Henry Winkler’s path to success was far from easy. As a child, he struggled in school and faced harsh criticism from his parents, who believed he was lazy or not living up to his potential. Despite trying his hardest, Winkler often fell short, leading to punishments and a deep loss of confidence. These experiences shaped a promise he made to himself: he would never treat his own children the same way.
Winkler’s academic difficulties continued throughout his youth. He was frequently grounded for poor grades and missed out on school activities, yet he pushed forward and eventually earned an MFA from Yale University. Even then, reading remained a challenge. As an actor, he relied heavily on memorization and improvisation to manage scripts, often feeling embarrassed during table reads—especially while starring as “Fonzie” on Happy Days.