Veteran actor Henry Winkler recently shared details about the career path he might have chosen if he hadn't embarked on an acting profession.
During a conversation on the "You Could Make This Beautiful" podcast, the 80-year-old performer disclosed that he almost decided to become a child psychologist. This consideration stemmed from his significant dyslexia, which led him to seek a profession requiring "the least amount of education" possible.
"I understand children. I’m able to listen, I think, to children. I’m interested in what they have to say and how they are. I marvel at their prowess in the universe," Winkler stated. "Yes, I would work with children."
Rise to Fame and Dyslexia Challenges
Ultimately, Winkler achieved widespread recognition for his portrayal of Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli in the iconic television series "Happy Days," which aired from 1974 to 1984. This role garnered him three Emmy Award nominations.
The actor has frequently spoken about his ongoing battle with dyslexia and how he developed strategies to navigate its difficulties throughout his career.
"Destiny is very strange, because I've chosen a profession that is so unbelievably difficult, not only to survive in, but to participate in for me," he explained during a November 2023 interview on "PBS News Weekend." He recalled the challenges of table reads during his time on "Happy Days" and other projects, where the entire cast, producers, directors, and crew would listen to the script for the first time. "I couldn't read off the page. And it was embarrassing. It was humiliating. I covered it with humor."
To overcome the obstacles dyslexia presented in his profession, Winkler devised a method where he would "literally read one word at a time." He would also request scripts in advance to "almost memorize it," ensuring that by the time of a table read, he could deliver his lines "with a flow."
Diagnosis and Lasting Impact
Despite struggling with dyslexia for his entire life, Winkler did not receive a formal diagnosis until he was 31, a discovery made when his young stepson was also diagnosed. He confided to PBS that his initial reaction to the diagnosis was anger.
"I was because I was humiliated. I was constantly browbeaten. I was punished, grounded for most of my life," he recounted. He then moved to the next phase: "Then the next stage was all right, so I have this thing. Now I have to learn to negotiate it because it doesn't go away. It is the wiring in your brain."
He later adopted a new perspective, reflecting that he might not have achieved his current success if he hadn't faced "the challenge to constantly work through that made my tenacity, like steel."
Continuing Legacy in Entertainment
Following his tenure on "Happy Days," Winkler continued his acting career, connecting with younger audiences through roles such as the one in the 1998 film "The Waterboy," co-starring Adam Sandler.
He subsequently appeared in a variety of television programs, including "Arrested Development," "Parks and Recreation," and "New Girl." He later secured a starring role in the acclaimed HBO Max series "Barry," portraying Gene Cousineau, an acting coach who forms an unexpected bond with an assassin.
This role ultimately earned him his first Emmy Award in 2018.
After his win, Winkler shared his philosophy backstage, as reported by Variety: "Be yourself, be honest about your ability, prepare so that you are not a flash in the pan."
He further elaborated on his career aspirations: "When I first started here in Hollywood … I thought of myself as a tree or sapling. I planted. I wanted to grow and be strong until I couldn’t do this anymore. And what a great tree it is."
