Henry Winkler said that the reason Fonzie was so appealing was because he genuinely enjoyed playing the character
All of the best things are created through love, determination, and a whole lot of passion. Luckily for Henry Winkler, he was never short on any of those three things.
Winkler has a long and storied career, both as an actor and director. However, he is perhaps best known as the Fonz of Happy Days. It's the role that made him a star, but it didn't just fall into his lap. According to an article in The Orlando Sentinel, Winkler earned a master of fine arts from the Yale School of Drama, proving that he had the talent and the drive to pursue his dream.
When he landed the role of Fonzie, Winkler said that it was the best of both worlds; not only was the character popular with viewers, but it was also a character that Winkler genuinely enjoyed playing.
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"I've wanted to be an actor for so long, and I really enjoy the role," said Winkler. "Hopefully, one of the reasons for Fonzie's appeal is the fact that I enjoy doing him. The energy you give to a role is the energy you get back."
Winkler worked hard to make sure Fonzie wasn't just a two-dimensional cool guy persona; Fonzie had a heart and was loyal to his friends. These traits were the ones that truly appealed him to Happy Days fans.
"He's a hard guy but a hard guy with soul," the actor said. "He's spontaneous. He lives hard and loves fast, and no one ever uses his comb. That may sound like a lot of words, but it really means something."
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