If you are like me, then you promptly think of Fonzie when hearing the name Henry Winkler. But being “The Fonz” was both a good and bad thing for Henry. Oh, it brought him fame…that’s the good part. But what happens to an actor when his name is so closely tied to a very specific role?
I admit to not closely following his career. I really didn’t even stay glued to the television when “Happy Days” was aired. But, yes, I was very familiar with Henry Winkler. Well, I was familiar with his name and famous character. Reading “Being Henry” changed all that. There is so much more to him than his work playing one well-known role.
In “Being Henry” we meet him as a whole person and learn about his growing-up years. We follow him into his post-school years as the young man who was told that if he wanted to be known to the world, he should leave New York and go to Hollywood. We learn about him finding success early and how the toll of being tied to such a popular character impacted his ability to find new roles after “Happy Days” ended. Henry had obstacles to overcome and he honestly looks at those challenges and what he did to overcome them.
This is not a look at how wonderful I am book. This is a beautifully written from the heart story of a man who just happens to be a household name to those who grew to love him in “Happy Days’ and beyond. He shows sincere appreciation to those who have helped him along the way and admits to his own shortcomings.
Thank you to Celadon Books for providing me with an advance readers copy of this memoir. No promise was requested or made of a positive review and any opinion stated here is my own.
I admit to not closely following his career. I really didn’t even stay glued to the television when “Happy Days” was aired. But, yes, I was very familiar with Henry Winkler. Well, I was familiar with his name and famous character. Reading “Being Henry” changed all that. There is so much more to him than his work playing one well-known role.
In “Being Henry” we meet him as a whole person and learn about his growing-up years. We follow him into his post-school years as the young man who was told that if he wanted to be known to the world, he should leave New York and go to Hollywood. We learn about him finding success early and how the toll of being tied to such a popular character impacted his ability to find new roles after “Happy Days” ended. Henry had obstacles to overcome and he honestly looks at those challenges and what he did to overcome them.
This is not a look at how wonderful I am book. This is a beautifully written from the heart story of a man who just happens to be a household name to those who grew to love him in “Happy Days’ and beyond. He shows sincere appreciation to those who have helped him along the way and admits to his own shortcomings.
Thank you to Celadon Books for providing me with an advance readers copy of this memoir. No promise was requested or made of a positive review and any opinion stated here is my own.