"Henry Winkler"

Henry Winkler opens up about his life, revealing the deep impact dyslexia had on him and how he navigated this challenge through humor, persistence, and the support of his loved ones.

Winkler's early struggles with dyslexia and lack of confidence in his abilities as a child

Winkler discusses his ongoing battles with dyslexia, acknowledging that the condition remains with him to this day, necessitating constant negotiation of its challenges. He's open about his limitations, situations where he can't operate independently due to dyslexia, and where he leans on others for help, particularly his wife, who aids him with tasks like spelling—a skill he finds hereditary and particularly challenging.

Reflecting on his upbringing, Winkler underscores the critical role of parental support for children dealing with problems like dyslexia, pointing out the risk of a child losing self-esteem. His own dyslexia was intertwined with his emotions, leading to diminished self-worth despite his successes.

Winkler used humor to cope with his learning disability and overcome self-esteem issues

Humor became Winkler's shield and savior, a tool he used to deal with the difficulties of reading and spelling that his dyslexia presented. It was a strategy that helped him maintain his self-esteem and navigate social interactions.

Winkler's unexpected success in gaining admission to and graduating from Yale Drama School

Winkler managed to channel his inherent talent to secure a place at Yale Drama School. Despite academic hurdles, his intrinsic acting ability shone through, winning over the Yale admissions panel. His audition, fueled by raw talent, opened doors to higher education in dr ...

Henry Winkler reflects on his time as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on "Happy Days," a character that would become an international symbol and shape his career both on and off the screen.

Winkler's breakout role as The Fonz on the massively popular sitcom Happy Days

Henry Winkler recounts his early days on "Happy Days," sharing that initially, he had only six lines and worked just one day a week. Despite his troubled personal background and the internal emotional turmoil brought on by his dyslexia, he managed to powerfully embody the confident Fonz character during his audition. At a point when he was about to move back to New York due to a lack of money and opportunities, he received the call offering him the role on his birthday.

The Fonz character became an international icon, but Winkler initially struggled with the overwhelming fame and recognition

His fame as the Fonz led to anxiety and discomfort, resulting in Winkler becoming somewhat reclusive on workdays, staying home amidst boxes of fan mail instead of venturing out. Despite the isolation, he realized the "incredible gift" the role gave him, as it introduced him to the world and led to global recognition. Everywhere he went during the show’s run, he was recognized and welcomed into people's homes, demonstrating the character's vast influence.

The lasting impact of Winkler's role as The Fonz, including the coining of the term "jumping the shark"

Winkler shares anecdotes about being asked to incorporate various skills into his role on "Happy Days," such as performing a dance to the tune of "Hava Nagila," originally inspired by the Moseaev Folk Ballet he saw as a child.

While the specific phrase "jumping the shark" is not discussed in the provided transcript, the lasting impact of Winkler's Fonz is highlighted by an instance shared ...

After "Happy Days" concluded, Henry Winkler faced a challenging crossroads with scarce acting opportunities, prompting a pivoting career move into the realm of producing and directing, despite his initial uncertainties, which eventually led to significant success.

Winkler's shift to producing and directing after the end of Happy Days, driven by a lack of acting opportunities

Following the end of "Happy Days," Winkler found himself at a professional standstill, with few acting calls and an unclear vision of a future career path. Plagued by what he described as "psychic pain," he was confronted with the fear that his acting career might have come to an abrupt halt without a contingency plan in place.

Winkler's initial uncertainty about his abilities as a producer, but his willingness to learn and adapt

Winkler's leap into the world of production materialized after his lawyer, named Skip, suggested he should start his own production company. This nudge resulted in the formation of Fair Dinkum, and although Winkler originally viewed producing as a temporary role, it serendipitously burgeoned into a long-term profession. Despite his dyslexia presenting an additional challenge, Winkler was determined to adapt and learn, discovering in the process that there were aspects of being a producer he was well-suited for.

Winkler's success as a producer, including developing shows like MacGyver and So Weird

Winkler's foray into producing resulted in the successful launch of "MacGyver," a show that ABC picked up directly, bypassing the conventional pilot process. Furthermore, Winkler produced ...

Despite a storied and successful career in Hollywood, Henry Winkler remains a constant force in both the acting world and as a successful author addressing learning challenges like dyslexia.

Winkler's continued acting success, including his acclaimed role on Arrested Development

Taking on new challenges with grace and humor

Winkler reflects on his job as family lawyer Barry Zuckerkorn on "Arrested Development," a role that was initially meant for one or two episodes but extended to five or six years. Highlighting his versatility and humor, he reminisces about a memorable scene where his character humorously hops over a shark, which cleverly paid homage to Winkler's iconic role as The Fonz in "Happy Days" and the origin of the term "jumping the shark."

Winkler's success as an author, exploring personal challenges

Creating a positive impact through literature

Winkler’s venture into writing children’s books was unplanned. After a dry spell following a Broadway play, he was encouraged to write about his learning challenges. Initially apprehensive due to his dyslexia, his partnership with Lynn Oliver helped him see that there is no single correct way to accomplish a task. Winkler's memoir saw widespread success, securing a spot on the New York Times bestseller list for 11 weeks and reaching number one in Australia.

Building on his literary accomplishments, Winkler created the "Hank Zipser" series and the "Here's Hank" series, with 28 books and over seven million copies sold. For the latter, a special font was used to aid children with dyslexia, demonstrating Winkler’s dedication to fostering inclusivity. His books aim to empower young readers, especially those dealing with dyslexia, by showing there are divers ...