I was anxious to read the Henry Winkler autobiography because I had an older cousin who, as a child, refused to wear glasses. It wasn't until Henry's character, Fonzi wore them on the show that he acquiesced to wearing them. Clearly, Henry Winkler's character on the show Happy Days was a force to be reckoned with and I was happy to read this book. I was taken aback at how he seemed to crave attention and apparently that was the case with his parents. They never seemed to give him the love he needed and that followed him into adulthood.
He started out in New York and when he decided to go to Hollywood, he'd landed the role of a lifetime within the week. Listening to Henry retell his tale felt like getting to know the real Henry. He shared how fortunate he was to land that role and how it felt to become a sensation. I loved the tale of the producers wanting to change the name of the show to Fonzi's Happy Days and he said no, don't do that. That shows the kind of person he was and continued to be.
Henry certainly worked hard to not be typecast into Fonzi's shadow. He couldn't catch a break once the series ended but it did propel him into arenas that he might not have considered. There is such a fine line when you want to get a series but then you get that perfect role and no one lets you forget it. I loved that Henry never "brought out" the Fonzi character when he was out in public. He always made sure people knew he was Henry, he wasn't Fonzi. It would have been easy to bring out "The Fonz" and grab all the glory he could but he didn't do that.
Henry was well into his 30's by the time he was diagnosed with dyslexia. Here he was, a big T.V. star, on a hit show and the poor guy couldn't read. Then what does he do? He becomes a writer. What a fantastic turnaround for him. It takes guts, perseverance and heart to do what he has done in his lifetime.
Not to say he's perfect. He has suffered from emotional immaturity that he has had to work through. Thank god his wife stuck by him and gave him a loving relationship. It has taken him a long time to arrive but I think Henry Winkler is going to make it.
Now when I look at the character of Gene Cousineau I see a strong actor, one worthy of such a great role at this time of his life.
Thank you, Henry Winkler. You are an icon whose impact on a generation of kids from the 1970's was so great and now, everyone else will see the greatness in you.
By the way, I definitely feel like I know you now, and I like you.
He started out in New York and when he decided to go to Hollywood, he'd landed the role of a lifetime within the week. Listening to Henry retell his tale felt like getting to know the real Henry. He shared how fortunate he was to land that role and how it felt to become a sensation. I loved the tale of the producers wanting to change the name of the show to Fonzi's Happy Days and he said no, don't do that. That shows the kind of person he was and continued to be.
Henry certainly worked hard to not be typecast into Fonzi's shadow. He couldn't catch a break once the series ended but it did propel him into arenas that he might not have considered. There is such a fine line when you want to get a series but then you get that perfect role and no one lets you forget it. I loved that Henry never "brought out" the Fonzi character when he was out in public. He always made sure people knew he was Henry, he wasn't Fonzi. It would have been easy to bring out "The Fonz" and grab all the glory he could but he didn't do that.
Henry was well into his 30's by the time he was diagnosed with dyslexia. Here he was, a big T.V. star, on a hit show and the poor guy couldn't read. Then what does he do? He becomes a writer. What a fantastic turnaround for him. It takes guts, perseverance and heart to do what he has done in his lifetime.
Not to say he's perfect. He has suffered from emotional immaturity that he has had to work through. Thank god his wife stuck by him and gave him a loving relationship. It has taken him a long time to arrive but I think Henry Winkler is going to make it.
Now when I look at the character of Gene Cousineau I see a strong actor, one worthy of such a great role at this time of his life.
Thank you, Henry Winkler. You are an icon whose impact on a generation of kids from the 1970's was so great and now, everyone else will see the greatness in you.
By the way, I definitely feel like I know you now, and I like you.