Henry Winkler Once Sang Onstage With Neil Diamond, in Character as Fonzie

Singer Neil Diamond wearing a sequin shirt gets joined onstage by — Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Henry Winkler recently stopped by to chat with Jimmy Kimmel on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and opened up about becoming a grandparent, doing commencement speeches and even meeting the famous Neil Diamond. Kimmel sparked the conversation by mentioning that he is a big Diamond fan as well, and was jealous that Winkler once got the chance to sing with him onstage during a concert many years ago.

The year was about 1976 and Happy Days was extremely popular. Winkler was at Diamond’s show and he shared, “I’m wearing kind of a nice sweater, cable sweater and sitting in the audience with my wife Stacy, and all of a sudden he calls me up. Now, I am so dyslexic so I do not know the words to any song except ‘God Bless America.’ So, he calls me up and said ‘Let’s sing ‘Song Sung Blue’ as the Fonz!'”

Paramount/Everett Collection

The show then shared a fun clip of the moment, with Winkler truly transforming into the character right in front of the audience’s eyes. It is a moment that perfectly captured the vibe of the ’70s; Diamond, already a legend by that point, was known for his ability to bring energy and emotion to his performances, but adding Winkler as The Fonz is a moment that fans still talk about nearly 50 years later.

For Winkler, who’s now looked back on the experience with a mix of surprise and fondness, it’s a reminder of just how wild and exciting his career has been.

Check out the entire interview and see a clip of the concert below: