Henry Winkler visits SiriusXM Studios on May 2, 2023.Photo:Santiago Felipe/Getty
Santiago Felipe/Getty
Henry Winklerknows what it takes to have staying power in Hollywood.
In the October/November issue ofAARP Magazine, theHappy Daysstar — whoturned 78on Monday — discussed landing the role of Gene Cousineau on the HBO dark comedyBarry, for which he won his first Emmy award in 2018 after several nominations.
“Barryis a miracle,” exclaims the actor, who went through periods in his career in which he struggled to find roles.
During his acceptance speech for the long-awaited award, he shared, “If you stay at the table long enough, the chips come to you.”
enry Winkler attends the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards on January 15, 2023.Frazer Harrison/Getty
Frazer Harrison/Getty
Winkler toldAARPthat he was grateful to take home the trophym despite other actors claiming to not need the recognition, saying, “Actors sometimes say, ‘I don’t really care about the winning.I have my Emmy or my whatever, and it’s a doorstop in the bathroom.’ They’re lying!”
Ahead of the release of his new memoirBeing Henry: The Fonz…and Beyond, he said he has no plans to slow down.
“I have my work and writing,” he said. “When will the switch flip? When will the dial turn me down? I still have the energy.”
Henry Winkler.Michelle Groskopf
Michelle Groskopf
Winkler is embracing his next chapter and advises fans to follow in his footsteps, saying, “Don’t think about what you don’t have. Embrace and enjoy what’s in front of you.”
The actor also opened up about his personal evolution, saying, “The old Henry got me here, but the new Henry is more fun.”
His attitude is also reflected in his home which is designed to be a gathering place for family including six grandchildren. He shares, “There are no plastic covers on our sofas. This house is meant for the lives of all of the children to be as free and as fun-filled as possible. And you know, if there’s a spot here, a spot there, big deal. The laughter, the squeals, the running, the food throwing, the toy playing is worth a spot or two.”
“You have to jump off the precipice and just trust you’re going to fly,” he said, remembering some lean years when the acting jobs weren’t coming and he had a family to support and a mortgage to pay. That vulnerable place ultimately led him to tap into new opportunities in his career.
“What am I going to do?” he recalled wondering at the time. “And then somebody suggested I become a producer. I start off saying, ‘I can’t do it. I’m dyslexic. I have no idea what the business is. I can’t do it.’ And then finally you say, ‘Oh, just shut up and try.'”
“So, I think shut up and try is the [lesson],” he continued. “It sounds simple, but it might be the most important lesson that I could pass on to somebody.”
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Henry Winkler’s memoirBeing Henry: The Fonz …. and Beyondis available Tuesday wherever books are sold.
source: people.com
