Henry Winkler Reflects on Guest Star Experience on ‘Happy Days’

Henry Winkler recently revealed an encounter with a former screen partner who did not leave the best impression on him. At a fan expo in Tennessee, the 80-year-old actor talked about the collaborative spirit on the set of “Happy Days.” He emphasized, “On our set, there was no stardom.” He shared an experience with a guest star who failed to blend well with the ensemble cast.

Winkler noted, “We were an ensemble. We worked hard at making it funny every week.” He explained that the guest star mentioned his fan mail several times. Winkler responded, “You don’t want to talk to me about fan mail, I got 50,000 letters a week.” He informed the actor, “We don’t talk about that on the set; we are all here as one.” Despite this advice, the guest star continued the behavior, and Winkler later referred to him as an “a–back.” Winkler did not disclose the actor’s name but mentioned the character, Eugene.

Winkler played Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on “Happy Days” from 1974 to 1984. Post his big break on the show, Winkler enjoyed a successful career in film and television. He earned a Golden Globe nomination for “Heroes” and appeared in “The Waterboy,” “Holes,” and “Click.”

Recently, Winkler filmed his first nude scene for “Loot’s” third season. Without reading the script, he accepted an invitation from Maya Rudolph to appear in the first episode. Winkler recounted his surprise at the costume fitting, finding “a silk robe that went to there,” indicating his upper thigh. The filming took place on a cold January beach.

While Winkler won two Golden Globe Awards for his role as Fonzie, he did not receive an Emmy Award until 2018. He was recognized for his role as Gene Cousineau in “Barry,” an acting coach who befriends a wanted assassin, played by Bill Hader. After his win, Winkler shared advice, “Be yourself, be honest about your ability, prepare so that you are not a flash in the pan.” Reflecting on his career, Winkler said, “I wanted to grow and be strong until I couldn’t do this anymore.”

Article by Lori A. Bashian, Fox News Digital