Checking in with HENRY WINKLER
It has been quite the career for Henry Winkler.
Indeed, the 76-year-old Yale-trained actor has quietly put together an impressive body of work since he first rose to prominence as ‘50s greaser Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli in the 1974-84 ABC sitcom “Happy Days.”
Over his more than 50 years in television, Winkler has amassed 100-plus TV credits, done another 38 movies, appeared in several stage productions and written numerous books for children and adults. He’s also been nominated for eight Emmy Awards, winning once in 2018 for his role as acting teacher Gene Cousineau in the HBO comedy “Barry,” which returns for its third season Sunday, April 24.
In fact, Winkler himself at one time taught acting, experience he was able to use in creating the character.
“I have had the experience of five times of holding master classes,” Winkler explains, “and it is one of my favorite things. I’m not sure I know what I’m talking about but whatever I’m feeling about what the actors in front of me are doing, it is my pleasure to try and get them to taste something different than they came into the room with, just by pushing them a little bit. So it goes back and forth. I take Gene with me, and I bring Henry to Gene.”
Winkler brought Gene to the New York subway system in 2019, when he participated in a “Barry” ad campaign that consisted of a poster with the character’s picture and a number to call for acting lessons.
“I thought it might have been the best campaign I’ve ever been part of,” Winkler, a native New Yorker, says, “and I did the voice for the phone number, so if you called the phone number you literally heard me talk to you. I was so proud, because I took that subway for the greater part of my life before I came to Hollywood. I was so thrilled to be part of that campaign.”
Full name: Henry Franklin Winkler
Birth date: Oct. 30, 1945
Birthplace: New York City
Alma mater: Studied theater at Emerson College (bachelor’s degree) and Yale School of Drama (master’s degree)
Family ties: He and wife Stacey have two sons and a daughter
TV credits include: “Another World,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Happy Days,” “Rhoda,” “Mork & Mindy,” “Laverne & Shitley,” “Joanie Loves Chachi,” “Sesame Street,” “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show,” “MacGyver,” “The Larry Sanders Show,” “The Practice,” “Third Watch,” “Clifford’s Puppy Days” (voice), “Crossing Jordan,” “NUMB3RS,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Childrens Hospital,” “Royal Pains,” “Arrested Development”
Movie credits include: “The Lords of Flatbush” (1974), “The One and Only” (1978), “Night Shift” (1982), “The Waterboy” (1998), “Down to You” (2000), “Click” (2006), “I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007; uncredited), ”You Don’t Mess With the Zohan“(2008; uncredited), ”Running Mates“(2011), ”Here Comes the Boom“(2012)
Favorite movies: “The Sting,” “The Great Escape,” “The Philadelphia Story”
How he unwinds: Fly fishing
How he takes his coffee: Heavy cream (not half-and-half), no sugar