choice Television Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2019 and 2023. In addition, he received three Primetime Emmy nominations, three Golden Globe nominations, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations for the role.{{cite web |access-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702112705/https://www.sagawards.org/nominees/nominees-and-recipients/25th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards |url-status=live |access-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-date=August 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815165910/https://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/26th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards |url-status=live

2025: ''Hazardous History''

In 2025, Winkler hosted the series Hazardous History with Henry Winkler on the History Channel. In December 2025, Winkler was a guest narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World.

Filmography and accolades

Main article: List of Henry Winkler performances, List of awards and nominations received by Henry Winkler

Winkler states that during his lifetime, he has worked with "five directing geniuses": Garry Marshall (Happy Days), Adam Sandler, Mitch Hurwitz (Arrested Development), Bill Hader and Alec Berg (Barry).{{cite web |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927023310/https://oldgoats.substack.com/p/ruminating-with-henry-winkler |url-status=live

After portraying Fonzie on Happy Days, Winkler evolved into a character actor, with roles that include the high school principal Arthur Himbry in Scream, Coach Klein in The Waterboy, Barry Zuckerkorn in Arrested Development, Sy Mittleman in Childrens Hospital, Dr. Saperstein in Parks and Recreation, Mr. Rock in the Hank Zipzer BBC series, Eddie R. Lawson in Royal Pains, Fritz in Monsters at Work, Uncle Joe in The French Dispatch, Al Pratt in Black Adam, and Gene Cousineau in Barry. He is also the recipient of a Primetime Emmy,{{cite web |access-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-date=September 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906191538/https://www.emmys.com/bios/henry-winkler |url-status=live |access-date=September 6, 2021 |archive-date=September 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930134251/https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/henry-winkler |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2023 |archive-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116025853/https://variety.com/2023/awards/news/critics-choice-awards-2023-winners-list-1235488828/ |url-status=live

Philanthropy

In March 2020, Winkler contributed via Zoom to social justice issues during COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. On May 7, 2020, the Office of the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, posted a video of Winkler on Facebook and Twitter reminding Californians to practice social distancing and to follow stay-at-home orders.

During this time, Winkler also offered aid "to SAG-AFTRA artists and their families" through the virtual table read of Season 3, Episode 2 ("The Motorcycle", 1975) of Happy Days. Winkler reprised the role of "Fonzie", while SAG members Glenn Close, John Carroll Lynch, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Jamie Chung, Luke Newton, and Nicola Coughlan read the roles of Marion Cunningham, Howard Cunningham, Richie Cunningham, Ralph Malph, Joanie Cunningham, Potsie, and a waitress at Al's diner.

Personal life

Winkler met Stacey, formerly Weitzman (née Furstman), in a Beverly Hills clothing store in 1976, and they married in 1978 in the synagogue where he had his bar mitzvah. They have three children, including Max.

His cousin, the late actor and comedian Richard Belzer, starred as John Munch in the TV series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–2013).

In 2018, almost 80 years after his parents had left Germany, Winkler visited Berlin for the television show Better Late Than Never and shared their story on the Season 2 episode "Berlin: How Do You Say Roots in German?"

Winkler continues to remain close with members of the Happy Days cast, telling the Hollywood Reporter in November 2021 that "I loved the people. They are still my friends."

Dyslexia

During his time on Happy Days, Winkler realized that he was dyslexic after his stepson was diagnosed with a learning disability. Previously, Winkler had known that aspects of reading and memorizing were difficult for him but not why. He had developed coping mechanisms that allowed him to mask the difficulties he had with cold-reading scripts. He later recalled that prior to learning about dyslexia, he frequently embarrassed himself in front of his fellow cast members as he would "stumble at least once or twice a paragraph".

Additional books and legacy

Winkler's 2011 memoir I've Never Met an Idiot on the River explores his interest in fly fishing. The next year, he and his writing partner Lin Oliver created the Ghost Buddy book series (2012–2013), about the friendship between the protagonist Billy and a "ghost buddy".{{cite web |access-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-date=November 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151128114724/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i18T61WaVMc |url-status=live

A few years later they wrote the science fiction trilogy Alien Superstar (2019–2021). The adventures of Alien Superstars protagonist are loosely based on Winkler's own experiences after arriving in Los Angeles.{{cite web |access-date=October 16, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003032146/https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2019/10/02/henry-winkler-book-alien-superstar |url-status=live

Winkler released a new memoir, Being Henry: The Fonz...and Beyond in October 2023.{{cite web |access-date=October 31, 2023 |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031161655/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2023/10/31/henry-winkler-book-memoir/71330658007/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 31, 2023 |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031163534/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781419755132 |url-status=live

The Fonz and ''Hank Zipzer''

TV Guide ranked "The Fonz" as No. 4 on its "50 Greatest TV Characters of All Time" list in 1999, and a 2001 poll conducted by Channel 4 in the UK ranked him as 13th on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters.

|access-date=September 24, 2021 |archive-date=September 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905050521/https://www.npr.org/2011/11/26/142723714/actor-henry-winkler-plays-not-my-job |url-status=live When asked which books influenced him in childhood, American journalist Anderson Cooper, who is dyslexic, responded that, "I also loved the Fonz and read a book when I was around 8 called The Fonz: The Henry Winkler Story. I actually keep it in my office at CNN. Henry Winkler was very important to me when I was a child."{{cite web |access-date=September 17, 2021 |archive-date=September 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918004358/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/16/books/review/anderson-cooper-by-the-book-interview.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 31, 2021 |archive-date=September 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901060340/https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_sic_8645 |url-status=live |access-date=September 10, 2021 |archive-date=August 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831155746/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/happy-days-fonz-jumped-the-shark-180964399/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 31, 2021 |archive-date=October 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016101233/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1980/02/14/exhibit-a-a-a-a-y-the-fonz/d23c4b03-4277-48e7-968c-f24f3931cb4c/ |url-status=live Winkler won two Golden Globe Awards, and earned three Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for the role. In 1981, he received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (for Television), largely due to his portrayal of Fonzie.{{cite web |access-date=August 29, 2021 |archive-date=September 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901061840/https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/actor-henry-winker-attends-hollywood-walk-of-fame-star-news-photo/139736745 |url-status=live

Winkler would eventually be recognized for contributing to a greater understanding of dyslexia through the Hank Zipzer series. He was given the Key to the City of Winnipeg for "contributions to education and literacy" in 2010,{{cite web |access-date=September 6, 2021 |archive-date=September 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906070747/https://www.laparent.com/special-needs-Henry-Winkler-dyslexia |url-status=live |access-date=September 6, 2021 |archive-date=September 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906073704/https://lapressclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2019-HENRY-WINKLER.pdf |url-status=live

Bibliography

Standalone

Series (with Lin Oliver)

• Hank Zipzer: The World's Greatest Underachiever (18 volumes, 2003–2010, 2015).
• Ghost Buddy (4 volumes, 2012–2013).
• Here's Hank (12 volumes, 2014–2019).
• Alien Superstar (3 volumes, 2019–2021).
• Detective Duck (2023–present).{{cite web |access-date=August 30, 2021 |archive-date=July 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728195307/https://www.fantasticfiction.com/w/henry-winkler/ |url-status=live

References

References

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