{"id":24655,"date":"2026-08-01T23:50:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T18:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=24655"},"modified":"2026-08-01T23:50:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T18:50:50","slug":"henry-winkler-80-sets-the-record-straight-about-relationship-with-happy-days-cast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=24655","title":{"rendered":"Henry Winkler, 80, sets the record straight about relationship with Happy Days cast"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p id=\"eZhtrxpNCo\" data-wc=\"14\"><a class=\"hm-link he-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hellomagazine.com\/us\/913909\/happy-days-star-henry-winkler-shares-emotional-reaction-after-meeting-oscar-winning-idol\/\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-body-link\">Henry Winkler<\/a> just set the record straight about how his <a class=\"hm-link he-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hellomagazine.com\/us\/914272\/happy-days-cast-at-height-of-fame-photos-henry-winkler-ron-howard\/\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-body-link\"><em>Happy Days<\/em> co-stars<\/a> meshed.<\/p>\n<p><ev-engagement id=\"horizon_hello\" group-name=\"horizon_hello\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"eKey9xikp5o\" data-wc=\"43\">The 80-year-old actor became a household name when he starred as Arthur &#8220;Fonzie&#8221; Fonzarelli on <em>Happy Days<\/em> from 1974 to 1984. And while he got along with most of his co-stars, there were several guest stars who didn&#8217;t mesh as well as others.<\/p>\n<p id=\"eyuSj_QZejG\" data-wc=\"34\">While speaking at a recent fan expo in Tennessee with co-stars <strong>Anson WIlliams<\/strong> and <strong>Don<\/strong> <strong>Most<\/strong>, Henry told the crowd: &#8220;The truth of the matter is really on our set there was no stardom.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"fr-embedded\">\n<div data-wc=\"75\" id=\"exnNKPGHnd\">\n<figure class=\"he-meIm-995f02\">\n<div class=\"he-imCo-14461c5\"><img src=\"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/e62944806229-gettyimages-93371455.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width:1360px) 630px, (min-width:960px) 60vw, (min-width:320px) calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2)), calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2))\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/e62944806229-gettyimages-93371455.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_960 960w, https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/e62944806229-gettyimages-93371455.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_640 640w, https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/e62944806229-gettyimages-93371455.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_360 360w\" width=\"1024\" height=\"687\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ron Howard, Anson Williams, Donny Most and Henry Winkler on the set of Happy Days\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" class=\"image he-image\" data-flatplan=\"fp_photoCaption\"\/><span class=\"he-imCr-1233683\">\u00a9 Disney General Entertainment Con<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"he-meImCa-17135c3\">Ron Howard, Anson Williams, Donny Most and Henry Winkler on the set of Happy Days<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"ePcEBDvZg77\" data-wc=\"45\">&#8220;One guy came on as a guest star, and then he was brought back a few times, and he would mention his fan mail, and I said, &#8216;You don&#8217;t want to talk to me about fan mail, I get 50,000 letters a week,'&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p id=\"e3XjvtmnywJ\" data-wc=\"39\">&#8220;And I said, &#8216;We don\u2019t talk about that on the set. We are all here as one.&#8217; And he kept doing it, and he was an [expletive],&#8221; Henry said, adding that the guest star &#8220;played Eugene&#8221; on the show.<\/p>\n<p id=\"eQXrx5q44Df\" data-wc=\"32\">While Henry never named the guest star, <em>Parade<\/em> noted that the actor who played Eugene Belvin on seasons eight and nine was <strong>Denis<\/strong> <strong>Mandel<\/strong>, who later stepped away from the acting industry.<\/p>\n<p id=\"eq_V9NOBdOG\" data-wc=\"29\">Although the cast didn&#8217;t vibe perfectly with every guest star, they generally got along, especially Henry and <a class=\"hm-link he-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hellomagazine.com\/tags\/ron-howard\/\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-body-link\">Ron Howard<\/a>, who played Richie on <em>Happy Days<\/em> from 1974 to 1980.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fr-embedded\">\n<div data-wc=\"75\" id=\"e53Lq_fuMU\">\n<figure class=\"he-meIm-995f02\">\n<div class=\"he-imCo-14461c5\"><img src=\"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/55b96c8df777-gettyimages-2172267629.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width:1360px) 630px, (min-width:960px) 60vw, (min-width:320px) calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2)), calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2))\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/55b96c8df777-gettyimages-2172267629.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_960 960w, https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/55b96c8df777-gettyimages-2172267629.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_640 640w, https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/55b96c8df777-gettyimages-2172267629.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_360 360w\" width=\"1024\" height=\"753\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ron Howard and Henry Winkler speak onstage during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" class=\"image he-image\" data-flatplan=\"fp_photoCaption\"\/><span class=\"he-imCr-1233683\">\u00a9 Getty Images<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"he-meImCa-17135c3\">Ron and Henry formed a lifelong friendship on Happy Days<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"eM8tLEaVNze\" data-wc=\"84\">&#8220;We clicked. We \u2013 Henry Winkler and I \u2013 clicked immediately, on a kind of professional level, but I also looked up to him,&#8221; Ron told <a class=\"hm-link he-link\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/ron-howard-reveals-whether-he-clicked-immediately-with-henry-winkler-exclusive-11744226\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-body-link\"><em>People<\/em><\/a> in May 2025, adding: &#8220;Henry\u2019s a few years older than I am. Yale educated, and he looked at acting in a way that was \u2013 it wasn&#8217;t Hollywood. It was a little more intellectual. It was theater based, and that was new to me. But more than anything, we just got along beautifully and worked well together.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\" data-wc=\"6\" id=\"h2-4msapa4dy\">Henry Winkler&#8217;s life after <em>Happy Days<\/em><\/h2>\n<p id=\"eOviZjrzUA2\" data-wc=\"31\">After <em>Happy Days<\/em> ended in 1984, Henry struggled to pave a path for himself in Hollywood. He faced typecasting, with directors only wanting him to play a version of The Fonz.<\/p>\n<p id=\"eNeF0SYwhNd\" data-wc=\"54\">&#8220;After <em>Happy Days<\/em> finished. I&#8217;m sitting in my office. All I&#8217;m getting are Fonzi-like [offers],&#8221; Henry told fellow actor <a class=\"hm-link he-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hellomagazine.com\/us\/900319\/ted-danson-health-scare-mortality\/\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-body-link\">Ted Danson<\/a> on his podcast <em>\u00a0<\/em><a class=\"hm-link he-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-NtE0TGIPvU\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-body-link\"><em>Where Everybody Knows Your Name<\/em><\/a> in June 2026. &#8220;I have no idea, &#8216;Am I ever going to do anything that is as powerful?&#8217; And I went dark. I went dark.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"fr-embedded\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<div data-wc=\"200\" id=\"e7oUsdEg3S7\">\n<figure class=\"he-meIm-995f02\">\n<div class=\"he-imCo-14461c5\"><img src=\"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/bac87726d937-gettyimages-2238445467.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width:1360px) 630px, (min-width:960px) 60vw, (min-width:320px) calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2)), calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2))\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/bac87726d937-gettyimages-2238445467.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_960 960w, https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/bac87726d937-gettyimages-2238445467.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_640 640w, https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/bac87726d937-gettyimages-2238445467.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_360 360w\" width=\"887\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Max Winkler and Henry Winkler attend the Monster: The Ed Gein Story NY Premiere Afterparty at The Plaza on September 30, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy\/Getty Images for Netflix)\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" class=\"image he-image\" data-flatplan=\"fp_photoCaption\"\/><span class=\"he-imCr-1233683\">\u00a9 Getty Images for Netflix<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"he-meImCa-17135c3\">Henry leaned into fatherhood after Happy Days wrapped<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"eNu_2XLHj0fm\" data-wc=\"35\">Though the star admitted his career came to a halt for &#8220;eight or nine years&#8221; following, Ted, 78, was quick to highlight Henry&#8217;s new found success as a producer, writer and director in the industry.<\/p>\n<p id=\"e_Z6YWcAI-3Z\" data-wc=\"58\">&#8220;The greatest thing you learn is to pivot,&#8221; Henry said. &#8220;You&#8217;re going on a way and you&#8217;re thinking, &#8216;Oh, I&#8217;ve got to stay. I can&#8217;t do anything else. I don&#8217;t want to do anything else.&#8217; You have to learn to pivot. And when you pivot, the universe opens up and all of this generous stardust falls on you.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"fr-embedded\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<div data-wc=\"200\" id=\"e7ETKW-0_CG\">\n<figure class=\"he-meIm-995f02\">\n<div class=\"he-imCo-14461c5\"><img src=\"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/af92a8b80eda-hnkvmsaacaafjnc.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width:1360px) 630px, (min-width:960px) 60vw, (min-width:320px) calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2)), calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2))\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/af92a8b80eda-hnkvmsaacaafjnc.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_960 960w, https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/af92a8b80eda-hnkvmsaacaafjnc.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_640 640w, https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/af92a8b80eda-hnkvmsaacaafjnc.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_360 360w\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"henry winkler anthony hopkins\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" class=\"image he-image\" data-flatplan=\"fp_photoCaption\"\/><span class=\"he-imCr-1233683\">\u00a9 X<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"he-meImCa-17135c3\">Henry is enjoying life at 80 years old<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"eoz9aS7XdasA\" data-wc=\"41\">Henry eventually made a major comeback on-screen. He first broke through when he starred as Barry Zuckerkorn on <em>Arrested Development<\/em> and later won his first <a class=\"hm-link he-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hellomagazine.com\/tags\/emmys\/\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-body-link\">Primetime Emmy Award<\/a> for portraying acting teacher Gene Cousineau in the HBO dark comedy series <em>Barry<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Henry Winkler just set the record straight about how his Happy Days co-stars meshed. The 80-year-old actor became a household name when he starred as Arthur &#8220;Fonzie&#8221; Fonzarelli on Happy Days from 1974 to 1984. And while he got along with most of his co-stars, there were several guest stars who didn&#8217;t mesh as well&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24656,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/landscape\/10981f3e67ef-gettyimages-2271553926.jpg?tx=c_fill,w_1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-gossip"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24655"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24655\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}