Introduction and Background

• Henry Winkler introduced as American actor, author, producer, director
• Career started with Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on Happy Days (major hit series)
• Notable roles: Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, Barry
• Celebrating 50 years of success in Hollywood
• Awards: 3 Emmy Awards, 2 Golden Globe Awards, 2 Critics Choice Awards

Two New Books Launch

• October releases: memoir "Being Henry: The Fonz and Beyond" and children's book "Detective Duck: The Case of the Strange Splash"
• Literary career began as "time filler" after Broadway play "The Dinner Party" by Neil Simon with John Ritter
• Couldn't find acting work, suggested to write books despite severe dyslexia
• Collaborated with Lynn Oliver on Hank Zipzer series (28 books total)
• Detective Duck (#39 novel) inspired during pandemic while doing jigsaw puzzles
  • Character lives on New Hampshire pond, ecologically aware
  • Friends include beaver dad, salamander, dragonfly, heron, catfish
  • Solves mystery of rubber tire from human truck
  • Emphasizes teamwork over individual effort
• Memoir process: 70 hours of interviews with James Kaplan, then rewrote adding humor

Dyslexia Journey and Impact

• Severely dyslexic, didn't read first novel until age 30 (Clan of the Cave Bear)
• Childhood challenges: called "stupid" or "lazy," "not living up to potential"
• Parents (German immigrants who escaped 1939) called him "dummkopf" (dumb dog)
• School experience "bone crushing," got by "skin of teeth"
• Applied to 28 colleges, accepted only to Emerson in Boston
• Took geometry for 4 years (same course repeatedly)
• Discovered dyslexia at age 31 through stepson Jed's third-grade testing
• Initial reaction: anger at people who punished him, frustration at brain wiring
• Eventually learned to negotiate and live with condition
• Believes struggle may have fueled his drive and success

Acting Career with Dyslexia

• Coping strategies: got scripts early, used yellow highlighter extensively
• Memorized scripts through repetition until almost perfect
• When auditioning: memorized quickly, improvised when hitting "wall of not knowing"
• Told casting directors: "giving you essence of piece, will memorize verbatim when cast"
• Used humor to cover shame and humiliation during table reads
• Lives by two words: "tenacity and gratitude"
• At 77, still filled with ambition

Career Evolution and Reinvention

• Typecasting challenges after Happy Days (8-9 years couldn't get hired)
• Turned down Danny Zuko in Grease due to Fonzie association
• Chose dramatic role in Night Shift with Ron Howard
• Key lesson: "being flexible, must reinvent yourself"
• Became producer (never thought possible)
• First show sold: MacGyver (ran 7 years originally, 5 years in reboot)
• Fonzie at age 27, Gene Cousineau (Barry) at age 72
• HBO executive surprised by Henry's range during Barry table read

Personal Growth and Integration

• Described himself as "shaky bowl of orange Jell-O" personally vs. having "chutzpah" professionally
• Integration of personal/professional selves happened 7 years ago through self-work
• Realizes "we are all the same" with variations in background/appearance
• Still encounters "old Henry" in situations, must choose between limiting old ways or pushing forward
• Philosophy: "no right time, time is right this second"
• Learned to "shut up and walk to the edge and jump and fly"

Family and Hereditary Aspects

• All three children dyslexic: stepson Jed (52), daughter Zoe (43), son Max (40)
• Max runs TV show in New York, encouraged memoir writing
• Learned to accommodate children's different learning styles
• Max studied with radio on, lying on bed - broke traditional study rules but got good grades

Music as Inspiration and Healing

• Musicians most inspiring: Bruce Springsteen, Bruno Mars, Sia, Brandy Carlile
• Lewis Capaldi (has Tourette's) - audience continues singing during episodes
• Parents took him to opera at 11 in tuxedo, overwhelmed by "gigantic music"
• At 14, bought tenors and sopranos records, music brought "confusion to serenity"
• Regular LA Philharmonic attendee (5 times yearly)
• Western music created from just 11 notes
• Music helps Alzheimer patients with recognition

Advocacy Work

• Macular degeneration awareness spokesperson for Abeona
• Inspired by father-in-law's experience losing vision and dental practice
• Geographic atrophy stage has "no going back, no turning back"
• Emphasizes importance of eye exams for people 60+

Current Projects and Future Goals

• Bucket list: return to Broadway (failed twice, succeeded once with Neil Simon)
• Fly fishing as frequent activity
• Next character always favorite: "overwhelmed when working"
• Believes work gets better with authenticity vs. performing who he thinks he should be

Technology and Modern Life

• Uses Google for email, search, shopping, Maps
• Amazed by ability to search anything
• Surprised when information not immediately available
• Low-tech dyslexia solution: words written above computer (schedule, patience, tenacity, gratitude)

Philosophy on Aging and Stereotypes

• Breaking stereotypes requires showing all attributes, not over-indexing on one
• Flexibility key to career longevity
• "Mercury finding hole in wall no matter how small"
• Must want something "without ambivalence"
• Advice: "shut up and try it"

Inclusion and Accessibility

• Happy Days featured deaf actress Linda Bove, wheelchair-using mechanic
• Worked with trans actor on Barry without initially knowing
• Emphasizes seeing "soul not outward appearance"
• One in five or six people have learning challenges
• Importance of trained teachers for different learners

Gratitude and Kindness

• Wakes up "filled with joy"
• Grateful to be living dream at 77
• Connects strongly with people through gratitude
• Thanks parents "never listened" - appreciates when people do
• Hopes to be alive in 10 years to see what humans create for themselves