First published 2023
Henry Winkler opens his story with the weight of being known worldwide as the Fonz from Happy Days. The Emmy-winning actor reveals how stardom launched him into prominence but also trapped him in ways he never expected. Winkler confronts the painful realities of his childhood and his lifelong battle with severe dyslexia. He describes the pressures that come when a character takes on its own life and the struggle to find work after being typecast. The memoir traces his journey through lean years to his renaissance in shows like Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and Barry, where he discovered new depths as a performer. Winkler examines what happens when your biggest dream appears to be in the past and how he forged a path forward. At its heart, this is a story about finding fulfillment within yourself and the transformative power of sharing truth and kindness with others.
Genres: autobiography, contemporary, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, overcoming-adversity
Period: 20th-Century, 21st-Century
246 pages · Hardcover · Celadon Books
Content warnings: mental-illness