Henry Winkler became famous in the 1970s as Arthur Fonzarelli, or “The Fonz” on the sitcom Happy Days and has worked steadily ever since.
But he recalled, during an appearance at the Banff World Media Festival, how he’d been a guest on the podcast IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson and being told the former first lady had had a crush on his Fonzie character.
“I met her. I was in awe. … She puts you at ease immediately. She is completely present. Her brother was warm and lovely. They had a conversation like sister and brother. I was honored,” Winkler recalled. He also recounted in Banff leaving New York City for Los Angeles and being cast in Happy Days.
“I have had the most incredible journey because I said yes. I got to play that character with my mentor, Garry Marshall, who taught me everything,” Winkler recounted. Another career moment was at age 72 years of age getting to play the character of Gene Cousineau in the Bill Hader-created and -starring show Barry, a performance for which Winkler earned an Emmy.
After being short-listed for the role, Winkler recounted auditioning and getting a call from Hader and being told “I can’t get you out of my mind. Would you play Gene Cousineau?” Winkler’s other TV and movie credits include Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, Crossing Jordan and Law and Order.
His latest series is Hazardous History With Henry Winkler, a History original, which received a second-season order of 30 episodes. It’s a change of pace for Winkler, a veteran actor of scripted fare and a producer. “In this day of age, to be picked up for 30 episodes is an amazement,” Winkler said.
Winkler welcomed being in Banff among industry heavyweights during a sit-down interview led by Mikey O’Connell, senior entertainment editor at The Hollywood Reporter. “As an actor, without you, without the content or someone to put out the content, I’d be at home,” he insisted.
Winkler, who brought his stand-up comedic skills and well-earned persona as a mensch to Banff, said he has had a Hollywood career based on intuition. “My instinct is my go-to. It’s hard. If you listen to your instinct. Someone walks in the room and you get a feeling, you don’t know where it comes from, do not second guess yourself,” he revealed.
Winkler has worked on several previous books, including I’ve Never Met An Idiot On The River: Reflections on Family, Photography and Fly-Fishing and the children’s series Here’s Hank and Alien Superstar, for which he collaborated with Lin Oliver. The surprise for him was his own memoir, Being Henry, The Fonz… And Beyond.
“I was on the New York Times bestseller list for 11 weeks, and I was shocked as I had no idea how it would be received for real,” Winkler recalled.
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