Thanks to the classic TV series happy days, Henry Winkler he became a household name playing Arthur Fonzarelli aka The Fonz. He is one of the most beloved TV series characters ever and got the chance to play another iconic movie character at some point in his career.
Winkler was offered the lead role of Danny Zuko in the 1978 film Fatbut he refused! John Travolta he ended up being cast and the rest is history. Winkler now regrets turning down the film role, but made that choice at the time because he was afraid of being cast as the Fonzie. He didn’t want to be known for playing just one type of role.
Now, while he’s been trying hard not to be cast by turning down Fonz-like roles, he revealed in an interview with CNN’s Chris Wallace that his typecasting happened regardless. He called himself a “bloody fool” for turning down the role and added:
“I only realized it years later. I thought, ‘I played the Fonz. I don’t want to do it again, but it’s happened before, I’m already typecast.
“I should have just shut up and really enjoyed making that movie. Now, I go home, I say no, and I have a Diet Coke. John Travolta comes home, made the movie, and buys a plane.”
At the time Winkler got the initial offer to star Fat, he hoped for a role that would have the same cultural impact he had with Happy Days, but ultimately felt that the characters of The Fonz and Zuko were too similar. He said:
“It was so bad that not only could I not find work, but I was sitting at my desk at Paramount and literally thought, ‘Will I ever find anything as impactful as Fonz?’ How will I know? Will anyone ever ask me? I’m not getting any offers.”
Winkler went on to play the Fonz for eleven seasons of Happy Days and Travolta became a major Hollywood leading man. Would it have been interesting to see what Winkler’s career would have looked like if he had played the role in Grease, and would Travolta ever become the huge star that he has become? You have to love thinking about the “what if” moments in life.
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Bernice Bonaparte is an author and entertainment journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a passion for pop culture and a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest entertainment news, Bernice has become a trusted source for information on the entertainment industry.
