- Henry Winkler has opened up on a podcast
- He shared some interesting anecdotes...
- ...as well as THIS 'Happy Day's insight
In a jaw-dropping revelation, Henry Winkler, the legendary actor best known for his role as the iconic Fonz on "Happy Days," spills the beans on some of the most unbelievable moments of his career, both on and off the set. From surprise FBI visits to internal show tensions, Winkler's tales are as entertaining as they are enlightening.
The FBI Knocks on The Fonz's Door
Imagine chilling at home, vibing to Dan Fogelberg on vinyl, when suddenly, the FBI shows up at your door! That's exactly what happened to a bewildered Henry Winkler, 78, who initially feared they were there for his weed. But no, these agents were just mega fans wanting to meet the Fonz in person!
"So, I'm sitting in my apartment," the star began. "I have a Victrola because everything was vinyl. I went to Tower Records on Sunset Boulevard. I bought Dan Fogelberg, and I was listening to Dan Fogelberg on my rented Victrola. The door knocks."
Winkler's fame as the Fonz brought him some bizarre fan encounters, including admirers showing up at his doorstep, asking him to sign their bodies. Yes, you read that right – fans wanted the Fonz's signature on their skin!
"I get up," said Winkler. "There are three men with badges. And I said, ‘Oh no, you do not smell what you think you're smelling. Oh my God.’ And they said, 'We're with the FBI.'"
"There was some weed going [on]," co-host Sean Hayes chimed in. Winkler said that as he broke a sweat, it turned out they had other priorities. "’We're not here for that,’" Winkler quoted them. "’We just wanted to meet the Fonz.'"
"I was so happy that I was not being put in handcuffs, I didn't care what they did," Winkler exclaimed, recounting the surreal experience.
'Happy Days' Drama Unfolded!
Behind the scenes of 'Happy Days,' tensions brewed as Winkler's character skyrocketed in popularity, overshadowing Ron Howard's Richie Cunningham. Winkler shares in his memoir, 'Being Henry: The Fonz… and Beyond,' how this sudden shift tested their friendship and almost led to drastic changes in the show, including a proposed title change to 'Fonzie’s Happy Days.'
"You’re not letting this go to your head or change who you are," Howard told Winkler, as quoted in the book. "You’re a great team player. What you’ve created is incredible ... for the show. But if I’m honest, I have to say it does hurt my feelings; more than that — it’s made me angry at times. Because you’re right — I was supposed to be the star of the show. But I was never angry at you, Henry."
"I’m asking you not to do that," Winkler wrote in his book. "If you do that, it is so disrespectful to everybody who has been doing 'Happy Days' as a family together with me. … How much more of a success can you make the show by changing the name. … That would be so hurtful — just as a slap in the face to everyone else in the cast."
Then, in 1980, during the beginning of the eighth season, Winkler got a surprise phone call from Howard.
"Ron was just here for dinner with his wife and daughter, and he recounted the phone call," Winkler explained to Fox News Digital. "What I heard was, ‘Hey, Henry, in 10 minutes it’s going to hit the press, but I wanted you to hear it first. I’m not coming back.’
"I was devastated," Winkler admitted.
"I was scared. He was my acting partner. And yet I knew this was this man’s dream, to be a filmmaker. Ron said I told him, 'Go get it. Go out there, and you go get it because this is what you want.' He said, 'I’ll never forget those words because it was an impetus for me. It made me feel better about my decision.’ I said, 'It took you 50 years to finally tell me that?'"
Winkler and Howard navigated these choppy waters, with Winkler emphasizing respect for the entire cast and Howard eventually pursuing his dream of filmmaking.
Despite the ups and downs, the bond between Winkler and Howard remained unbreakable. Winkler even became the godfather to Howard's daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard, showcasing the deep, familial ties formed beyond the set of 'Happy Days.'
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"Gratitude is like a food group"
Henry Winkler's journey through the highs and lows of stardom, his unexpected encounters with the FBI, and the behind-the-scenes drama of 'Happy Days' reveal a man who navigated fame with grace, humor, and a deep respect for his colleagues.
His story is a testament to the unpredictable roller coaster of celebrity life.
