Henry Winkler Visits His Own Fonz Statue Ahead of 79th Birthday
Henry Winkler, best known for playing cool guy Fonzie on Happy Days, turns 79! While he is celebrating an exciting birthday on Oct. 30, he is also having fun on a small book tour. He recently released a memoir called Being Henry: The Fonz . . . and Beyond and has been visiting several locations around the country, sharing his life story. Not only is he known as the Fonz, but he has starred (and won an Emmy for his role) in Barry, plus written children’s books.
Last week he visited Milwaukee, which has a special place in its heart for Winkler, as there is a bronze statute of him as Fonzie at the Milwaukee Riverwalk in the downtown area. This is a nod to Happy Days, as it was set in Milwaukee. Winkler and his wife Stacey Weitzman were seen posing by the statue. Winkler shared a photo online and wrote, “When in Wonderful Milwaukee ……”
When in Wonderful Milwaukee …… pic.twitter.com/GAWcdb9FG7
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) October 23, 2024
During his talks, he reportedly opened up about how he always had dreams of becoming an actor but his parents wanted him to take over the family business, a lumber company. However, they changed their tune when he got the role of a lifetime in Happy Days, and he said they always joked they were the parents of the Fonz.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images
In the book, Winkler not only talks about his most famous roles but also his struggles. He suffers from the learning disability dyslexia but was not diagnosed until he was 31 years old. This is what led him to write children’s books for kids who are like he was growing up.
Purchase Winkler’s book on Amazon and check out where else is he heading on tour here. Have you seen Winkler on tour or read his book? Have you ever visited the Fonz statue? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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