Who Is Henry Winkler?
Henry Winkler is an American actor, producer, director, and author, best known worldwide for playing Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on the 1970s and 1980s sitcom Happy Days, a role that made him a pop‑culture icon.[2][3]
Born in Manhattan in 1945, Winkler trained at the Yale School of Drama and went on to build a career that spans television, film, theatre, and publishing, with numerous awards including Emmys and Golden Globes recognizing his work.[2][3][5]
Career Evolution and TV Resurgence
After Happy Days, Winkler initially struggled with typecasting but reinvented himself by moving into producing and directing, working on successful series such as MacGyver and broadening his creative footprint behind the camera.[1][4][5]
In the 21st century he enjoyed a major resurgence as a character actor, notably as Barry Zuckerkorn on Arrested Development, Dr. Saperstein on Parks and Recreation, and acting coach Gene Cousineau on HBO’s Barry, the last of which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award and multiple Critics Choice awards.[2][3][5][6]
Author, Advocate, and Cultural Impact
Winkler is also a bestselling author, co‑writing the Hank Zipzer children’s book series based on his early struggles with dyslexia, turning his personal challenges into stories that validate and encourage young readers who learn differently.[3][6][9]
Through public speaking and advocacy around literacy and learning differences, together with his multigenerational TV roles now widely available on streaming, Winkler has evolved from being remembered solely as “The Fonz” to being recognized as a resilient, influential figure in contemporary entertainment and education.[3][5][9]