Henry Winkler, famed for his role as Arthur ‘Fonzie’ Fonzarelli on Happy Days, recently shared insights on a profession he considered before acting. In an interview on the You Could Make This Beautiful podcast, Winkler, 80, revealed he might have chosen child psychology due to his struggles with dyslexia. He explained he was drawn to the idea of working with children, given his interest and ability to listen to them.
Winkler’s portrayal of Fonzie from 1974 to 1984 brought him significant acclaim, including three Emmy Award nominations. However, his path wasn’t without challenges. He has often discussed how dyslexia impacted his career, sharing how he learned to manage it for his profession. During table reads for Happy Days, Winkler faced the difficulty of reading scripts. He adapted by reading one word at a time and memorizing scripts to compensate for his reading challenges.
Winkler did not receive a dyslexia diagnosis until age 31. The diagnosis came when his stepson was identified with the same condition. Despite initial feelings of humiliation and anger, he reframed how dyslexia shaped his life, seeing it as a challenge that forged his determination. He credited his tenacity to working through the difficulties dyslexia presented.
Following his Happy Days fame, Winkler continued to build his acting career. He appeared in films like The Waterboy and TV series such as Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and New Girl. His starring role in HBO Max’s Barry, playing acting coach Gene Cousineau, earned him an Emmy Award in 2018. Winkler emphasized the importance of honesty and preparation in the acting profession, likening his career to a growing tree, rooted and strengthened over time.
Lori A. Bashian contributed as an entertainment news writer for Fox News Digital.