His Parents Called Him Dumb But He Grew Up To Be Loved By Millions

Henry Winkler, best known as Fonzie on Happy Days, had a far-from-glamorous childhood. Born to immigrant parents who escaped Nazi Germany, Winkler faced difficulties due to an undiagnosed reading disorder.

Unfortunately, his parents were unaware of his dyslexia and labeled him as “dumb,” even going as far as calling him a ‘Dummo Hund,’ or dumb dog.

 

This led to a difficult upbringing and impacted his self-image.

Despite these hardships, Winkler never gave up on his dreams. He applied to 28 colleges and was accepted into two. Eventually, he received an acceptance letter from the prestigious Yale School of Drama. His talent shone during an improvised Shakespearean monologue, which propelled him to success.

While Winkler thrived on-screen, portraying the charismatic Fonzie, his dyslexia still affected his reading and coordination. Even when offered the lead role in Grease, he declined to avoid being typecast.

At the age of 31, Winkler’s perspective on dyslexia changed when his stepson Jed went through a dyslexia test. It was then that Winkler realized they shared the same struggle. He acknowledged dyslexia as a silent barrier that had impacted his own life. Overcoming auditions by memorizing scripts, he used humor to mask any inadequacies, claiming to provide the ‘essence of the character.’

After Happy Days, Winkler ventured into various acting roles and contributed to creating the MacGyver series. Despite facing transitional phases, his determination and talent ultimately prevailed. Winkler’s journey from being labeled “dumb” to becoming a beloved figure highlights the power of determination and talent in achieving greatness. His story serves as an inspiration, emphasizing that personal challenges can be conquered with resilience and dedication.

Related Posts

She Hated Her Mother-in-Law—Until One Shocking Day Changed Everything

Mary knew marrying Ed meant marrying into chaos—namely, his mother, Scarlett. From the start, Scarlett’s disdain was loud and clear, wrapped in passive jabs and outright insults….

Warning signs of a heart attack?

World Health Organization reportsischaemic heart disease to be the leading cause of death worldwide, with the number of deaths due to cardiovascular diseases in 2019 being 8.9…

My Mother-in-Law Tried to Sabotage My Marriage — But I Caught Her Red-Handed

From the beginning, I sensed that my mother-in-law, Stella, never truly accepted me. Even after five joyful years of marriage to Eddie and the birth of our…

The Doctor Refused to Operate on My Son — Her Reason Left Me Speechless

When my son Brian collapsed from sudden stomach pain, we rushed to the ER and learned it was appendicitis. But just as we were bracing for surgery,…

She Stole My College Fund for a Perfect Smile — Then Karma Wiped That Grin Off Her Face

Hi, I’m Kristen, 17, and this is the story of how vanity clashed with values. My late mom set up a college fund for me, and I…

Footage of Trump boarding Air Force One spreads online — and the internet is united in its reaction

Over the weekend, former President Donald Trump briefly stumbled while boarding Air Force One in Morristown, New Jersey, following remarks to the press before heading to Camp…