Henry Winkler

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This article is about the American actor. For the American academic, see Henry R. Winkler. For other people named Henry Winkler, see Henry Winkler (disambiguation).

Henry Winkler

OBE
Henry Winkler (43968252532).jpg
Winkler at the Raleigh Supercon in 2018
Born
Henry Franklin Winkler

(1945-10-30) October 30, 1945 (age 75)
West Side, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
EducationEmerson College (Bachelor of Arts)
Yale University (Master of Fine Arts)
Occupation
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • director
  • producer
  • author
Years active1972–present
Known forFonzie (Happy Days)
Hank Zipzer
Gene Cousineau (Barry)
Spouse(s)
Stacey Weitzman
​
(m. 1978)​
Children3, including Max Winkler
RelativesRichard Belzer (cousin)

Henry Franklin Winkler OBE (born October 30, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, director, producer, and children's book author.[1] He initially rose to fame for his role as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli, a greaser who became the breakout character of the sitcom Happy Days (1974–1984),[2] for which he won two Golden Globe Awards and earned three Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Winkler later portrayed Barry Zuckerkorn on the comedy series Arrested Development (2003–2019), Sy Mittleman on the dark comedy series Childrens Hospital (2008–2016),[3] Dr. Saperstein on the comedy series Parks and Recreation (2009–2015),[4] and Eddie R. Lawson on the comedy-drama series Royal Pains (2009–2016). His most recent role is as Gene Cousineau on the dark comedy series Barry (2018–present), for which he won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Winkler was nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role on The Practice, and has won two Daytime Emmy Awards. He earned a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – 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 has appeared in films such as 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 also directed the films Memories of Me (1988) and Cop and a Half (1993).

Winkler grew up unaware that he was dyslexic (he was not diagnosed until the age of 31). Thus in 2003, he began to collaborate with children's book author Lin Oliver, on a series of books about a dyslexic child, Hank Zipzer (Winkler also appeared as Mr. Rock in the BBC adaptation of the series). They also collaborated on the prequel for the series (Here's Hank), as well as the Ghost Buddy series. He and Oliver are currently writing the Alien Superstar series.

Early life[]

Parents[]

Winkler's parents were Ilse Anna Marie (née Hadra) (1913-1999)[5] and lumber import-exporter Harry Irving Winkler (1903-1995).[6][7] They were German Jews who were born and grew up in Berlin.[6][5] By 1939, after the rise of Nazi Germany, his father knew that as he and his family were Jews, they were no longer safe and had to leave. He thus arranged to take his wife on a business trip to the United States, and smuggled out the family jewels by encasing them in chocolate (and carrying them in a chocolate box). Winkler's Uncle Helmut was supposed to join them, but at the last minute decided to leave at a later date (and was eventually taken away by the Nazis).[8] With the money from the pawned jewelry, his father managed to extend their visa. He ultimately applied for permanent residence in the United States, settling in New York and developing the same business he had in Germany.[8][9]

Family[]

Henry Franklin Winkler was born a few years later on October 30, 1945, in the West Side of New York City's Manhattan borough.[10][8][11] He has a sister named Beatrice,[9] and is a cousin of fellow actor Richard Belzer.[12] Although they did not keep kosher, Winkler was raised in the traditions of Conservative Judaism.[13][14] The family attended Congregation Habonim, where his mother ran the Judaica shop.[8]

Education[]

Winkler was an anxious child because he struggled with school, and was considered to be "slow, stupid, [and] not living up to [his] potential". As a result, his relationship with his parents was strained.[15] His father spoke 11 languages, and could quickly do mathematics in his head. He thus did not understand Winkler's problems at school, and why Winkler would celebrate earning a C grade. His father referred to him as “dummer hund” (dumb dog) in German, and punished him for his difficulties in school.[8]

Winkler attended P.S. 87 on West 78th Street, Manhattan, and then graduated from the McBurney School on Manhattan's Upper West Side in 1963.[16][1] (although he did not graduate with his class because he had to re-take Geometry once again, but finally passed it in summer school).[1] He next attended Emerson College, where he majored in theater and minored in child psychology, graduating in 1967.[10][17] In 1970, he earned an MFA from the Yale School of Drama.[18][10]

In 1978, Emerson awarded Winkler an honorary DHL. He also received an honorary DHL from Austin College.[19][20]

Early work[]

Yale School of Drama[]

Winkler's then-undiagnosed dyslexia created complications when auditioning for plays, as he either forgot his lines or had difficulty reading directly from the script. He thus forgot the Shakespeare monologue he was supposed to perform for his Yale School of Drama audition. However, he drew upon a compensation technique (improvising lines based upon his understanding of the character), and invented a monologue during the audition. Regardless, he was admitted into the MFA program at the Yale School of Drama in 1967.[8]

During the summers, he and his Yale classmates opened a summer stock theater called New Haven Free Theater, and put on various plays (including Woyzeck, and an improv night). The company also performed The American Pig at the Joseph Papp Public Theater for the New York Shakespeare Festival in New York City.[8]

Yale Repertory Theater[]

Out of his original cohort of 25 actors at Yale School of Drama, 11 graduated with Winkler in 1970.[8] In addition, after graduating, Winkler was one of three students who were asked to be part of the Yale Repertory Theatre company, which included James Naughton and Jill Eikenberry.[8] During his time there, Cliff Robertson, who had seen him perform in East Hampton, offered him a part in his film The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid. Winkler had to decline because he had no understudy for his current role, and thus was unable to leave. He stayed with the Yale Repertory Theatre for a year and a half.[8]

From 1968 to 1972, Winkler appeared in over a dozen Yale Repertory Theater productions, including Shakespeare's Coriolanus (May 1968) and Macbeth (February 1971), Gogol's The Government Inspector (February 1970), the world premiere of Gimpel the Fool (an Isaac Bashevis Singer adaptation, October 1970) and Two by Brecht and Weill: The Little Mahagonny and The Seven Sins (May–June 1971 and January 1972).[21]

1971–1973[]

In 1971, Winkler got a job at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. to work on the play, Moonchildren, but was fired by director Alan Schneider.[8] In 1972, he returned to New York, where he auditioned for and was cast in 42 Seconds from Broadway.[22][7]

Television and film[]

Early work[]

While living in New York in the early 1970s, his first job on television was as an extra on a game show in New York. He received $10 for the role.[8] He also began to appear in television commercials, which allowed him to continue to perform with the Manhattan Theater Club for free,[8] and was part of the independent film, The Lords of Flatbush (1974), filmed in New York, with then unknown Sylvester Stallone.[8]

With the money he had earned from commercials and Lords of Flatbush, he was able to travel to California in 1973, to explore possibilities in Hollywood. He landed a small role in the popular sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show (in Season 4, Episode 10, "The Dinner Party" as Rhoda's date, Steve Waldman).[8]

Happy Days[]

Richie (Ron Howard) takes a turn on Fonzie's motorcycle
Richie and Fonzie view his destroyed motorcycle in his living room, 1976. Fonzie's apartment was over the Cunninghams' garage.

During the period when he was cast in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Winkler was offered the role of Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli, better known as "Fonzie" or "The Fonz", in Happy Days, which first aired in January 1974.[23] He would receive three Primetime Emmy nominations, and two Golden Globe awards for this role.

Potsie, Richie, Fonzie, and Ralph Malph at Arnold's

Happy Days director/producer Garry Marshall originally had a completely different idea in mind for the role of "The Fonz." Marshall wanted to cast a hunky, blond, Italian model-type male in the role, and imagined the character to be a stupid foil to the real star, Ron Howard. Micky Dolenz (of The Monkees) also auditioned for the role.[24]

Winkler's audition made Marshall change his mind. However, Winkler has long stated that he is nothing like the character, as "The Fonz was everybody I wasn't. He was everybody I wanted to be."[25] By the third season, "The Fonz" became the focus of the show.[26]

Initially, ABC executives did not want to see Fonzie wearing leather, thinking it would imply that the character was a criminal. Thus, the first 13 episodes show Winkler wearing two different kinds of windbreaker jackets, one of which was green. As Winkler said in a TV Land interview: "It's hard to look cool in a green windbreaker". Marshall argued with the executives about the jacket. In the end, a compromise was made: Winkler could only wear the leather jacket in scenes with his motorcycle. And, from that point on, the Fonz was never without his motorcycle, until season 2. Happy Days ended its run in 1984.

Additional 1970s and early 1980s work[]

During his decade on Happy Days, Winkler portrayed Jack (a Vietnam War vet with PTSD) with then unknown Harrison Ford and Sally Field, in Heroes (1977). He also appeared as Andy in The One and Only (1978), Benedict Slade in An American Christmas Carol (TV movie, 1979), and Chuck in Night Shift, a 1982 American comedy film directed by Ron Howard.

In 1977, Winkler appeared in a TV special, "Henry Winkler Meets William Shakespeare," part of the CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People instructional series for children. With the assistance of Tom Aldredge as Shakespeare, Winkler, as himself, introduced an audience of children to Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, and Henry IV and explained to them how Shakespeare's plays were produced at the Globe Theatre in London in the 17th century. He also played Romeo in the scene from Romeo and Juliet in which Romeo slays Tybalt in a sword duel.[27][28]

In addition, he was the narrator and executive producer of Who Are the DeBolts? And Where Did They Get Nineteen Kids?, a documentary film about Dorothy and Bob DeBolt, an American couple who adopted 14 children, some of whom are severely disabled war orphans (in addition to raising Dorothy's five biological children and Bob's biological daughter). The film won an Academy Award for Best Feature-length Documentary in 1978,[29] as well as the Directors Guild of America Award and the Humanitas Award for producer and director John Korty in 1979. A 50-minute version of the film shown on ABC in December 1978, earned a 1979 Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement - Informational Program and an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Informational Program for Winkler, Korty, and producers Warren Lockhart and Dan McCann.

Winkler was also one of the hosts of the 1979 Music for UNICEF Concert.[30]

1980s–2000s: post-Happy Days[]

After Happy Days ended, Winkler was typecast as "The Fonz," and had difficulty getting acting jobs. He thus moved into producing and directing. Within months of the program's cancellation, he and John Rich had collaborated to establish Winkler-Rich Productions; whenever Rich or Ann Daniels was uninvolved, his company was called Fair Dinkum Productions. He chose the name in a nod to Australia, where "fair dinkum" is a common Australian term suggesting a person or thing is "direct," "honest," "fair," or "authentic". He produced several television shows, including MacGyver, So Weird, and Mr. Sunshine, with Rich; Sightings, in which Daniels was involved; the 1985 made-for-television film Scandal Sheet, for which he was executive producer; and the game shows Wintuition and Hollywood Squares (the latter from 2002 to 2004, occasionally serving as a sub-announcer).

During this time, Winkler also directed the films Memories of Me (1988) and Cop and a Half (1993) with Burt Reynolds.

Winkler in 1990

As the 1990s began, Winkler returned to acting. In 1991, he starred in the controversial made-for-television film Absolute Strangers, as a husband forced to make a decision regarding his comatose wife and his unborn baby. From January to February 1994, he briefly appeared in the short-lived series Monty with David Schwimmer (before his debut on Friends). Winkler also co-starred with Katharine Hepburn (in her final role) in the 1994 holiday TV movie One Christmas.[31] In 1996, Winkler appeared in Scream (as foul-mouthed high school principal Arthur Himbry). His role was uncredited, however, as the producers were concerned that he would only be seen as The Fonz, and thus distract from the film.[8]

2000s to present[]

In 1998, Adam Sandler asked Winkler to appear in The Waterboy, which sparked a fast friendship, and ongoing professional relationship, between them. Winkler would go on to appear in at least three other Sandler films: Little Nicky (2000, where he plays himself, covered in bees), Click (2006, as the protagonist's father), and You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008, again playing himself).

A close friend of actor John Ritter, the two led a Broadway ensemble cast in Neil Simon's The Dinner Party in 2000. Winkler was reunited as a guest star on Ritter's sitcom 8 Simple Rules (for Dating my Teenage Daughter) in 2003 by Ritter's request. On September 11, Ritter became ill during filming, and unexpectedly died. A stunned, grief-stricken Winkler was interviewed by Mary Hart of Entertainment Tonight and various other entertainment news sources.

Winkler the 2008 Fan Expo Canada

In 2002, Winkler partnered with Michael Levitt (producer) when the pair were approached by King World Productions to revamp and update The Hollywood Squares for its fifth season of the 1998 reboot.[32]

Winkler had a recurring role as incompetent lawyer Barry Zuckerkorn in the 2003 Fox Television comedy Arrested Development. In one episode, his character hopped over a dead shark lying on a pier,[33] a reference to his role in the origin of the phrase, from a two-part episode of Happy Days, "jumping the shark". After that episode, Winkler, in interviews, stated that he was the only person to have "jumped the shark" twice. 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. In August 2012, Winkler announced on Twitter that he would be returning to the fourth season of Arrested Development.[34]

Winkler had roles in other notable series including Eddie R. Lawson on the comedy-drama series Royal Pains (2009–2016), Sy Mittleman on the dark comedy series Childrens Hospital (2008–2016), and Dr. Saperstein in Parks and Recreation.

In 2008, he appeared in two Christmas movies, in the Hallmark Channel movie The Most Wonderful Time of the Year as a retired cop who plays matchmaker between his niece and a drifter he befriends, and in Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh as the judge who orders Drake and Josh to give a young girl "the best Christmas ever" or be sent to jail.

Better Late Than Never[]

"Stolperstein" (stumbling stone),
Helmut Theodor Winkler,
Nikolsburger Platz 1,
Berlin-Wilmersdorf, Germany

Winkler was executive producer of the NBC series Better Late Than Never, which aired from 2016 to 2018. The travel-reality show starred, in the opening's words, "four living legends: TV Superstar Henry Winkler, Cultural Icon William Shatner, NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw, Former Heavyweight Champion George Foreman— and Jeff Dye as the sidekick."

In the fourth episode of the second season, "Berlin: How do you say Roots in German?" focused on Winkler's exploration of the city from which his parents escaped in 1939. The search culminated at the site of a brass memorial plaque, known as a stolperstein, embedded in the pavement in front of the workplace and home of Helmut Winkler, his uncle, who died in Auschwitz. Winkler's father also worked in the building and lived next door.[35][36]

"So, the story was that my father was able to get a six-week work visa to come to New York City, but Uncle Helmut[37] was having a white dinner jacket made and it was going to be ready the next day. So, instead of going with my dad and my mom and leaving Berlin, he stayed an extra day, and that night was taken by the Nazis."
     — Henry Winkler, Better Late Than Never season 2, episode 4[38]

The stolperstein states that Helmut Winkler fled to Holland in 1940 but was interned at Westerbork and deported from there to Auschwitz in 1942. He died there December 31, 1942.

The discovery was a complete surprise to Winkler. Jeff Dye had enlisted Winkler's three children in a loving conspiracy, and they knew every step in his journey around Berlin. A letter from them was waiting for him, tucked into the building's number plate. In the deeply moving letter, they drew together the threads of all the experiences created for the episode. "Even though the Winkler history in Berlin is heartbreaking, we thought it was important for you to connect with the past through this hopefully fun adventure, and connect you did...."[39]

Barry[]

Since 2018, Winkler has appeared in the role of acting coach Gene Cousineau in the Bill Hader-helmed HBO comedy Barry.[40] He received two Golden Globe nominations, and two awards for the role: the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2018), and the 2018 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.[41]

Additional appearances[]

In October 2008, Winkler appeared in a video on funnyordie.com with Ron Howard, reprising their roles as Fonzie and Richie Cunningham, encouraging people to vote for Barack Obama. The video, titled "Ron Howard's Call to Action", also featured Andy Griffith.[3][42]

Winkler appeared in his first pantomime at the New Wimbledon Theatre, London in 2006, playing Captain Hook in Peter Pan, replacing David Hasselhoff who pulled out when he was offered a TV role by Simon Cowell. He reprised the role in Woking for Christmas 2007. For the 2008/2009 season, he played Captain Hook at the Milton Keynes Theatre and donned the hook once again for the 2009/2010 panto season at the Liverpool Empire.[43]

Author[]

Hank Zipzer[]

Main article: Hank Zipzer
Main article: Hank Zipzer (TV series)

In 1998, Winkler's agent at CAA, Alan Berger, suggested that Winkler write a children's book series about his personal struggles with dyslexia. However, Winkler didn't think that he would be able to write because of his struggles with the learning disability. Berger was persistent, and a few years later, in 2003, he again suggested Winkler write. Winkler said yes. Berger suggested he co-write with author Lin Oliver.[9][4]

Oliver and Winkler first collaborated on the Hank Zipzer series, publishing the first issue in 2003. Hank is in the 4th grade, and is based on Winkler and his experiences growing up as an undiagnosed dyslexic child.[44][45][46] After they completed the main books in 2010, Winkler and Oliver created a prequel series, Here's Hank that explores Hank's life as a second grader (2012 to 2016).

Winkler also starred in the BBC adaptation of his Hank Zipzer book series as the teacher Mr. Rock. Mr. Rock was based on a music teacher Winkler once had in high school at McBurney. Winkler said that the real Mr. Rock believed in him and was the only teacher there who he felt did. The show aired from 2014 through 2016 on the CBBC Channel in the United Kingdom.[47] Oliver and Winkler co-authored the TV-tie in books to the series.[48]

Additional titles[]

Oliver and Winkler have also collaborated on the Ghost Buddy books (2012–2013), and are currently working on the Alien Superstar series (2019–present).[48] In 2011, Winkler published I've Never Met an Idiot on the River.[48]

Personal life[]

Winkler encouraging people to "stay the course" to flatten the curve during the COVID-19 pandemic from his home in California.

Winkler married his wife Stacey (formerly Weitzman; née Furstman)[49] on May 5, 1978. With her, he has two children, Zoe Emily (b. 1980), a pre-school teacher,[50][51] and Max Daniel (b. August 18, 1983), a director. Winkler also has a stepson, Jed Weitzman, from Stacey's previous marriage with Howard Weitzman.

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. [...] I have never eaten a trout in a restaurant, let alone take it out of the river."[4]

Filmography[]

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1972 Another World Intern Unknown episodes
1973 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Steve Waldman Episode: "Dinner Party"
1974 Nightmare Auditioning Actor TV movie; uncredited
1974 The Bob Newhart Show Miles Lascoe Episode: "Clink Shrink"
1974 Rhoda Howard Gordon Episode: "You Can Go Home Again"
1974 Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers Himself Episode: "Getting to First Bass"
1974–1984 Happy Days Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli Main role; 255 episodes
1975 Katherine Bob Kline TV movie; also known as The Radical
1976–1979 Laverne & Shirley Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli 4 episodes
1978 Mork & Mindy Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli Episode: "Pilot"
1979 An American Christmas Carol Benedict Slade TV movie
1980 Sesame Street Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli Episode #12.8
1980–1982 The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli (voice) 24 episodes
1982 Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli (voice) 8 episodes
1982 Joanie Loves Chachi Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli Episode: "Fonzie's Visit"
1984 Donald Duck's 50th Birthday Himself TV special
1985 A Girl Named Alida Carl Conway (voice) TV movie
1989 Alida's Problem? Carl Conway (voice) TV movie
1990 MacGyver Wilton Newberry Episode: "Harry's Will"; uncredited
1991 Absolute Strangers Marty Klein TV movie
1992 Happy Days: The Reunion Himself (host) TV special
1993 The Only Way Out Tony TV movie
1994 Monty Monty Richardson 13 episodes
1994 One Christmas Dad TV movie
1995 The Larry Sanders Show Himself Episode: "Hank's Sex Tape"
1995 A Child Is Missing Steven Moore TV movie
1997 Dad's Week Off Jack Potter TV movie
1997 Detention: The Siege at Johnson High Skip Fine TV movie
1997–1998 Dead Man's Gun Various 2 episodes
1998 South Park The Scary Monster (voice) Episode: "City on the Edge of Forever"
1999 So Weird Fergus McGarrity Episode: "Boo"
1999 The Simpsons Ramrod (voice) Episode: "Take My Wife, Sleaze"
1999–2000 The Practice Dr. Henry Olson 3 episodes
2000 Battery Park Walter Dunleavy Episode: "Walter's Rib"
2001 Big Apple Mel Smith Episode #1.7
2001 The Drew Carey Show Mr. Newsome Episode: "It's Halloween, Dummy"
2002 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Edwin Todd / Edward Crandall Episode: "Greed"
2002 Ozzy & Drix Sal Monella (voice) Episode: "The Globfather"
2003 Smart and Sober Himself - Host TV movie
2003 Clifford the Big Red Dog Artie (voice) Episode: "Led Astray/Wedding Bell Blues"
2003 Blue's Clues Bookmark (voice) Episode: "Blue's Predictions"
2003–2005 Clifford's Puppy Days Norville (voice) 18 episodes
2003–2019 Arrested Development Barry Zuckerkorn 32 episodes
2004 Beverly Hills S.U.V. Barry Silverman TV movie
2004 Third Watch Lester Martin 3 episodes
2004 King of the Hill Himself (voice) Episode: "A Rover Runs Through It"
2005 Crossing Jordan Dr. Jack Slocum 2 episodes
2005 Duck Dodgers Dr. Maniac (voice) 2 episodes
2005 Happy Days: 30th Anniversary Reunion Himself TV special
2005–2006 Out of Practice Dr. Stewart Barnes 21 episodes
2007 Odd Job Jack Devon (voice) Episode: "Jack Ryder's Unofficial High School Reunion"
2008–2009 NUMB3RS Roger Bloom 3 episodes
2008 Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh Judge Newman TV movie
2008 The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Uncle Ralph TV movie
2009 Sit Down, Shut Up Willard Deutschebog (voice) 13 episodes
2010–2016 Childrens Hospital Sy Mittleman 54 episodes
2010–2013 LEGO Hero Factory Professor Nathaniel Zib (voice) 8 episodes
2010–2016 Royal Pains Eddie R. Lawson 25 episodes
2011 Dan Vs. Hal (voice) Episode: "Traffic"
2011 Batman: The Brave and the Bold Ambush Bug (voice) Episode: "Mitefall!"
2012 Handy Manny Mr. Diller (voice) Episode: "St. Patrick's Day"
2012 Up All Night Marty Alexander Episode: "Daddy Daughter Time"
2012–2015 Robot Chicken Nerd's Dad, Jason Bourne, Christmas Tree (voice) 2 episodes
2013 Newsreaders Fred Nunley Episode: "Pubic Hair Crisis"
2013 1600 Penn Senator Nathan Faxler Episode: "The Short Happy Life of Reba Cadbury"
2013 Mad Jor-El (voice) Episode: "Mad's 100th Episode Special"
2013–2015 Parks and Recreation Dr. Saperstein 9 episodes
2014 Hollywood Game Night Himself Episode: "How I Met Your Buzzer"
2014–2017 All Hail King Julien Uncle King Julien (voice) 10 episodes
2014–2017 Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero The Snowman (voice) 2 episodes
2014–2016 Hank Zipzer Mr. Rock 25 episodes
2015 Comedy Bang! Bang! Leonard Rascal Episode: "Kid Cudi Wears a Denim Shirt and Red Sneakers"
2015 BoJack Horseman Himself (voice) Episode: "Still Broken"
2015 Drunk History Zenas Fisk Wilber Episode: "Inventors"
2015 Bob's Burgers Mall Santa (voice) Episode: "Nice-Capades"
2015 Uncle Grandpa Nacho Cheese (voice) Episode: "Nacho Cheese"
2016–2018 Better Late Than Never Himself 12 episodes
2016 New Girl Flip Episode: "What About Fred"
2016 SpongeBob SquarePants Sharkface (voice) Episode: "Sharks vs. Pods/CopyBob DittoPants"
2016 Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe Mr. Rock[52] TV movie
2017 All Hail King Julien: Exiled Uncle King Julien (voice) 6 episodes
2017–2020 Puppy Dog Pals Santa Claus (voice) 5 episodes
2018–present Barry Gene Cousineau Main cast
2019 Welcome to the Wayne Bob Wasserman (voice) Episode: "Welcome to the Wassermans"
2019 Guardians of the Galaxy Grandpa Quill (voice) Episode: "Just One Victory"
2019 American Dad! Child Protection Services Agent (voice) Episode: "Mom Sauce"
2019–2021 Vampirina Uncle Dieter (voice) 2 episodes
2020 Medical Police Sy Mittleman 2 episodes
2020 Archibald's Next Big Thing Herman Sherman (voice) Episode: "House of the Future/Dr. Buttersocks"
2020 Bubble Guppies Snow Yeti (voice) Episode: "Snow Squad To The Rescue!"
2021 DuckTales Bailiff (voice) Episode: "The Life and Crimes of Scrooge McDuck!"
2021 Monsters at Work Fritz (voice) Main cast
2021 Central Park Hank Zevansky (voice) Episode: "The Shadow"
As director


As executive producer

Theatrical release[]

Year Title Role Notes
1974 Crazy Joe Mannie
1974 The Lords of Flatbush Butchey Weinstein
1977 Heroes Jack Dunne
1978 The One and Only Andy Schmidt
1982 Night Shift Chuck Lumley
1985 Molly and the Skywalkerz: Happily Ever After Carl Conway (voice) Video
1985 The Sure Thing Executive Producer
1988 Memories of Me Director
1989 Asterix and the Big Fight Asterix (voice) English version
1989 Molly and the Skywalkerz: Two Daddies? Carl Conway (voice) Video
1993 Cop and a Half Director
1996 Scream Principal Arthur Himbry Uncredited
1998 Ground Control John Quinn
1998 The Waterboy Coach Klein
1999 P.U.N.K.S. Edward Crow
1999 Dill Scallion Larry Steinberg
2000 Down to You Chef Ray
2000 Little Nicky Himself
2001 I Shaved My Legs for This Bartender
2003 Holes Stanley Yelnats III
2004 Fronterz Unknown
2005 Berkeley Sy
2005 The Kid & I Johnny Bernstein
2006 Unbeatable Harold Fullerton
2006 Click Ted Newman
2007 I Could Never Be Your Woman Himself Uncredited
2007 A Plumm Summer Happy Herb
2008 You Don't Mess with the Zohan Limousine Passenger Uncredited
2008 The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Uncle Ralph
2010 Group Sex Burton Video
2011 Running Mates Bob Weatherbee
2011 Adventures of Serial Buddies Narrator
2011 Beatles Stories Himself Documentary
2012 Here Comes the Boom Marty Streb
2015 Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant Stanley Warner
2016 Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie Ed Koch
2017 Sandy Wexler Testimonial
2017 All I Want for Christmas Is You Grandpa Bill (voice) Video
2020 Scoob! Keith (voice)
2020 Pink Skies Ahead Dr. Cotton
2021 On the Count of Three Dr. Brenner
2021 The French Dispatch Uncle Joe
2021 Extinct Jepson
TBA Shoot the Rooster Post-production

Works[]

Books[]

  • Winkler, Henry. The Other Side of Henry Winkler: My Story. New York: Warner Books, 1976. ISBN 978-0-446-87340-6 OCLC 3120426
  • Winkler, Henry. I've Never Met an Idiot on the River: Reflections on Family, Photography and Fly-Fishing. San Rafael, Calif: Insight Editions, 2011. ISBN 978-1-608-87020-2 OCLC 670481642

Children's books[]

  • Winkler, Henry (with Lin Oliver). Hank Zipzer: The World's Greatest Underachiever (1-17).[48]
  • Winkler, Henry (with Lin Oliver). Here's Hank (1-12).[48]
  • Winkler, Henry (with Lin Oliver). Ghost Buddy (1-4).[48]
  • Winkler, Henry (with Lin Oliver). Alien Superstar (1-3).[48]

Accolades[]

Acting honors[]

  • 1977: 9th King of the Krewe of Bacchus Parade at the Mardi Gras in New Orleans.[53]
  • February 13, 1980: Winkler donates one of the "Fonzie" leather jackets from Happy Days to the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.[54][55]
  • 1980: Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement[56]
  • May 24, 1981: Winkler is given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame[57][10]
  • 1996: Class Day speaker at Yale University, an honor accorded to distinguished Yale alumni.[18]
  • August 19, 2008: Unveiling of the Bronze Fonz, a life-sized, bronze statue of Fonzie along the Milwaukee Riverwalk.[58]

Education and literacy honors[]

  • March 29, 2010: Key to the City of Winnipeg for his contributions to education and literacy[59]
  • 2011: Order of the British Empire - Winkler was appointed an Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "for services to children with special educational needs and dyslexia in the UK".[60][61]
  • 2013: National Literacy Trust- Winkler was named by the National Literacy Trust as one of the United Kingdom's top 10 Literacy Heroes.[62]

Awards and nominations[]

Critic's Choice Television Award

Emmy Awards (Daytime)

Emmy Awards (Primetime)

Golden Globe Awards

Screen Actors Guild Awards

Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards

References[]

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External links[]

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