The “Happy Days” sitcom ran for 11 seasons, first airing on January 15, 1974. It starred Henry Winkler as Fonzie, and the actor, who is now 79, reflected on his time on the show in an interview with Fox News Digital on August 31.
He recounted a remarkable story about how he helped to save a young man’s life, and he did this by taking the time to show him compassion and understanding.
Henry Winkler Recalls a Story About a Teen Fan
Winkler reflected on the incident that happened while he was on the “Happy Days” set. “We’re on the set of ‘Happy Days,’ 50 years ago, and the phone all of a sudden rings… It is a police officer somewhere in the Midwest,” Winkler told Fox News Digital.
The policeman shared that there was a 17-year-old man with mental health problems who wanted to talk to the actor. Winkler agreed. “Where I got the nerve to talk to this guy, I don’t know. But I said to him, the first thing that came to my mind: ‘Do you have a record collection?’” he said. “He said, ‘I do.’ I said, ‘Look, just go inside and write on a piece of paper that you’re going to sign your record collection over to me.’” Being able to distract him like this allowed the policeman to intervene and help the teenager.
The story is one of compassion and kindness, but those who have followed Winkler’s story or have interacted with him are likely unsurprised because being kind to others is something he has emphasised.
“Kindness has never been a disadvantage. Also, don’t think of myself as a nice guy. I think of myself as a grateful guy,” he said. “My gratitude allows the journey — with all the bumps and the bruises and all of the success — to equal out.”
Henry Winkler’s Career & His Kindness
Winkler has worked in the entertainment industry for decades. His first credited role was in two episodes of the 1972 TV series, “Another World,” per IMDB. This was just three years before he would get his big break on “Happy Days.” Winkler’s most recent performance is listed as the short film, “The Final Cut” in 2025. He has 164 credits as an actor on the platform.
Winkler has achieved success and landed many roles, but he has not let fame take some of life’s simple pleasures away from him. When asked by Fox News Digital to recount some of the things that fame has not changed, he said, “The way that I view the world, the way that I view my family and our puppies, the way that I view the human beings I meet all over the world.”
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