Thank you Celadon Books for the gifted copy of Being Henry: The Fonz and Beyond by Henry Winkler
I first became aware of Henry Winkler watching old reruns of Happy Days on Nick at Nite. Although the show was meant to center the Cunningham family it was clear that "The Fonz '' had main-character energy and stole the show with his effortless cool. Who else could make "Ayyyy" a catch phrase? Later I enjoyed watching him as the father of Jean Ralphio and Mona Lisa on Parks and Recreation - it was so fun to see him in a comedy show. What was he doing in the decades in between these shows? You’ll find out in this memoir!
His story starts in New York where his childhood was marked by unloving parents and an undiagnosed learning disability. After graduating from Yale’s drama school, he made the brave move to California with $1K in savings and no housing and no work lined up. This bold move paid off - it wasn’t long before he became a television star. Playing the iconic character of Fonzie was not without its challenges. Being recognized anytime he was out in public and fans not separating the fictional character from the human actor were hazards of show business. Also, the downside to playing a beloved character is the likely possibility of being typecast and not considered for new roles. The time between acting jobs opened the door to the opportunity to write the Hank Zipzer series and become an advocate and inspiration for children with dyslexia. I admire that Henry Winkler was persistent enough to maintain a Hollywood career by evolving and aging gracefully over the decades.
I first became aware of Henry Winkler watching old reruns of Happy Days on Nick at Nite. Although the show was meant to center the Cunningham family it was clear that "The Fonz '' had main-character energy and stole the show with his effortless cool. Who else could make "Ayyyy" a catch phrase? Later I enjoyed watching him as the father of Jean Ralphio and Mona Lisa on Parks and Recreation - it was so fun to see him in a comedy show. What was he doing in the decades in between these shows? You’ll find out in this memoir!
His story starts in New York where his childhood was marked by unloving parents and an undiagnosed learning disability. After graduating from Yale’s drama school, he made the brave move to California with $1K in savings and no housing and no work lined up. This bold move paid off - it wasn’t long before he became a television star. Playing the iconic character of Fonzie was not without its challenges. Being recognized anytime he was out in public and fans not separating the fictional character from the human actor were hazards of show business. Also, the downside to playing a beloved character is the likely possibility of being typecast and not considered for new roles. The time between acting jobs opened the door to the opportunity to write the Hank Zipzer series and become an advocate and inspiration for children with dyslexia. I admire that Henry Winkler was persistent enough to maintain a Hollywood career by evolving and aging gracefully over the decades.