Henry Winkler

Fri 1st Aug - 7:00PM

With a bash of his fist, the jukebox started. The Fonz ruled in Happy Days - a vision in tight jeans and leather jacket. But was there life after Al's?

Biography

Films

Henry Winkler
born: 30-10-1945
birth place: New York, USA

The son of a lumber company president, Winkler’s first acting role was as a tube of toothpaste in a hygiene play at Nursery School.

Winkler continued to appear in class productions and dreamed of becoming a professional actor. He studied drama at Emerson College in Boston, and earned a master's degree at the Yale School of Drama.

In 1973, after acting in a few films and many commercials, Winkler moved to California. He had guest roles on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' and 'The Bob Newhart Show', before his big break came, on his 28th birthday in 1973, when he was cast as Arthur Fonzarelli, in 'Happy Days'.

The producers never intended for the Fonz to be the star of the show. But suddenly “Fonzie” was a new American hero. Winkler, who always regarded himself as a character actor, achieved teen-idol status, complete with posters, and Fonzie dolls. He also enjoyed a substantial salary boost, from $750 dollars per episode to (eventually) $80,000.

As his character assumed heroic proportions, the actor began behaving in as polite and agreeable a manner as possible. Accordingly, Fonzie became less of a Marlon Brando-type hoodlum and more of a good-hearted and moral role model. By the end of the series he was more “drop-in” than “drop-out”.

Winkler was afraid of being typecast, and took on the most varied movie roles he could find, appearing as a Vietnam veteran in 'Heroes', and as a mortuary attendant in 'Night Shift'.

Winkler began working his way into the production and direction end of the business. In addition, he tried to use his name and status for the benefit of others, remaining active in charitable and political causes.

After a seven year break, Winkler returned to acting in the 1990s, in a variety of TV roles.

In addition to his acting roles, Winkler is a well-accomplished author. In 2003, along with Lin Oliver, he co-authored a series of children's books called "Hank Zipzer: The Mostly True Confessions of the World's Best Under-Acheiver". The books are based on his own early struggles with dyslexia.

Offscreen, Henry has been married since 1978 to Stacey Weitzman with whom he has three children. Together, they are actively involved with various children's charities. In 1990, they co-founded the Children's Action Network (CAN) which provides free immunization to over 200,000 children. He is also involved with the Annual Cerebral Palsy Telethon, the Epilepsy Foundation of America, the annual Toys for Tots campaign, the National Committee for Arts for the Handicapped, and the Special Olympics.