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Talking Pictures

Talking Pictures

Henry Winkler

Jan 7, 2025 · 58 min · 14 segments

Host Ben Mankiewicz begins the new year by talking to the nicest man in Hollywood, actor Henry Winkler. Winkler admits it was almost impossible to find work after his 10-year run as the Fonz on Happy…

Host Ben Mankiewicz begins the new year by talking to the nicest man in Hollywood, actor Henry Winkler. Winkler admits it was almost impossible to find work after his 10-year run as the Fonz on Happy Days. He reminisces about his friendships with Sylvester Stallone and Ron Howard and shares his struggles with dyslexia. And we get the inspiring story of how he got the second role of a lifetime on HBO’s Barry. Winkler is an enthusiastic movie watcher, so his Super 8 is full of gems. Films Mentioned: The Waterboy Little Nicky Barry* The Lords of Flat...

Host Ben Mankiewicz begins the new year by talking to the nicest man in Hollywood, actor Henry Winkler. Winkler admits it was almost impossible to find work after his 10-year run as the Fonz on Happy…

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Speakers: Henry WinklerGuestBen MankiewiczHost

Top entities: Henry Winkler×55 Sylvester Stallone×11 Happy Days×25 Ben Mankiewicz×13 Ron Howard×14

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈3.2M followers

Writing, Dyslexia, and Finding Direction3:57 – 9:50

Ben MankiewiczHost

3:57

I went to Henry Winkler's home in West Los Angeles for this episode.

Ben MankiewiczHost

4:01

His house is filled with books and artwork, and he has two dogs I immediately bonded with.

Ben MankiewiczHost

4:08

Before we started talking, Henry got a phone call congratulating him on the great reviews for his latest book, Detective Duck, The Case of the Missing Tadpole.

Ben MankiewiczHost

4:18

It's the 40th book he's written.

Ben MankiewiczHost

4:21

So we began by talking about why he writes books.

Ben MankiewiczHost

4:25

Because it doesn't come easily.

Ben MankiewiczHost

4:28

So what I am struck by in your books, and this is book 40 with you? This is book 40.

Ben MankiewiczHost

4:35

And that's an amazing accomplishment for a guy who was not interested in writing a book.

Ben MankiewiczHost

4:42

Like you had

Henry WinklerGuest

4:43

to be- In reading.

Henry WinklerGuest

4:43

You had to twist your arm to get you to do it.

Henry WinklerGuest

4:45

Well, you know why I did it? Because it was a time filler.

Henry WinklerGuest

4:49

Because I couldn't get hired for my dream as an actor in 2000 because he is so funny.

Henry WinklerGuest

4:57

He's such a good guy.

Henry WinklerGuest

4:59

He was the Fonz, so, you know.

Henry WinklerGuest

5:02

So

Ben MankiewiczHost

5:02

that was existing in 2000 the same as it was in 1985.

Ben MankiewiczHost

5:07

Yes.

Ben MankiewiczHost

5:08

Even when you'd break through and have something, it just reverted back to he's the Fonz.

Ben MankiewiczHost

5:14

It did.

Ben MankiewiczHost

5:14

It did.

Ben MankiewiczHost

5:15

So you spent a fair amount of time then, totally understandably, trying to, exhausting people, exhausting yourself

Henry WinklerGuest

5:22

probably, about

Ben MankiewiczHost

5:22

how, look, I'm not the Fonz.

Ben MankiewiczHost

5:23

That was just a

Henry WinklerPersonAmerican actor and director
100%55 mentions
Sylvester StallonePersonAmerican actor and filmmaker
99%11 mentions
Happy DaysTV SeriesAmerican sitcom
98%25 mentions
Ben MankiewiczPersonAmerican television host and journalist
97%13 mentions
Ron HowardPersonAmerican filmmaker and actor
96%14 mentions
Carl ReinerPersonAmerican actor and writer
95%6 mentions
HBO MaxEntityTelevision channel
94%10 mentions
Night ShiftMovie1982 film
93%10 mentions
Michael KeatonPersonAmerican actor and filmmaker
92%8 mentions
HollywoodAdministrative AreaNeighborhood in Los Angeles, California
91%6 mentions
FonzieEntityFictional character
90%18 mentions
MacGyverTV SeriesTelevision series
89%2 mentions
CBSCompanyTelevision broadcasting company
88%3 mentions
RockyMovie1976 film
87%5 mentions
Gene CousineauEntityTV character
86%6 mentions
Bill HaderPersonAmerican actor and comedian
85%16 mentions
HBOTheater GroupCable television company
84%5 mentions
FlatbushPlaceNeighborhood in New York
83%3 mentions
Lin OliverPersonAmerican writer and film producer
82%2 mentions
Los AngelesCityCity in California
81%8 mentions
The Mary Tyler Moore ShowTV SeriesAmerican sitcom
80%4 mentions
Turner Classic MoviesEntityTelevision channel
80%6 mentions
Garry MarshallPersonAmerican screenwriter and director
79%4 mentions
Dustin HoffmanPersonAmerican actor and filmmaker
78%2 mentions
Rebel Without a CauseMovie1955 film
77%3 mentions
HeroesMovie1977 film
76%6 mentions
ScreamMovie1996 film
75%8 mentions
Perry KingPersonAmerican actor
74%2 mentions
The One and OnlyMovie1978 film
73%2 mentions
AudiBrandCar make
72%1 mention
Bill NyePersonAmerican television presenter
71%2 mentions
James DeanPersonAmerican actor
70%7 mentions
Love ActuallyMovie2003 film
69%4 mentions
dyslexiaEntityDisability
68%1 mention
Robin WilliamsPersonAmerican actor and comedian
67%4 mentions
Richard CurtisPersonBritish screenwriter and director
66%3 mentions
Emmy AwardsEntityAward
65%5 mentions
Notting HillMovie1999 film
64%3 mentions
City of GodMovie2002 film
63%2 mentions
Bob OdenkirkPersonAmerican actor and screenwriter
62%4 mentions
The Lords of FlatbushMovie1974 film
61%2 mentions
Mork & MindyTV SeriesAmerican sitcom
60%1 mention
Ed AsnerPersonAmerican actor
60%1 mention
Wes CravenPersonAmerican filmmaker
59%4 mentions
Alec BergPersonAmerican television writer and director
58%8 mentions
Better Call SaulTV SeriesAmerican drama series
56%3 mentions
Breaking BadTV SeriesAmerican drama series
56%3 mentions
Four Weddings and a FuneralMovie1994 film
55%3 mentions
Ed. WeinbergerPersonAmerican screenwriter and television producer
54%3 mentions
Francis VeberPersonFrench film director and screenwriter
53%1 mention

Television SitcomsTelevision > American Television
Happy DaysTelevision > American Television > Television Sitcoms
Henry WinklerBiography > Actor Biographies
Career in American Television and FilmBiography > Actor Biographies > Henry Winkler
Transition from Fonzie to Gene CousineauBiography > Actor Biographies > Henry Winkler > Career in American Television and Film
Fonzie and Henry Winkler's TypecastingTelevision > American Television > Television Sitcoms > Happy Days
Actor PerformancesFilm > American Cinema
Comedy and Drama FilmsFilm > American Cinema > Actor Performances
Night Shift, Heroes, Scream, and The WaterboyFilm > American Cinema > Actor Performances > Comedy and Drama Films
Dyslexia-Informed Children's BooksWriting > Children's Literature
Hank Zipzer and Detective Duck SeriesWriting > Children's Literature > Dyslexia-Informed Children's Books
Henry Winkler's Forty-Book AuthorshipWriting > Children's Literature > Dyslexia-Informed Children's Books > Hank Zipzer and Detective Duck Series
Performing Arts CareersPersonal Development > Career Resilience
Overcoming Dyslexia and TypecastingPersonal Development > Career Resilience > Performing Arts Careers
American CinemaFilm
Career ResiliencePersonal Development
Actor BiographiesBiography
Personal Development
Children's LiteratureWriting
Biography
Television
Writing
American TelevisionTelevision
Film

Writing, Dyslexia, and Finding Direction3:57 – 9:50

Ben MankiewiczHost

3:57

I went to Henry Winkler's home in West Los Angeles for this episode.

Ben MankiewiczHost

4:01

His house is filled with books and artwork, and he has two dogs I immediately bonded with.

Ben MankiewiczHost

4:08

Before we started talking, Henry got a phone call congratulating him on the great reviews for his latest book, Detective Duck, The Case of the Missing Tadpole.

Ben MankiewiczHost

4:18

It's the 40th book he's written.

Ben MankiewiczHost

4:21

So we began by talking about why he writes books.

Ben MankiewiczHost

4:25

Because it doesn't come easily.

Ben MankiewiczHost

4:28

So what I am struck by in your books, and this is book 40 with you? This is book 40.

Ben MankiewiczHost

4:35

And that's an amazing accomplishment for a guy who was not interested in writing a book.

Ben MankiewiczHost

4:42

Like you had

Henry WinklerGuest

4:43

to be- In reading.

Henry WinklerGuest

4:43

You had to twist your arm to get you to do it.

Henry WinklerGuest

4:45

Well, you know why I did it? Because it was a time filler.

Henry WinklerGuest

4:49

Because I couldn't get hired for my dream as an actor in 2000 because he is so funny.

Henry WinklerGuest

4:57

He's such a good guy.

Henry WinklerGuest

4:59

He was the Fonz, so, you know.

Henry WinklerGuest

5:02

So

Ben MankiewiczHost

5:02

that was existing in 2000 the same as it was in 1985.

Ben MankiewiczHost

5:07

Yes.

Ben MankiewiczHost

5:08

Even when you'd break through and have something, it just reverted back to he's the Fonz.

Ben MankiewiczHost

5:14

It did.

Ben MankiewiczHost

5:14

It did.

Ben MankiewiczHost

5:15

So you spent a fair amount of time then, totally understandably, trying to, exhausting people, exhausting yourself

Henry WinklerGuest

5:22

probably, about

Ben MankiewiczHost

5:22

how, look, I'm not the Fonz.

Ben MankiewiczHost

5:23

That was just a

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