From Emmy-award winning actor, author, comedian, producer, and director Henry Winkler, a deeply thoughtful memoir of the lifelong effects of stardom and the struggle to become whole.
Henry Winkler, launched into prominence by his role as “The Fonz” in the beloved Happy Days, has transcended the role that made him who he is. Brilliant, funny, and widely-regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood (though he would be the first to tell you that it’s simply not the case, he’s really just grateful to be here), Henry shares in this achingly vulnerable memoir the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia, the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own, and the path forward once your wildest dream seems behind you.
Since the glorious era of Happy Days fame, Henry has endeared himself to a new generation with roles in such adored shows as Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and Barry, where he’s revealed himself as an actor with immense depth and pathos, a departure from the period of his life when he was so distinctly typecast as The Fonz, he could hardly find work.
Filled with profound heart, charm, and self-deprecating humor, Being Henry is a memoir about so much more than a life in Hollywood and the curse of stardom. It is a meaningful testament to the power of sharing truth and kindness and of finding fulfillment within yourself.
As many children of the 70s, I grew up watching Happy Days each week and loving it. I had a Fonzie t-shirt. I don't watch much television though, so I wasn't aware of most of Henry's career post-Happy Days. I have, however, seen him in things over the years and I always thought him to be a kind person. His Twitter (X) account is delightful. I adore seeing his joy when he is here in Idaho fishing.
His book was a delight to read. It arrived Thursday afternoon and I read it Thursday night. I have another book in progress and it simply got set aside for Henry.
Henry talks of his life growing up: his parents fled Berlin just as the war was starting and his childhood was difficult. He had difficulty reading and didn't learn about his dyslexia until he was in his mid-thirties. But growing up and being called dumb and stupid does a number on your self-esteem and Henry is candid about always feeling inferior.
Happy Days is central in the beginning, but Henry's story is so much more than that. He shares his frustrations at being typecast, at struggling to find work. Like many celebrity biographies there is a lot of name dropping as to who he worked with and so forth. But he is gracious and complimentary to most of those he has worked with over the years and he shares what he learned from them.
I appreciated his honesty about discovering a good therapist when he was older and figuring out who he was and improving his relationships.
He and his wife have been married for 47 years and he includes paragraphs in Stacey's words which enriches the narrative.
While he is open about his life and frustrations and vulnerability, Henry's story is largely positive. You can feel his joy radiate off the pages. I highlighted some passages and have tagged so many pages.
My favorite? When Henry talks about never finishing a negative sentence.
"When you finish a negative sentence, it grows immediately into a paragraph, and then into a thesis, into so many words that grab your ankles and hold you in place....Release the negative thought before you put a period on the end of it."
Henry is grateful for his life and it shows.
This was a pleasure to read.
Read 11/23
* * * * *
5/5 Stars
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