Henry Winkler’s journey to success was anything but smooth. He faced significant challenges in school, which led to harsh criticism from his parents. The constant putdowns and name-calling eventually took a toll on his confidence—something he vowed never to impose on his own children. It wasn’t until decades later that Winkler discovered the underlying reason for his struggles. Understanding this, he sought to use his diagnosis to inspire others, particularly children.
Despite being a highly accomplished actor, Winkler had to work incredibly hard for all his achievements. His difficulties began early in life, largely due to the high expectations placed on him, particularly regarding education.
“My parents were very, very, very, very, very short Jews from Germany,” Winkler shared with The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity. “They believed in education. They thought I was lazy. I was called lazy. I was called stupid. I was told I was not living up to my potential.” But Winkler knew he was giving his best effort, despite what his parents believed.
Determined not to be perceived as “stupid,” Winkler tried every trick to succeed in school. Unfortunately, his efforts often fell short, leading to punishments at home. These struggles also prevented him from participating in school activities like dances or plays. “I was grounded for most of my high school career. They thought if I stayed at my desk for six weeks at a time, I was going to get it, and they were just going to put an end to the silliness of my laziness.”
Despite these challenges, Winkler managed to graduate with an MFA from Yale University. However, his academic difficulties resurfaced after graduation, particularly when it came to reading scripts. “You learn to negotiate with your learning challenge. I improvised. I never read anything the way that it was written in my entire life,” he explained. Winkler developed a knack for memorizing large portions of scripts and improvising the rest, often relying on his ability to make people laugh, which sometimes led to him being hired for roles.
His most famous role, Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on Happy Days, did not come without its challenges. Winkler confessed to struggling during table reads, where he often felt embarrassed in front of his colleagues. “When we did Happy Days, I embarrassed myself for 10 years reading around that table with the producers, the other actors, the director, all of the department heads. On Monday morning, we read the scripts. I stumbled over every word.”
It wasn’t until Winkler’s stepson began having trouble in school and was tested for a learning disability that he considered he might also have dyslexia. “I went, ‘Oh my goodness. I have something with a name.’ That was when I first got it,” Winkler recalled. He was 31 years old at the time.
The revelation that his reading struggles were due to dyslexia brought about a wave of emotions. “I got very angry. Because all of the arguments in my house with the short Germans who were my parents were for naught. All of the grounding was for naught.” However, Winkler turned his anger into something positive by using his diagnosis to inspire others, particularly children. He wrote a children’s book series featuring a boy named Hank, an elementary school student with dyslexia. The series resonated with many, and Winkler received numerous letters from children who found comfort and inspiration in Hank’s story. “Every child who writes me a letter about Hank Zipzer, I write back. In every letter I include, ‘Your learning challenge will not stop you from meeting your dream. Only you will stop yourself from meeting your dream.’”
Though Winkler still faces challenges with dyslexia, he has achieved tremendous success. In addition to winning numerous awards for his work in Hollywood, he has authored several books. Recently, it was announced that his memoir would be released in 2024. Despite all his accomplishments, Winkler considers the books he has written to be his proudest achievement. “Outside of my family, my proudest moment, no matter what I have achieved, are the books.”
Henry Winkler’s story is a testament to perseverance and self-belief. Despite the constant criticism and misunderstanding he faced, he was able to turn his struggles into a source of inspiration for others.