Henry Winkler’s path to success was far from easy. As a child, he struggled in school and was harshly punished by his parents, who called him “lazy” and “dumb.” He missed out on dances and plays, often grounded for not meeting their expectations. What no one realized was that Winkler had dyslexia—a diagnosis he wouldn’t receive until age 31.
Despite these challenges, he pushed forward. After barely making it through high school, he earned an MFA from Yale. But reading scripts remained difficult. On Happy Days, where he became famous as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli, Winkler often stumbled through table reads, humiliated but determined. His quick memory and improvisation skills helped him land roles and succeed in Hollywood.
The turning point came when his stepson was tested for a learning issue. Winkler recognized the same struggles in himself and was finally diagnosed with dyslexia. Furious at the years of misunderstanding, he turned his frustration into purpose. He began writing the Hank Zipzer series, about a dyslexic boy, to show kids they weren’t alone.
Today, Winkler is not only an award-winning actor but also an author who replies to every child who writes him. He tells them the same message: learning challenges don’t define you—your dreams do.
