Henry Winkler

Henry Franklin Winkler, OBE (born October 30, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, director, producer, and author.

Winkler is best known for his role as Fonzie on the 1970s American sitcom Happy Days. "The Fonz", a leather-clad greaser and auto mechanic, started out as a minor character at the show's beginning, but had achieved top billing by the time the show ended.

Biography
Winkler was born on October 30, 1945 in New York City on the West Side of Manhattan. His parents were Ilse Anna Maria (née Hadra), and Harry Irving Winkler, a lumber company executive. Winkler's Jewish parents emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1939, before the beginning of World War II.

Winkler attended the McBurney School. He received his bachelor's degree from Emerson College in 1967. He earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama in 1970. In 1978 Emerson College and Austin College gave Winkler an honorary doctorate of humane letters.

Winkler started his career by appearing in a number of television commercials before landing a role in The Lords of Flatbush. He quickly got the role of Fonzie in Happy Days that same year. During his decade on Happy Days, Winkler also starred in a number of movies including playing a troubled Vietnam Vet in Heroes and a morgue attendant in Night Shift, which was directed by Happy Days co-star Ron Howard.

After Happy Days, Winkler's acting career slowed down as he began concentrating on producing and directing. He produced several television shows including MacGyver and Mr. Sunshine and directed several movies including the Billy Crystal movie Memories of Me and Cop and ½ with Burt Reynolds.

As the 1990s continued, Winkler began a return to acting including roles in Scream, The Waterboy, Down To You, Little Nicky, and Holes.

Winkler has been married to Stacey Weitzman since May 5, 1978. They have two children; Zoe Emily and Max Daniel. Winkler also has a stepson from Weitzman's last marriage to Howard Weitzman. He is the cousin of Richard Belzer who is best known for playing Detective John Munch on Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

In September 2011, Winkler was made an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "for services to children with special educational needs and dyslexia in the UK."

Animated Films

 * Asterix & the Big Fight (1989) - Asterix (US Dub)