Henry Winkler reveals "debilitating pain after" Happy Days "in a new interview

The actor had trouble in his career after the end of the successful sitcom.


Le Fonz is one of the most emblematic characters in the history of television, and Henry Winkler played the role for 10 years. So it is not surprising that when when Happy Days ended , It was a huge transition for the actor, and apparently not easy. Not only has an important part of his life and his career ended, but Winkler says he was also aggressively typed after playing fat from the 1950s, which led to a long period during which he worked very little.

In a new interview, the 77 -year -old Barry Star explained how much he had time he had personally after Happy Days ended, saying that the pain he felt was "debilitating". Read the rest to see what Winkler had to say others and why he does not regret having played Fonzie, even if it led to a dark moment in his life. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

Read this then: Charlie Sheen would have threatened to leave his own program if Selma Blair was not dismissed .

He had "psychic pain" after Happy Days .

Henry Winkler circa 1975
Archive Photos / Getty Images

In an interview Today Posted on May 8, Winkler said He felt "debilitating" pain When Happy Days was finished.

"It was eight or nine years ago at the time when I could not be hired because I was" Le Fonz ", because I was typical," he said. "I had psychic pain that was debilitating because I didn't know what to do. I didn't know where to find it, what he It was, I didn't know what I was going to do. I had a family. I had a dog. I had a roof. Oh. My. God."

As he mentioned, Winkler's wife, Stacey Weitzman , was by his side along the way. The two were married in 1978, four years after Happy Days Created. They welcomed a girl, Zoe , in 1980, and a son, Max , in 1983.

He did not know what was the next step for his career.

Henry Winkler at the Night of 100 Stars Benefit Gala in 1982
Zuffing Vinnie / Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

Pasing to something else was particularly difficult, because Happy Days was such a positive experience, the actor said. In 2021, Winkler said Initiated That the sitcom, which took place from 1974 to 1984, was exactly what he "dreamed of doing". So when he had taken his course, he did not know what "the next step" would be.

"I sat in my office and I thought:" Oh my God, I hurt my brain because I don't have a plan B "", he said.

As for being typascast, he said: "People said:" Wow, he's funny. He's such a good actor. But he was the Fonz. "And so they would go to me. You have to learn to find the strength in you to face it, reinvent yourself, move on."

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He has made new career movements.

Henry Winkler at the HBO Emmy party in 2018
Featureflash photo agency / shutterstock

After Happy Days Finished, Winkler avoided typing by turning to work behind the scenes. THE Today The interview notes that he launched a production company in 1985 - the year after Happy Days Finished - who produced the popular series MacGyver . He also worked as a director, including two feature films: 1988 Memories of me and 1993 And a half cop .

He returned to play regularly in the early 90s and has since become known for roles Arrested development, parks and leisure, the children's hospital , And Barry , for which he won an Emmy Award. He was also in popular films, especially Shout ,, Click on , And The French dispatch .

He does not regret his time in the series.

Stacey Weitzman and Henry Winkler at the 2020 Critics' Choice Awards
Featureflash photo agency / shutterstock

Despite what happened afterwards, Winkler said Today that he has no regrets Happy Days .

"I loved doing it. I loved playing" The Fonz ". I love these people. I loved learning to play softball. I loved traveling all over the world with the actors. I don't 'would not have exchanged, "he said. "Not only that, but also, I don't know that I would have happened here if I had not crossed the fight."

The actor revealed what he would say to his young person if he had the opportunity. "Life is more fun than you think, than you allow it. worry So much, "said Winkler." I was too worried, to the point where it literally made me inert. ""


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