Henry Winkler

**Henry Franklin Winkler** OBE (born October 30, 1945) is an American movie, television, stage, voice actor, director, producer, and writer. Winkler won two Golden Globe Awards, in 1976 and in 1977, for his role as Fonzie or The Fonz in _Happy Days_.

Winkler is Jewish and has dyslexia.

### Early life

Winkler was born on October 30, 1945 in New York City, New York. His parents were Ilse Anna Maria (née Hadra), and Harry Irving Winkler, a lumber company executive. Winkler's Jewish parents emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1939, before the beginning of World War II.

Winkler attended the McBurney School. He received his bachelor's degree from Emerson College in 1967. He earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama in 1970. In 1978 Emerson College and Austin College gave Winkler an honorary doctorate of humane letters.

### Happy Days

Winkler is best known for his role as Fonzie (also called The Fonz) on the 1970 American sitcom _Happy Days_. Fonzie was a leather-clad greaser and an auto mechanic. The character started as a minor character, but became more important before the show's end.

### Obama election

In October 2008, Winkler appeared in a video with Ron Howard, again playing their roles of Fonzie and Richie Cunningham, trying to make people vote for Barack Obama. The video was called "Ron Howard's Call to Action". It also featured the late Andy Griffith.

### Since 2010

As of June 2010, Winkler has appeared on the USA show _Royal Pains_.

On June 19, 2010, Winkler appeared on ITV World Cup Live show. Winkler represented the United States in the World Cup Wall Chart.

As of the summer/fall 2010 season, Winkler has joined the cast in the Adult Swim web series _Children's Hospital_ playing a hospital administrator.

In late September 2010, Winkler voiced Professor Nathaniel Zib in the Lego Factory mini-series _Rise of the Rookies_.

On May 31, 2011, Winkler's book, _I've Never Met an Idiot on the River_. It shows Winkler's love of flying and fishing.

In 2011, Winkler guest-starred as Ambush Bug in the series finale of _Batman: The Brave and the Bold_.

In the 2013 Broadway season, Winkler, Cheyenne Jackson, Alicia Silverstone, and Ari Graynor are set to star in the David West Read play _The Performers_ opening Nov 14, 2012 at The Longacre Theatre.

Winkler appeared in the movie _Here Comes the Boom_ (released October 12, 2012), as the music teacher at Wilkinson High School.

### Honors

In September 2011, Winkler was made an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "for services to children with special educational needs and dyslexia in the UK."

## Personal life

Winkler has been married to Stacey Weitzman since May 5, 1978. They have two children; Zoe Emily (b. 1980) and Max Daniel (b. 1983). Winkler also has a stepson from Weitzman's last marriage to Howard Weitzman.

## Some of the movies he was in

- _Crazy Joe_ (1974)
- _The Lords of Flatbush_ (1974)
- _The Bob Newhart Show_ (TV Series) (Season 2/Episode 19 "Clink Shrink") (1974)
- _Happy Days_ (TV series) (1974–1982)
- _Katherine_, also known as _The Radical_ (1975)
- _Heroes_ (1977)
- _The One and Only_ (1978)
- _An American Christmas Carol_ (TV movie) (1979)
- _Night Shift_ (1982)
- _Memories of Me_ (directing) (1988)
- _MacGyver_ (1991)
- _Cop and a Half_ (directing) (1993)
- _Scream_ (1996) (Principal Himbry) (uncredited)
- _Detention: The Siege at Johnson High_ (1997)
- _Dad's Week Off_ (1997)
- _Dead Man's Gun_ (TV series) (1997-1999, exec. prod.)
- _Ground Control_ (1998)
- _The Waterboy_, as Coach Kline (1998)
- _P.U.N.K.S._ (1999)
- _Dill Scallion_ (1999)
- _Little Nicky_ (2000)
- _Down to You_ (2000)
- _Law and Order SVU_ (2002)
- _Holes_ (2003)
- _Arrested Development_ (TV series) (2003–2006)

- _King of the Hill_ (2004)
- _Berkeley_ (2005)
- _Malcolm in the Middle_ (2005)
- _The Kid & I_ (2005)
- _Out of practice_ (TV series) (2005–2006)
- _Duck Dodgers_ (2006)
- _Unbeatable Harold_ (2006)
- _Click_ (2006)
- _I Could Never Be Your Woman_ (2007)
- _A Plumm Summer_ (2007)
- _NUMB3RS_  (2008–2009)
- _You Don't Mess with the Zohan_ (2008)
- _Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh_ (2008)
- _The Most Wonderful Time of the Year_  (2008)
- _Sit Down, Shut Up_ (2009) (TV series)
- _Group Sex_ (2010)
- _Royal Pains_ (TV, 2010–2012)
- _Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil_ (2010-2012)
- _Childrens Hospital_ (TV, 2010)
- _LEGO Hero Factory_ (TV, 2010-2011)
- _Running Mates_ (2011) (Plays Bob Weatherbee)
- _Batman: The Brave and the Bold_ (TV, 2011)
- _The Penguins of Madagascar_ (2011)
- _Here Comes the Boom_ (2012)
- _Scoob!_ (2020)

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Henry Winkler
Order of the British Empire, OBE
- **image**: Henry winkler @ wizard world nyc experience 2013.jpg
- **image size**: 250px
- **caption**: Winkler in June 2013
- **birth name**: Henry Franklin Winkler
- **birth place**: Manhattan, New York City, New York (state), New York, U.S.
- **nationality**: American
- **known for**: _Fonzie / The Fonz_ in _Happy Days_
- **occupation**: Actor, director, comedian, producer, author
- **education**: Emerson College (BA, 1967)
Yale School of Drama (MFA, 1970)
- **years active**: 1972–present
- **notable works**: The Mary Tyler Moore Show MacGyver Mork & Mindy Happy Days The Larry Sanders Show Little Nicky South Park SpongeBob SquarePants
- **children**: 2