Henry Winkler

Henry Franklin Winkler, OBE (born October 30, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, director, producer, and author. Winkler played the role of greaser Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli, the breakout character of the 1970s American sitcom Happy Days. He also starred as Sy Mittleman on Adult Swim's Childrens Hospital, and as Eddie R. Lawson on USA Networks's Royal Pains. Winkler also had guest-starring roles on Arrested Development as Barry Zuckerkorn and Dr. Saperstein on Parks and Recreation. In 2018, he began appearing as Gene Cousineau on the HBO tragicomedy Barry.

For his role on Happy Days, he won two Golden Globe Awards and earned three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Winkler won his first Primetime Emmy Award in the category Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Barry. He also was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role on The Practice and has won two Daytime Emmy Awards. Winkler also earned a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama for playing Jack Dunne in Heroes (1977), and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his role as Chuck Lumley in the film Night Shift (1982). Winkler also appeared in films like The Lords of Flatbush (1974), The One and Only (1978), Scream (1996), The Waterboy (1998), Holes (2003), Click (2006), and Here Comes the Boom (2012). He directed the films Memories of Me (1988) and Cop and a Half (1993).

Early Life
Henry Franklin Winkler was born on October 30, 1945 in New York City, on the West Side of Manhattan, the son of homemaker Ilse Anna Marie (née Hadra) and lumber import-export company president Harry Irving Winkler. His parents were German Jews who emigrated from Berlin to the U.S. in 1939 on the eve of World War II. Winkler said that his parents came to the U.S. for a six-week business trip, but knew they were never going back. His father smuggled the only assets the family had left (family jewels disguised as a box of chocolates that he carried under his arm). Although they did not keep kosher, Winkler was raised in the traditions of Conservative Judaism. He has said that he is not religious as an adult. The family attended Congregation Habonim, where his mother ran the Judaica shop. His parents were founding members of the temple. Winkler has a sister named Beatrice.

Winkler has said that he was very anxious as a child because of his undiagnosed dyslexia, and that he was considered to be "slow, stupid, not living up to my potential". He also said that his relationship with his parents was strained, due at least partially to their attitude towards his undiagnosed dyslexia. As his father spoke 11 languages and could do math in his head, he did not understand Winkler's problems at school, and why Winkler would celebrate a C grade. His father often said to him in German "Du bist ein dummer Hund", which means "you are a dumb dog" and often punished him for his difficulties in school. Winkler attended P.S. 87 on West 78th Street, and then graduated in 1963 from McBurney School, which was located in Manhattan's Upper West Side neighborhood.

Winkler said he did not graduate with his class because of his learning disability and problems with a geometry class, which he finally passed after attending summer school. In 1967, Winkler received his BA from Emerson College. At Emerson, he was a member of the Alpha Pi Theta Fraternity. In 1970, Winkler earned an MFA from the Yale School of Drama. In 1972, Winkler returned to New York City, auditioned for, and was cast in, 42 Seconds from Broadway. In 1978, Emerson awarded Winkler an honorary DHL. He has also received an honorary DHL from Austin College. During his high school and college years, he studied in Lausanne, Switzerland, and worked in a lumber mill in a small German town.

Career
Winkler said he had wanted to be an actor from the time he was a young child.

Winkler's first job on television was as an extra on a game show in New York. He received $10 for the role.

After working in theater and getting fired from a play in Washington, Winkler returned to New York City and supported himself by appearing in television commercials, one year doing more than 30. He was able to support himself with the commercial work so he could do theater for free at Manhattan Theater Club.

He also appeared in 1973 in season four of The Mary Tyler Moore Show in the episode "The Dinner Party" as Rhoda's date, Steve Waldman, and in episodes of The Bob Newhart Show and Rhoda.

Winkler married his wife Stacey (formerly Weitzman; née Furstman) on May 5, 1978. With her, he has two children, Zoe Emily (b. 1980), a pre-school teacher, and Max Daniel (b. August 18, 1983), a director. Winkler also has a stepson, Jed Weitzman, from Stacey's previous marriage with Howard Weitzman.

Winkler is a cousin of actor Richard Belzer. He was the 9th King of the Bacchus Parade at the Mardi Gras in New Orleans in 1977; the theme was "Happily Ever After".

Winkler said he was named after his Uncle Helmut, who did not make it out of Germany during World War II. His middle name, Franklin, was in honor of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

He is an avid fly fisherman and often fishes in Montana. On the rewards of this hobby, Winkler said:

The repetition of it, the sound of the water, I find it to be totally draining. Anything that bothers you is completely washed from your body. I see fly-fishing as a washing machine for your brain. My technique is still ugly as sin. But somehow I get the fish.

He has also said, "I have never eaten a trout in a restaurant let alone take it out of the river."

Animated Films

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