Henry Winkler’s New Memoir Highlights Entertaining Stories from Life
Henry Winkler, best known for his role as The Fonz in “Happy Days” and HBO’s “Barry,” has released a new biography called “Being Henry: The Fonz… and Beyond.” This memoir is a treasure trove of entertaining stories, from his encounter with a Beatle to his famous jump the shark moment.
Winkler graciously welcomed USA TODAY into his Los Angeles home to share his stories. However, he made it clear that he dislikes being called “the nicest guy in Hollywood.” According to Winkler, he is not nice, but rather grateful and joyful to be on this planet.
“Being Henry: The Fonz…And Beyond” is infused with Winkler’s infectious joy and wonder. It chronicles his Hollywood journey, which began with the life-changing role of The Fonz on “Happy Days.” Even at 78 years old, Winkler still appreciates the wild ride that led him to win an Emmy for his role on “Barry.”
Fonzie fans witness a miracle in Dallas
One memorable moment described in “Being Henry” is when Winkler, in character as The Fonz, managed to part a rabid crowd of fans in Dallas. Despite his attempts to avoid being typecast, Winkler fully embraced his Fonz persona to safely navigate through the sea of admirers and make his way to the waiting car with his co-stars.
Starstruck encounters and missed calls
Winkler’s memoir is filled with delightful encounters with other stars. He recounts visiting the set of “The Godfather Part II” and complimenting a young Robert De Niro on his impressive dialogue skills. Decades later, De Niro fondly remembered Winkler’s kind words. However, not all star encounters went smoothly. Winkler hilariously shares his failed attempts to hang out with Paul McCartney, who he believes may have thought of him as a stalker.
Grease, Travolta, and baloney rumors
Contrary to popular belief, Winkler reveals that he turned down the role of Danny Zuko in “Grease” to avoid being typecast as The Fonz. John Travolta ultimately took on the iconic role and achieved great success. Despite rumors of tension between the two actors, Winkler sets the record straight and describes Travolta as a wonderful human being who reached out to express his admiration for Winkler’s work on “Barry.”
Burt Reynolds and professional assertiveness
Winkler also candidly shares his experience working with Burt Reynolds on the film “Cop and a Half.” Reynolds, known for flexing his influence, attempted to assert his power over Winkler during a preproduction party. However, Winkler fearlessly stood his ground and challenged Reynolds, proving that he can assert himself in his professional life even if he struggles to do so in his personal life.
The unforgettable Emmy moment
Perhaps one of the most heartwarming moments in the memoir is Winkler’s Emmy win for best supporting actor in “Barry.” After years of nominations, Winkler finally took home the award and joyously hugged his co-star and creator Bill Hader on stage. In his excitement, Winkler even mistook presenters Matt Smith and Claire Foy for characters from “The Crown,” a show he had recently watched. Despite the time constraint, Winkler managed to deliver a heartfelt acceptance speech.
“Being Henry: The Fonz…And Beyond” is a must-read for fans of Henry Winkler and anyone interested in the exhilarating world of Hollywood. It showcases his unique and captivating storytelling style, leaving readers both perplexed and hungry for more.
