Henry Winkler

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Henry Winkler
Born	October 30, 1945 (age 61) New York City, United States
Other name(s)	The Fonz
Spouse(s)	Stacey Weitzman
Notable roles	Fonzie in Happy Days

Henry Franklin Winkler (born October 30, 1945 in New York, New York) is a Golden Globe Award-winning actor, director, producer and author who is most famous for his role as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on the popular sitcom Happy Days (1974–1984). Winkler gained national fame for his auto mechanic-greaser role as "The Fonz", starting out as a minor character at the show's beginning but having top billing by the time the show ended.

[edit] Personal life

The son of Jewish parents who escaped from Germany before the beginning of World War II, Winkler was born in New York City. He attended the McBurney School and received his bachelor's degree from Emerson College in 1967, his MFA from the Yale School of Drama in 1970, and his PhD in Hebrew Literature from Emerson College in 1978.

He has been married to the former Stacey Weitzman since May 5, 1978, and they have three children whose names are Jed, Zoe, and Max. In September 2003, Winkler's friend of nearly 25 years, John Ritter, died unexpectedly. The day that Ritter died, Winkler was slated to guest star on Ritter's ABC sitcom 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. Winkler was devastated and as a tribute to the impact his friend and fellow actor had on his life, he reminisced fondly on many TV outlets (such as Entertainment Tonight, and the Emmy Awards) to pay his respects to his deceased friend.

[edit] Career

Winkler started his career by appearing in a number of television commercials before landing a role in The Lords of Flatbush (1974) (which also starred then-unknown Sylvester Stallone, who co-wrote the script). He began 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 veteran in Heroes (1977) and a morgue attendant in Night Shift (1982), which was directed by Happy Days co-star Ron Howard. He was also one of the hosts of the 1979 Music for UNICEF Concert.

An interesting note about his character on Happy Days was that director/producer Garry Marshall originally had in mind a completely opposite physical presence. Marshall sought to cast an Italian model-type male in the role of Fonzie, with intent of his being a stupid foil to the intended real star, Ron Howard. However, when Winkler, a Jewish Yale MFA student interpreted the role in auditions, Marshall immediately snapped him up, smelling success. Winkler's character, though remaining very much a rough-hewn outsider, gradually became the focus of the show as time passed, a testament to Winkler's acting and Marshall's foresight. One of the auditioners whom Winkler beat out was Mickey Dolenz, who had co-starred in his own teen-oriented show, The Monkees, a few years earlier.

After Happy Days, Winkler's acting career slowed down as he began concentrating on producing and directing. In 1979 Winkler appeared in the made for TV movie An American Christmas Carol, which was a modern remake of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol . An American Christmas Carol was set in New Hampshire during the depression. Winkler played the role of Benedict Slade, the Ebenezer Scrooge equivalent of that film, and it has since become a Christmas classic.

He produced several television shows including MacGyver, So Weird and Mr. Sunshine, Sightings, and the game shows Wintuition and The Hollywood Squares (the latter from 2002–2004 only). He also directed several movies including the Billy Crystal movie Memories of Me (1988) and Cop and ½ (1993) with Burt Reynolds.

As the 1990s continued, Winkler began a return to acting. He is good friends with horror movie director Wes Craven and played an uncredited role as a high school principal in Craven's 1996 movie Scream (1996), and in 1998, Adam Sandler asked Winkler to play a college football coach, a supporting role in The Waterboy (1998). He would later appear in two other Sandler films, Little Nicky (2000), and Click (2006, as the main character's dad). He has also played small roles in movies such as Down To You (2000) and Holes (2003). During this time, he also starred in the short-lived Fox sitcom Monty.

Winkler recently had a recurring role as incompetent lawyer Barry Zuckerkorn in the Fox Television comedy, Arrested Development. In one episode, his character literally hopped over a dead shark lying on a pier, a reference to his role in the origin of the term jump the shark.

When Winkler moved to CBS for one season to star in 2005–06's "Out of Practice," his role as the Bluth family lawyer on Arrested Development was taken over by Happy Days co-star Scott Baio in the fall of 2005, shortly before the acclaimed but Nielsen-challenged show ceased production.

Winkler has guest starred on television series such as South Park, The Practice, The Simpsons, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Third Watch, Arrested Development, Crossing Jordan, Family Guy and King of the Hill. The Weezer video for 1994's "Buddy Holly" featured Henry Winkler as the Fonz, and featured Weezer performing in Arnold's restaurant, with digital effects adding the old cast members.

Winkler's most recent appearances were on KTTV's Good Day L.A.. One time when substituting for Steve Edwards, Winkler reunited with with fellow Happy Days cast member Marion Ross.

Winkler is appearing in his first pantomime at the New Wimbledon Theatre in 2006, playing Captain Hook in Peter Pan, replacing David Hasselhoff who pulled out when he was offered a TV role by Simon Cowell.

Since 2003, Winkler has collaborated with Lin Oliver on a series of children's books about a 4th grade boy, Hank Zipzer, who has dyslexia. Winkler also has the learning disability, and said this was a painful part of his childhood.

Recently, Winkler was featured in the band Say Anything's video for Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too.

Henry Winkler also has critically acclaimed guest appearances on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

[edit] External links

• Henry Winkler at the Internet Movie Database
• Henry Winkler at the Notable Names Database
• Hank Zipzer
• Peter Pan Pantomime with Henry Winkler as Hook