Henry Winkler’s path to success was far from easy. As a child, he struggled in school and faced constant criticism from his parents, who believed he was lazy and not living up to his potential. “I was called lazy. I was called stupid,” he once shared. Despite trying everything he could to succeed, he was often punished and grounded, missing out on school activities and feeling defeated. Determined to prove he wasn’t “stupid,” Winkler worked tirelessly. He eventually earned an MFA from Yale University, but even then, reading scripts remained a challenge.
“I improvised. I never read anything the way that it was written in my entire life,” he admitted. His natural humor and creativity often helped him secure roles—including his iconic part as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on Happy Days. Still, table reads were painful, and he frequently stumbled over lines in front of cast and crew. Everything changed when his stepson was tested for a learning disability. Winkler realized he had dyslexia—at age 31.
The diagnosis brought anger and relief: all the years of shame and punishment suddenly made sense. Instead of dwelling on the past, he channeled his experience into helping others. He co-created a children’s book series about Hank Zipzer, a boy with dyslexia, inspiring countless young readers. Winkler personally responds to letters from children, reminding them, “Your learning challenge will not stop you from meeting your dream.”
Today, despite lifelong struggles with dyslexia, Winkler celebrates both his award-winning acting career and the books he’s written—his proudest achievement outside of family. His story stands as a powerful reminder that challenges do not define us—perseverance does.