Henry Winkler

Photo of Henry Winkler

Biography

Impressively able to channel his 1970s star-making sitcom turn into one of the most varied and long-lasting Hollywood success stories of all time, Henry Winkler built an impressive career as an actor, producer and director in television and films. Immortalized in Americana as the good-hearted greaser "The Fonz" on "Happy Days" (ABC, 1974-1984), Winkler benefited from his career-long association and multiple collaborations with co-star Ron …
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Job Title

Actor, Director, Producer, Music, Other

Born

October 30, 1945

Career Milestones

2012

Co-starred with Kevin James in action comedy "Here Comes the Boom," directed by Frank Coraci

2009

Guest starred on three episodes of "Numb3rs" (CBS)

2008

Appeared in "You Don't Mess with the Zohan," starring Sandler

2006

Again cast opposite Adam Sandler in Frank Coraci directed comedy "Click"

2003

Cast in recurring role as incompetent lawyer Barry Zuckercorn on Fox's "Arrested Development"

2000

Made cameo in Adam Sandler comedy vehicle "Little Nicky"

2000

Gave memorable guest performance on NBC sitcom "Battery Park"; initially nominated for an Emmy for his role, but the late airing of the episode missed the Emmy deadline and nomination was rescinded

2000

Helmed episodes of ABC sitcom "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch"

1999

Acted in the Los Angeles production of Neil Simon's "The Dinner Party"; reprised role on Broadway in 2000

1999

Featured in festival screened mockumentary "Dill Scallion" and the direct-to-video drama "Ground Control"

1999

Served as a producer of The Disney Channel's sci-fi family series "So Weird"

1999

Cast in recurring guest role as a dentist accused of murder on "The Practice" (ABC); nominated for an Emmy for his performance

1998

Co-starred as a malevolent boss bullying a fed-up Randy Quaid in the children's feature "P.U.N.K.S"

1998

Played the football coach opposite Adam Sandler in surprise hit comedy "The Waterboy"

1997

Executive produced Showtime series "Dead Man's Gun"; guest starred on two episodes

1997

Helmed episodes of the UPN comedy series "Clueless"

1996

Played Principal Himbry in Wes Craven's horror hit "Scream"

1995

Directed an episode of "Dave's World" (CBS)

1994

Played title character on Fox sitcom "Monty"; also executive produced

1993

Directed "Cop and ½," a buddy film pairing Burt Reynolds and a precocious eight-year-old boy (Norman D. Golden II)

1992

Executive produced the TV series "Sightings" (Fox, The Sci-Fi Channel)

1991

Starred as a man who wants to save his wife's life by terminating her pregnancy in "Absolute Strangers" (CBS)

1990

Created and executive produced the comedy series "Tim Conway's Funny America"

1988

Feature directorial debut, "Memories of Me"

1987

Formed Winkler-Daniel Productions with Ann Daniel; inaugural project "A Family Again" (ABC, 1988) starred Jill Eikenbery and Michael Tucker

1986

Made TV-movie directing debut with Dolly Parton's "A Smokey Mountain Christmas" (ABC)

1986

Executive produced short-lived series "Mr. Sunshine" (ABC)

1985

Executive produced popular ABC adventure series "MacGyver"

1985

First feature as producer, Barry Levinson's "Young Sherlock Holmes"

1985

First feature as executive producer, Rob Reiner's "The Sure Thing"

1984

Directed "All the Kids Do It," a "CBS Schoolbreak Special" about the dangers of drunk driving

1983

Formed JZM Productions (the initials taken from the first names of his three children), a company geared toward quality children's programming

Directed commercials for McDonald's and Frosted Flakes

1983

First TV series as executive producer, short-lived ABC medical drama "Ryan's Four"

1982

Directed an episode of "Happy Days" spin-off "Joanie Loves Chachi" (ABC)

1982

Voiced his Fonz character on ABC animated series "Laverne & Shirley with Special Guest Star the Fonz"

1982

Starred in the Ron Howard helmed comedy "Night Shift"

1981

Executive produced unsold pilot "Gabe and Walker"

1980

Provided the voice of The Fonz for ABC Saturday morning cartoon "The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang"

1979

Played Scrooge-inspired character Benedict Slade in the Depression era-set ABC TV-movie "An American Christmas Carol"

1979

Formed Fair Dinkum Productions; served as President from its inception

1977

Executive produced Oscar-winning documentary "Who Are the DeBolts - And Where Did They Get 19 Kids?"; film aired on ABC in 1978

1977

Starred in the ABC children's educational special "Henry Winkler Meets William Shakespeare"

1974

Starred as Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli (aka The Fonz) on ABC sitcom "Happy Days"; series also starred Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham

1974

First significant film role, "The Lords of Flatbush"; character was precursor for his signature role The Fonz

1973

Made film acting debut in "Crazy Joe"

Worked as teacher at UCLA Adult Extension

Moved to L.A.

1973

Starred in the Broadway flop "42 Seconds From Broadway"

Acted in off-Broadway theater

1972

Founded improvisation company Off The Wall NY

Appeared on PBS satirical magazine series "The Great American Dream Machine"

Appeared in 30 TV commercials

Returned to NYC to work in radio

1970

Was a member of the Yale Repertory

1968

Founded New Haven Free Theatre

Awards

2000

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor In a Drama Series in The Practice

1982

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in Night Shift

1978

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in Happy Days

1977

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy Or Musical in Happy Days

1977

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in Happy Days

1977

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Heroes

1976

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy Or Musical in Happy Days

1976

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in Happy Days