Henry Winkler is a celebrated American actor, comedian, producer, and director, best known for his role as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on Happy Days in the 1970s. Despite his professional success, Winkler’s childhood was fraught with challenges, including undiagnosed dyslexia and a lack of support from teachers and parents.
Acting became his solace, leading him to earn an MFA from Yale School of Drama and eventually land his iconic role in Happy Days. Winkler married Stacey Weitzman, and together they raised two children, along with Stacey’s son from a previous marriage. Determined to provide a nurturing environment, Winkler focused on giving his children a normal upbringing despite his fame.
Henry Winkler on His Childhood
Reflecting on his upbringing, Winkler said, “I made a decision when I was 10—and I thought about it every day—that I was going to be a different parent from my parents. One of the most important things in being a parent is seeing your child as who they are, not who you want them to be. If you do that, it solves about two million problems right off the bat.”
Winkler’s parents emigrated from Germany to New York just before World War II. Growing up with undiagnosed learning disabilities, he faced harsh criticism from his parents, who often called him “stupid” and “dumb.” His parents even nicknamed him “Dumm Hund” (dumb dog).
“I was grounded for most of my high school career. They thought if I stayed at my desk for six weeks at a time, I was going to get it and put an end to the silliness of my laziness. That was going to be that.”
Despite admiring his parents for escaping Nazi Germany and building a new life, Winkler described them as “emotionally destructive,” feeling unheard throughout his childhood. His stepson Jed’s dyslexia diagnosis at a young age led to Winkler’s own diagnosis at 31. “I went, ‘Oh my goodness. I have something with a name.’ That was when I first understood it.” Later, his other children were also diagnosed with dyslexia. “Fortunately, we found out early, but if you don’t catch it early, a child’s self-image plummets, as mine did.”
Each Child is Unique
“I know this now about being a parent,” Winkler says. “Our job is to keep our children as safe as we can and to encourage them to meet their destiny. Each child is an individual. Each child is like baking a muffin. You put a toothpick in to see if it’s done. Each child does it their own way.”
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Despite his fame, Winkler ensured his children stayed out of the spotlight, aiming for a normal and consistent home life. He established clear rules and boundaries, including a ban on show business, and emphasized the importance of communication and listening.
Inspiring Children Through Books
Winkler has co-authored two children’s book series with Lin Oliver: Ghost Buddy and Hank Zipzer: The Mostly True Confessions of the World’s Best Underachiever. These books are designed to be accessible, with short chapters to help children feel a sense of accomplishment as they read.
While Winkler doesn’t consider himself an authority on parenting, he passionately believes in every child’s potential. “I want every child to know that they have greatness inside them. Just because school is difficult doesn’t mean they aren’t brilliant.”
Henry Winkler views these books as his greatest achievement, alongside his children and grandchildren. His contributions earned him an award from Queen Elizabeth in 2011, naming him an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for his work with children with learning disabilities and special educational needs.
Dyslexia poses challenges for actors, but Winkler has learned to overcome this obstacle. He conveys this message to the children he inspires: “A learning challenge doesn’t have to stop you. Every child who writes to me about Hank Zipzer, I write back. In every letter, I include, ‘Your learning challenge will not stop you from meeting your dream. Only you will stop yourself from meeting your dream.’”
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