Henry Winkler’s path to success was far from easy. He encountered considerable obstacles during his schooling, which resulted in severe criticism from his parents. The relentless belittling and name-calling ultimately affected his self-esteem—something he promised never to inflict upon his own children. It was not until many years later that Winkler uncovered the root cause of his difficulties. With this understanding, he aimed to utilize his diagnosis to motivate others, especially children.
Even though he is a highly successful actor, Winkler had to exert tremendous effort to achieve all his accolades. His challenges began early in his life, primarily due to the immense expectations placed upon him, especially in terms of his education.
“My parents were very, very, very, very, very short Jews from Germany,” Winkler recounted in an interview with The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity. “They had a strong belief in education. They perceived me as lazy. I was labeled as lazy. I was deemed stupid. I was told I was not fulfilling my potential.” However, Winkler was aware that he was putting forth his utmost effort, regardless of his parents’ perceptions.
Determined not to be seen as “foolish,” Winkler employed every strategy to excel in his studies. Regrettably, his attempts frequently fell short, resulting in disciplinary actions at home. These difficulties also hindered his involvement in school events such as dances or theatrical performances. “I was grounded for the majority of my high school years. They believed that if I remained at my desk for six weeks consecutively, I would eventually understand, and they aimed to put an end to the absurdity of my laziness.”
In spite of these obstacles, Winkler successfully earned an MFA from Yale University. Nevertheless, his academic challenges reemerged post-graduation, especially regarding script reading. “You learn to navigate your learning difficulties. I adapted. I have never read anything as it was originally written throughout my life,” he stated. Winkler cultivated a talent for memorizing extensive sections of scripts and improvising the remainder, often depending on his ability to elicit laughter, which occasionally resulted in him being cast in various roles.
His most renowned character, Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli from Happy Days, was not without its difficulties. Winkler admitted to facing challenges during table reads, where he frequently felt a sense of embarrassment in front of his peers. “During the production of Happy Days, I felt embarrassed for a decade while reading scripts at the table with the producers, fellow actors, the director, and all the department heads. Every Monday morning, we would read the scripts. I stumbled over every single word.”
It was only when Winkler’s stepson began experiencing difficulties in school and underwent testing for a learning disability that he contemplated the possibility of having dyslexia himself. “I thought, ‘Oh my goodness. I have something that has a name.’ That was the moment I first realized it,” Winkler reminisced. At that time, he was 31 years old.
The discovery that his difficulties with reading were attributed to dyslexia elicited a strong emotional response. “I felt a surge of anger. All the disputes in my home with my short German parents were pointless. All the punishments were meaningless.” Nevertheless, Winkler channeled his frustration into a constructive endeavor by utilizing his diagnosis to motivate others, especially children. He authored a series of children’s books featuring a character named Hank, an elementary school student grappling with dyslexia. The series struck a chord with many readers, and Winkler received a multitude of letters from children who found solace and encouragement in Hank’s narrative. “For every child who sends me a letter about Hank Zip zer, I make it a point to respond. In each letter, I include the message, ‘Your learning challenge will not prevent you from achieving your dreams. Only you can hinder your own path to success.’
Despite continuing to encounter difficulties due to dyslexia, Winkler has attained remarkable success. Alongside receiving various accolades for his contributions to Hollywood, he has penned multiple books. It was recently revealed that his memoir is set to be published in 2024. In light of all his achievements, Winkler regards the books he has authored as his most significant accomplishment. “Aside from my family, my most cherished moment, regardless of my successes, are the books.”
Henry Winkler’s narrative exemplifies resilience and confidence in oneself.
In spite of the ongoing criticism and misinterpretation he encountered, he managed to transform his challenges into a wellspring of motivation for others.