Henry Winkler is diving deep into the harmful, and infrequently absurd, moments of American historical past in his new Historical past Channel sequence, “Hazardous Historical past with Henry Winkler.”
However because the beloved actor not too long ago admitted, he’s had some hazardous experiences of his personal, particularly whereas filming his iconic position as Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli on “Comfortable Days.”
In truth, Henry Winkler revealed that some of the harmful issues he’s ever performed for a task was trip a bike, a daily a part of the Fonz’s cool persona.
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Henry Winkler Admits Dyslexia Practically Led To Tragedy On ‘Comfortable Days’ Set
“I’m so dyslexic. I could not determine what was the fuel, what was the gear, what was the brake,” Winkler admitted to PEOPLE Journal. “And I almost killed the pinnacle of cinematography on ‘Comfortable Days’.”
That wasn’t his solely on-set scare. Whereas filming the 1977 movie “Heroes” with Sally Discipline and Harrison Ford, Winkler had a detailed name behind the wheel throughout a race monitor scene.
“I raced a automobile round a monitor. I used to be surrounded by these fantastic stuntmen. I stepped on the brake too exhausting and spun out, they usually all needed to miss me,” he mentioned. “It wasn’t within the script. I did it by mistake, they usually all screeched to a halt and ran over and mentioned, ‘Do you perceive that you may have simply been killed?’”
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The expertise left a mark. “It was so scary,” he recalled, “as a result of I did not understand what the ramifications of that spin-out might have been.”
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Winkler Explores America’s Dangerous Previous In New Sequence ‘Hazardous Historical past’
Regardless of the mishaps, Winkler says he’s not a thrill seeker.
“I’m not a thrill seeker,” he admitted, although he has a deep appreciation for dangerous and adventurous moments, each in his profession and in historical past. That appreciation is what impressed him to host “Hazardous Historical past,” which explores forgotten and infrequently harmful practices from America’s previous, from wild pastimes to weird merchandise as soon as deemed utterly regular.
Every episode of the 60-minute sequence unpacks outrageous tales of how Individuals used to reside, work, and play, usually with little supervision and a number of danger. Winkler brings a private and humorous perspective to the sequence, reflecting on how far we’ve come and the wild methods folks as soon as had enjoyable.
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Henry Winkler And Ron Howard Reunite Down Beneath For Heartfelt Memoir Second
Exterior of his new present, Winkler not too long ago reunited with “Comfortable Days” co-star Ron Howard in Sydney, Australia.
In 2024, the 2 longtime buddies shared a heartfelt second throughout Winkler’s occasion for his best-selling memoir “Being Henry: The Fonz…and Past.”
“LIFE! Because the WORLD turns @RealRonHoward got here to my e book occasion in Sydney, Australia. SO thrilling for everybody !!!!” Winkler shared on X.
Howard additionally posted concerning the reunion, “We linked backstage and I watched him give an awesome speech to an enormous crowd. What a blast!”
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Henry Winkler Displays On ‘Comfortable Days’
“Comfortable Days,” which aired on ABC from 1974 to 1984, ran for 11 seasons and have become a cultural phenomenon. The present adopted the lives of the Cunningham household and their unforgettable circle of buddies, together with Winkler’s leather-clad, motorcycle-riding Fonz.
“I used to be so joyful to be on this present that put out such good emotions into the world,” Winkler mentioned of his time on the sitcom. “I acquired to be with them, every of those guys, every single day, 5 days per week, for 10 and a half years. I don’t have a favourite [episode]. I actually don’t. I beloved each one in all them.”
The One Piece Of ‘Comfortable Days’ Henry Winkler Could not Depart Behind
When it got here time to say goodbye to “Comfortable Days,” Henry Winkler didn’t stroll away with Fonzie’s iconic leather-based jacket or motorbike, though he did public sale off the famed jacket in 2021. As an alternative, the sentimental merchandise he selected to maintain was one thing far more private: a small wood shelf tucked behind the set’s entrance to Arnold’s Drive-In.
Talking on his daughter Zoe Winkler’s podcast “What within the Winkler?!” alongside longtime good friend and co-star Ron Howard, Winkler revealed, “When Ron and I did ‘Comfortable Days,’ there was a shelf outdoors of Arnold’s.” The unassuming prop, he defined, was the place the forged would casually place their espresso cups and water bottles earlier than making their entrance by the swinging doorways.
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“On the finish of ‘Comfortable Days,’ I took that shelf,” Winkler shared. Howard instantly acknowledged the reference, calling the transfer “so good.”
Many years later, Winkler’s nonetheless revving engines, however this time, it’s with tales of historical past, humor, and some shut calls alongside the way in which. “Hazardous Historical past with Henry Winkler” premieres Sunday, June 15 on the Historical past Channel.
