1976. A profile and interview with Henry Winkler of Happy Days fame, and much more

1976. Geraldo Rivera on his Good Night America program introduces us to Henry Winkler, the actor behind 'the Fonz'. We learn how Henry is re-introducing the art of being cool to tens of millions of viewers, and what it's like to enjoy so much fame. How does he manage to keep his on-screen persona and his personal life separated?
Happy Days kept America entertained from 1974 - 1984.
As of 2024 Mr. Winkler has starred and co-starred in large variety of on-stage and on-screen series, movies, and events. He recently earned a primetime emmy award for his work in the TV series 'Barry'.

[@lizzardsgumby81]

Henry Winkler is a gem and a wonderful artist and man. His book is a must read classic.... I was a fan from age 8 - now he is a warm sweet soul and he and his wife Stacey helped him read and what a sweet couple.... He is a masterpiece and artist in 1976 as a 10 year old in my fonz tee shirt Id be like Ayyy but now Im like Mr Winkler you are a wonderful gem. Love to you Henry!!!!

[@samsmith4216]

I was fortunate enough to sit at a dinner with Henry Winkler and 8 other people. Henry came over and introduced himself to everyone with a handshake. Such a nice guy. He told me he liked my name... Found out later it's his dad's name...:)

[@johncortez2009]

Wow that is so amazing I'm 51 years old so back Then in the late 70s or the 80s oh just a little kid had a poster of him and even an action figure always wanted to meet him Great story thank you

[@KathysIndieZoNe]

My sister was friends with a girl for years and who wound up marrying a guy who had a lot of success in Hollywood. My sister and her husband were invited to her wedding years ago. Lots of “famous” people were there. She said of all Henry Winkler was the kindest and most gracious. She says he talked to every person as if they were the only person in the room. Unlike 1-2 of the fakes who had no time for the “regular” guests.

[@joettaflyascanbee4659]

He was always humble. I love the way he wasn't afraid to speak about getting stereotyped right in the height of his popularity, most actors don't speak about that until their role is coming to an end. He still is just as handsome today.

[@rburley204]

Definitely a TV icon and it's amazing how success did not go to his head! Those that grew up in the 70's, know what a phenomenon 'The Fonz' character was at the time. Happy Days is amongst my favorite shows of all time!

[@jamesfowler6343]

I met Henry back in 2016 in Niagara Falls, such a wonderful and kind gentleman with an amazing sense of humour

[@lobstermania4025]

A total class act back then and now! God bless Henry Winkler

[@barrylippard1846]

Such a sweet caring guy. Henry Winkler. One of a kind.

[@allans7281]

That’s just a testament to how good of actor Henry Winkler is!! in real life he is the exact opposite of the Fonz

[@Cat-Privilege]

Never imagined I would ever see "The Fonz" with same hair style I had when I was a teenager.

[@apollozero]

How he looked in magazines at the time. Why would he not have hairstyle popular in the 70s?

[@PeterAgostiniJdcap26]

Me too

[@danielupsdell2697]

hey Henry you are a class act

[@AleVilla-x1u]

What brought me here is that I just woke from a dream that Geraldo was interviewing Henry Wrinkler tonight. After checking tv listings I guess it was really a dream. The interview took place decades ago.

[@johnmazza9432]

The Lords of Flatbush was good movie with Winkler and Stallone. Great era . I would have liked to see Winkler in different roles. Happy Days was magical in it's first few seasons but it ran all it could. The fun of it was that they were all suppose to be teenagers and you can't be 30 doing the same part. Henry was already considerably older than his role. Like so many of the performers that gave me great joy , I wish I could meet them just to say "Thanks, you made my childhood better". If you're out there Mr Winkler thank you and God Bless.

[@c0uchsl0uch]

I had the Fonzie shirt when I was about 7 yrs old, which woulda been '78

[@christopherramon-reid2000]

He should have gotten an Emmy back in the 70s

[@BuckRolly1]

This is gold and Henry Winkler is a great actor

[@Anne6621]

this blows my mind , Happy Days debut 1974 portraying a time going back roughly 18 years and 1974 was 51 years ago , short circuits my brain thinking about that

[@jayrowe6473]

We've gotten older, haven't we, Anne.

[@Anne6621]

@@jayrowe6473 OMG makes my head spin

[@JWH66]

I think about this stuff a lot. Timelines and how my perspective about it have changed over the years.

[@TELEVISIONARCHIVES]

Henry came into our local Publix store when he was in town filming The Waterboy

[@tymather4526]

lords of flatbush, happy days, the water boy. ect. just a great actor and person. thanks

[@susanrombak7959]

The Fonz was quite the phenomenon! But Henry Winkler is an Icon of the ages. ✌🏽

[@bettersteps]

He was a nice guy even back then. I love consistency.

[@VEBco]

Plenty of wisdom coming from this relatively young man.

[@buicklincoln]

1976, the height of Fonzie-mania!

[@OriginalMasters]

“I don’t want people believing that the only thing I can do is ride a motorcycle.” SUNDAY, MONDAY, HAPPY DAYS! TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, HAPPY DAYS! THURSDAY, FRIDAY, HAPPY DAYS!

[@ExtremeBeatlesArchive]

Of course not. He can water ski too.

[@vincegrassi6593]

He water skied over a shark​@@ExtremeBeatlesArchive

[@robm5583]

What a great interview

[@dk237]

Henry winkler was adorable! What an amazing person.

[@ciadella1971]

Man, I wanna go back to my childhood in the 70s

[@alanw505]

Henry pitched for the Happy Days celebrity softball team. I saw them play at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia a million years ago.

[@djmexicanodetx2195]

The Fonz! My favorite Happy Days character.

[@saldo55]

In Later episodes/years of Happy days, The Fonze was in school and going to the library, it was said more kids went to the library during that period he definitely had a powerfully GOOD influence on the younger generation The Fonze was all good!

[@MarkShihadeh]

Such a principled, honorable, wise guy!

[@BANDIT2DAY]

I shook Henry Winklers hand at the auto boat speed show in Spokane in 1976 when I was seven years old.

[@leodrosia4369]

He will always be fonzie

[@justkeepingitreal2025]

He didn't want to be typecast but i cannot think of another actor who is more typecast than Henry Winkler.

[@nspector]

A wonderful person

[@RyanLeong25]

Love how Henry Winkler didn't come his hair, what a classic Fonzi gesture

[@fabianasensio1168]

Very humble and aware man...

[@dexter2345]

There is a picture of me as a little kid holding a blown up airplane in one hand and a thumbs up in the other. Show you the type of impact the Fonz had on little kids at that time

[@rollicker3139]

I have a picture just like that when i was maybe around 9 or so...minus the airplane. Just posing with my dad, uncle and cousin. So you just might be right.

[@Rogelio_007]

Spectacular fellow

[@Awake2Evil]

When I was a kid back in the early seventies I got a birthday card from the fonz that said "Hey kid happy birthday to you, whenever it is" and it was on an autographed picture and it was you know I know he didn't do that but when you're a kid you don't know don't care it was cool

[@Awake2Evil]

I actually played in a softball game against the Happy Days gang with some of the players of the Miami Dolphins down in the Orange Bowl that was in 78

[@brickman291]

1975 I was 10 years old and fresh of the boat with my last name D'Alfonso I was the envy of my class hahahahahha

[@Cnymets4life]

Winkler did The Lords of Flatbush. Then Fonzi. He was definitely typecast.

[@AndrewBergey]

Fonzie sit on it. That might’ve been one of the best when Mrs. C said that. He’s very intelligent.

[@AZ-kr6ff]

"Henry Winkler! COVERED IN BEES!!"

[@keto6789]

Geraldo!

[@ebassblues]

Henry Winkler is a stand up guy

[@jesseserna8424]

I remember him in a movie where at the end they played “Carry on my Wayward Son” 👋🏼

[@worldcatloversheavenwatcht2927]

Heroes..great Vietnam movie..saw it recently

[@gterrymed]

films NIGHT SHIFT, 1982, with Michael Keaton

[@pamelasmith6221]

Yes!!! My now husband has us watch that when we were dating back in the 80’s. Such a great movie.

[@AndrewBergey]

Fonzie sit on it. That might’ve been one of the best when Mrs. C said that.

[@janicefrantz1831]

Henry back then made a hysterical movie called The One And Only. Check it out. 😅

[@serfardi]

Loved the Fonz, but Henry was a wimp. Great actor. He pulled it off. But we all know he bomb in every movie he made. He should have kept that persona, nit The Fonz, but a man's man. He went on to play wimpy roles.

[@pamelasmith6221]

What??? Why should he be someone he’s not? That’s kind of mean. A great actor does what he did. That’s what acting is. Henry is and was a great human being. Odd comment

[@run4funs24]

I wish you would add the Noah's ark special you did back in the late 80's early 90's please !

[@JoeyDimes1]

A young Larry Bird at 2:11

[@dennis300cr]

Strong resemblance but Larry Bird was 20 in 1976 and easily at full height at 6' 9"!

[@SullenMorbius]

Geraldo had the greatest hair on tv

[@anthonyharty1732]

What surprised me about Henry is he’s only 5ft 6 “ tall. Which is small for a man. I’m surprised he got the job as Fonzie usually taller guys get that type of role. It’s unfair but that’s how life is, he was lucky.

[@chrisbrady8186]

I can't ever get over the fact that neither Winkler or Stallone ever mention The Fonz and Rocky's beginnings in their 1974 movie "The Lords Of Flatbush". There had to be some reason why they never mention it. The Fonz (and Rocky) did NOT start on "Happy Days" and the "Rocky" movies, they started on "The Lords Of Flatbush". I wonder why neither ever talk about it. It wasn't a bad movie at all.

[@timbrown8038]

Aaay!😎👍

[@MartinHiggins1972]

Sit on it.

[@770WT]

I liked Happy Days the first year before it became the Fonzie Show.

[@chadkj5915]

The first year was boring

[@pamelasmith6221]

Sorry you missed out on a great show.

[@billyrock8305]

Topgun man 👨

[@daves9355]

You should interview Greg Gutfeld! He just had a kid!

[@JavierLaughin]

sure...as a kid totally entertained by 'Fonzi'...don't forget his role in the Lords of Flatbush, 1974...that's the role that got him his Fonzi gig. Stallone was good in that movie too, I thought Perry King was terrible, lol.

[@chuckrobertson5368]

If it's not broke don't fix it. Henry Should have done more Fonz realated material. That's what he was known for. Movies smoovies.........

[@beholden1663]

He didn’t want to be typecast so he expanded into other acting roles.

[@chuckrobertson5368]

​@beholden1663 what he wanted and what's good for his career are 2 different animals.

[@Rob-z7k]

When i saw him that Adam Sandler movie..i was like wtf..thats the fonz??

[@apollozero]

10 years wasn’t enough playing the Fonz for you? Google his achievements. He has won many awards including Emmys in the last 5 years. He has done very well for himself and has had a long career.

[@Rob-z7k]

@apollozero as the Rock once said - It Doesnt Matter!

[@uncleeddie5813]

What did he do to Heather O'rourke?

[@Kewoods78]

He was definitely typecast, all I see is Da Fonz.

[@huntergatherer4223]

Fonzi got typecast. 😂

[@snortworld]

henry winkler used his fonzie powers for good. you gotta respect that

[@jjd903]

Henry creeped into fonzie

[@tlbradio]

Interesting. He didn't want to be typecast but that's exactly what happened to him.

[@yournamehere6002]

Not true, he did a great film called NIGHT SHIFT directed by Ron Howard that he's playing against type and was terrific

[@beholden1663]

Not really. Henry has done other roles on television and movies. He has expanded out of The Fonz.

[@tlbradio]

@@beholden1663 Yep but he's still known as The Fonz and nothing else.

[@tlbradio]

@@yournamehere6002 Yeah he did quite a few other great movies but none of them are what he is known for. When people think of Henry Winkler, they aren't thinking Night Shift or Lords of Flatbush. It will always be the Fonz.

[@yournamehere6002]

@@tlbradio I won't argue that, but Night Shift showed his range.

[@jayshomer4191]

Geraldo was going through his Hippie phase !

[@conniebauer4128]

Vinnie Barbarino hair

[@georgemusic4all4seasons]

That was the style back then. By this time the so called hippy phase had died out.

[@RoofDoctorsJoanne]

He should have never jumped the Shark

[@gterrymed]

TV HEROS: Barnabas Collins and then THE FONZ and then BEVERLY HILLS 90210

[@nickstrapko7549]

It just came to me Henry at that point could have any thing he wanted, including women

[@MartinHiggins1972]

Why was Fonzie acting weird? Bang on the head?

[@NetHazard]

Henry Winkler is a great talent and very intelligent. Then somewhere along the way, he decided to espouse his political beliefs. Even after Hollywood ate itself alive, like many other great actors, it was a miscalculation on his part. Bad mistake. Non-politician public figures, actors and corporations should leave that crap off camera. Therefore, him and actors such as Bob Deniro, I cannot watch them anymore...

[@pamelasmith6221]

Oh well. We are human. We have opinions. If you judge others based on that then that’s a shame.

[@NetHazard]

@ the irony of your statement is, you think it's shameful that I have an opinion.

[@blacksheepblacksheep5727]

Why was GR trying to look like Tony Orlando 😂

[@Jonathan-Sund]

Pretty sure he ended up typecast, and pretty sure he couldn't really ride a motorcycle

[@skyboying666]

to bad we could not sue god for aging

[@craftymulligar]

Maybe I was too young when it was on but didn't really get into the show. Not much was on so that's what my parents wanted to watch. It had the kid from Andy Griffith show was the start of them watching I guess. But never saw much to it. Didn't really like sitcoms anyway.

[@pamelasmith6221]

Shame. Tv in the 70’s and 80’s was the best!!

[@stumack9755]

Happy Days was a corny unfunny show.

[@CiscoBudge567]

Henry a has-been.

[@gingerlord4983]

No he's not.

[@pamelasmith6221]

As you will be too one day.

[@rebeccawelsh2637]

HENRY, GIVE RON HOWARD THE CHAIR CLOSEST TO THE HOST. FAMOUS DIRECTOR!!! STAR WAY BEFORE YOU!!!!! HOW RUDE!!!

[@GKRENKEL]

Oh stop !! No one is analyzing it.. as you are. It was Henry's interview.. and he was there to be interviewed. Ron wasnt a big director at this time. Henry loved Ron and they stayed friends till this day.

[@daganhaddad]

@@GKRENKEL changed her name2karen

[@thomaskemer8109]

He was Fonzie's sidekick here boo​@@GKRENKEL