Henry Winkler Reflects on His Career Choices

Henry Winkler recently shared his thoughts on what he might have pursued if acting wasn’t in his cards. In a podcast interview, the 80-year-old actor revealed that he had considered a career in child psychology, particularly because dyslexia made traditional education challenging for him. He emphasized that he gravitated toward anything that required minimal formal schooling.

“I have a special connection with children. I think I can really listen to them. Their thoughts and feelings amaze me,” Winkler stated. “Absolutely, I would have liked to work with kids.”

Winkler became well-known for portraying Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on the sitcom Happy Days from 1974 to 1984, a role that earned him three Emmy nominations.

Despite his success, Winkler has often discussed his lifelong battle with dyslexia and how he learned to adapt within the entertainment industry. He remarked on his early experiences, recalling how the cast of Happy Days would read scripts together for the first time and how he felt “embarrassed” and “humiliated” when he struggled to read aloud. Humor often camouflaged those challenging moments.

To overcome his dyslexia’s challenges, Winkler explained that he would tackle one word at a time and request scripts in advance to memorize them, aiding him in keeping up during readings.

He didn’t receive his diagnosis until the age of 31 and expressed initial anger about it. He also mentioned that his son-in-law shares the same condition. “It was humiliating. I was punished more times than I could count,” said Winkler. “So, I had to learn to deal with it; this is how my brain is wired.”

Eventually, he reframed his understanding of dyslexia, realizing that if he hadn’t faced this persistent challenge, he might not have developed the determination that got him where he is today.

After Happy Days, Winkler continued to thrive in his career, engaging a new generation of fans with his role in the 1998 film The Waterboy alongside Adam Sandler. He later appeared in various TV shows, such as Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and New Girl. More recently, he starred in HBO Max’s successful series Barry, playing Jean Cousineau, an acting coach who becomes friends with an assassin.

His role in Barry culminated in him receiving his first Emmy Award in 2018. Reflecting on this accomplishment, he advised others to “be authentic, acknowledge your capabilities, and don’t expect to fit a standard mold.”

Winkler described his journey in Hollywood metaphorically, likening himself to a sapling growing stronger with time. “I wanted it to flourish,” he said, “and I think it has.”