HENRY WINKLER Actor, Author, Producer & Director “How do you measure a man? Is it by the things he owns, by the company he keeps or by the lengths he would go to get what he wants? If there can be any truer measure of a man than by what he does, it must be by what he gives to others.” Such a man is Henry Winkler. Actor, director, producer and author are words often used to describe Henry Winkler. Born in New York City on October 30, 1945, Henry began performing at the age of 14. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama in 1970, he moved back to New York to make his mark on Broadway, but decided to give television a try and headed to Los Angeles in 1973. He quickly found work in commercials and landed several guest spots on sitcoms including The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show, but an audition in October of that year changed his life forever. Producer Garry Marshall and Tom Miller cast Winkler (on his birthday) in the role of Arthur Fonzarelli, aka The Fonz or Fonzie in the TV series, Happy Days. The ABC series was one of the most popular sitcoms from 1974 – 1984. During his 10 years on Happy Days, Henry won two Golden Globe Awards and was nominated three times for an Emmy Award. He was honored with a “star” on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the leather jacket the character wore has hung in The Smithsonian since 1980. “Fonzie’s” lunch box was recently added to the exhibit. Henry’s portrayal of “The Fonz,” made him one of the most recognized actors in the world and an international star...a status he still maintains to this day. But while Happy Days and “The Fonz” continue to live in the past thanks to cable television, Henry Winkler lives very much in the present and this past year has been no exception. It’s hard to believe that Henry Winkler has been working in the entertainment industry for more than 30 years. Suggested Speech Topics A Conversation with Henry Winkler Happy Days made Henry Winkler a TV star, but the actor was able to make his mark in films as well. When the series was on hiatus, Henry was able to star in a number of feature films including The Lords of Flatbush, Heroes, The One and Only and Night Shift, which was directed by his co-star Ron Howard. After Happy Days ended, Henry began to concentrate on producing and directing. To date, he has produced over 20 TV series and specials including MacGyver, (seven seasons) So Weird, Mr. Sunshine, Sightings, (seven seasons), A Family Again, All Kids Do It, Ryan’s Four, Scandal Sheet with Burt Lancaster and the ABC documentary, Who Are the DeBolts and Where Did They Get 19 Kids?, which won the prestigious Humanitas Prize. He also directed several movies including Memories of Me, starring Billy Crystal and the late Alan King and Cop and a Half, starring Burt Reynolds. In the 1990’s he returned to acting in a variety of roles. In Absolute Strangers, he 3-2013 In June 2010, Henry joined the cast of the USA Network series, Royal Pains, as Eddie R. Lawson, the charming but long absent conartist father of the show’s two stars, played by Mark Feuerstein and Paulo Constanzo. Henry also joined the ensemble cast of Cartoon Network’s first live-action comedy, Children’s Hospital. He plays hospital administrator, Sy Mittleman. Children’s Hospital is a satirical comedy television series about the medical show genre, created by and starring actor/comedian Rob Corddy and also stars Megan Mullally, Lake Bell, Ken Marino, Erinn Hayes, Ron Huebel and Malin Akerman. In Spring 2012 he also co-starred with Kevin James and Salma Hayek in Here Comes The Boom, a comedy about the world of extreme wrestlers. Exclusive Representation by Greater Talent Network 437 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10016 (212) 645-4200 www.greatertalent.com [email protected] HENRY WINKLER (2) Actor, Writer, Producer & Director played a husband forced to decide between his comatose wife and unborn child. He co-starred with Katherine Hepburn in the holiday TV movie, One Christmas, which was her last film. And he returned to series TV in the short-lived comedy series, Monty. In 1998, one of Henry’s good friends, Adam Sandler, asked him to play a supporting role in The Waterboy. Over the next 10 years, he appeared in three other Sandler films, Click, Little Nicky and You Don’t Mess with the Zohan. Some of his other film credits include Holes, I Could Never Be Your Woman, Down to You and Heroes. Television called again in the late 1990’s and Henry landed a guest role in the ABC drama series, The Practice, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award. In 2003, he was cast for a guest role on the critically acclaimed Fox sitcom, Arrested Development. The character was so well received that it became a recurring role and Henry stayed on the show for 2-1/2 years. That was followed by a starring role in the CBS sitcom, Out of Practice. Among his most notable credits are guest-starring roles on series such as Numb3rs. (5 episodes) The Bob Newhart Show, Third Watch, (3 episodes), Crossing Jordan, Law and Order SVU and the Hallmark Channel holiday movie, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. He also lent his voice to such shows as South Park, King of the Hill, Family Guy, The Simpsons and Clifford: The Puppy Years for which he received an Emmy Award. In 1999, Henry starred in the world premiere of Neil Simon’s The Dinner Party at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. He co-star was his good friend, (the late) John Ritter. An engagement in 2000 at the Eisenhower Theatre at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. led to its Broadway run and in 2001, Henry finally returned to Broadway after an absence of 30 years. It was a lifelong dream come true for the actor. His first role on Broadway lasted only one night. He was determined to return to the Broadway stage one day for more than one performance. The Dinner Party ran for close to a year in New York and the cast won the Outer Critics Circle Special Achievement Award for Best Ensemble. JZM also produced several children’s specials including the ABC Afterschool Special Run, Don’t Walk, and the CBS Schoolbreak Special, All the Kids Do It, about teenage drunk driving, which was directed by Henry. The special won the Daytime Emmy for Best Children’s Program. In 1987, Henry teamed with Ann Daniel, former ABC Vice President of Series Development/Primetime Entertainment to produce A Family Again, which aired in 1988. The one-hour special, starring real-life husband and wife, Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry, about a family trying to recapture some semblance of a normal life following the death of their eldest daughter, was moved from an ABC Afterschool Special to a primetime special when the network saw the finished product – only the second time that ABC has done such a thing. Their 1991 project The UFO Report: Sightings for the Fox Television Network proved to be a ratings winner and ran successfully for seven seasons. Henry was also active, yet ironically least recognized, for his theatrical film production. The critical and box office success of The Sure Thing, starring John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga and directed by Rob Reiner changed that perception. Young Sherlock Holmes followed and was produced in association with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin’ Productions. In 2003, Henry’s career took yet another turn. He added “author” to his long list of accomplishments. He began writing a series of children’s novels with his partner, Lin Oliver, for Penguin Putnam entitled, Hank Zipzer: The World’s Greatest Under-Achiever. The books were inspired by Henry’s struggle throughout his education due to his learning challenges. “I 01-0311 In 2004, Henry returned to producing and put together a new version of the old game show, Hollywood Squares with his partner, Michael Levitt. The pair also produced The Happy Day’s 30 Year Reunion Special, The Dallas Celebration Reunion, Knots Landing Reunion and Dynasty Reunion: Catfights and Caviar. As the father of three, Henry has always been concerned about the quality of children’s television programming. His JZM Productions, named for his three children: Jed, Zoe and Max and founded in 1983, created worthwhile projects for a young audience. Happily Ever After was an animated special for PBS’s Wonderworks series in 1985 and dealt with a young girl coming to terms with her parent’s divorce. A sequel, Two Daddies to Love Me, aired on PBS in 1989. Exclusive Representation by Greater Talent Network 437 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10016 (212) 645-4200 www.greatertalent.com [email protected] HENRY WINKLER (3) Actor, Writer, Producer & Director had trouble reading books, so I never imagined I could write one,” he said when asked about the success of the Hank Zipzer series. All 17 novels of the series are in bookstores across the United States and most recently have become popular in Great Britain. The Hank Zipzer series has appeared on several Best Seller lists including the New York Times and have sold more than 3 million copies. Continuing his love for children’s books, he released the first installment of a new series in January 2012 entitled Ghost Buddy #1: Zero to Hero. The story follows the new kid in school as his friend Hoover, a ghost, helps him overcome an obnoxious bully. In 2011 he published a collection of anecdotes and heartfelt observations I Never Met an Idiot on the River. The book is a collection of the lessons and photos Winkler gathered while fly fishing in Montana. In 2006, Henry was asked to play the role of Captain Hook in the holiday pantomime production of Peter Pan at the New Wimbledon Theatre in London. He reprised the role in Woking, England for Christmas 2007. For the 2008-2009 seasons, the play moved to the Milton Keyes Theatre. This year Henry will don the hook once again at the Liverpool Empire. Henry has always believed in helping others. His work with children knows no boundaries. The list of groups with which he is associated is as long as his resume of acting credits. It includes Honorary Chairman of United Friends of the Children (support group for MacLaren Children’s Center, a facility for abused children in Los Angeles); Founding Member of the Children’s Action Network, an organization composed of entertainment industry leaders dedicated to raising the profile of children’s issues through the media; co-host of the annual Cerebral Palsy Telethon; the first National Honorary Chairman of the Epilepsy Foundation of America; National Chairman of the annual Toys for Tots campaign; the National Committee for Arts for the Handicapped; the Special Olympics; the Los Angeles Music Center’s Very Special Arts Festival for children who are physically challenged and numerous teenage alcohol and drug abuse programs. Henry was honored in July 2010 by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers for his work with the British government on the “My Way!” Campaign – an educational initiative focused on raising awareness for children with learning challenges throughout the United Kingdom. Henry recently returned from Washington, D.C. where he was one of 10 individuals honored by AARP with their 2010 Inspire Award. Henry is lending his star power to help the estimated 1 million Americans affected by the condition Open Arms: Raising Awareness of Upper Limb Spasticity, which highlights a promising new treatment using Botox. His own mother suffered from the condition for 10 years. Among those honored with Henry who received AARP’s highest honor were Tony Danza, Lisa Niemi Swayze, Joy Behar, Elizabeth Warren and Dr. Maya Angelou. Of all the titles he has received, the ones he relishes most are husband, father and most recently grandfather. Henry and Stacey have three children, Jed, Zoe and Max. Jed and his wife recently became parents of a daughter, Indya. The Winklers reside in Los Angeles with their two dogs, Charlotte and Linus. Henry has worked tirelessly to bring awareness and support to children who learn differently by advocating for changes in the educational system and informing parents and teachers about learning challenges. His own challenges with learning – the diagnosis of dyslexia came when he was 30 – led him to send this message to children coping with their own learning difficulties: “no matter how you learn, it has nothing to do with your brilliance. You have greatness inside of you.” The great Austrian Jewish author Theodor Herzl said, “If you will it, it is not a dream.” 03-2012 Never asking to be recognized for his personal commitment to helping others, Henry’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. His has received a number of accolades from a variety of prestigious organizations including the Champion of Youth by B’nai B’rith, Peace Prize by the United Nations and Women in Film’s Norma Zarky Humanitarian Award presented to both Henry and his wife, Stacey, for their tireless efforts and devotion to the “improvement of the human condition.” They both also received the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Support Group Service’s Helping Hand Award in 1985 in recognition for all they have done for the children of Los Angeles. In June of 1996, Henry received the Chevallier de l’Ordre des Artes et Lettres, the French Government’s highest Last year, honor. her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II awarded Henry with an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of his services to children with special education needs. Exclusive Representation by Greater Talent Network 437 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10016 (212) 645-4200 www.greatertalent.com [email protected]