Rock around the croc
Victoria Kingston chats up Henry Winkler, famous Fonzie and now banging the drum for Captain Hook at New Wimbledon Theatre
Above: Henry Winkler
Okay, it’s official and you heard it here first: though he’s not in the first flush of youth, Hollywood actor Henry Winkler is absolutely gorgeous! I meet him to talk about his pantomime debut in Peter Pan, a colourful and sumptuous production at New Wimbledon Theatre this Christmas – and he’s everything I could wish him to be: charming, intelligent, funny – and wonderfully grounded in reality, which isn’t always the case with internationally famous actors. Having talked to him, I just know we are going to witness an incredible and rather quirky Captain Hook this year.
Three decades have passed since Henry sat astride that famous motorbike as Fonzie, the leather-jacketed, handsome rock-and-roller he played to millions of homes in the hugely popular series set in the 50s, Happy Days. Some actors refuse to talk about their past successes, but not so Henry Winkler. He has done a huge amount of acclaimed work since – acting, directing, writing and producing – but he is still remembered and revered by millions of fans as the young man with the broad smile, who greeted his friends with a thumbs-up and a “Hey!” He recalls those days with pleasure. “I love the Fonz. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I worked very hard to make him loyal to his friends, and kind – he never hit anyone, for example.” What was it about Fonzie, I ask him, that made him so well loved? He smiles. “Well, I don’t really know. I never knew why he became so popular. Maybe it’s a simple thing. Maybe people loved him because I did.”
It’s surprising to learn that, as a child, Henry was an academic under-achiever because he was dyslexic, and it went undiagnosed until he was 31. Through sheer hard work, he overcame it in adulthood, eventually achieving a PhD in Hebrew Literature and an MA from Yale School of Drama. He does a huge amount of charity work for children, along with his wife of 30 years, Stacey. He also uses his own difficult childhood in a positive way, giving frank talks on the damage that a poor self-image can do to a child. “I spent the precious years of my childhood permanently grounded by my parents – I think they must have invented the concept. I didn’t see the moon at all during my time at Junior High School. They were positive that my low grades were the result of my not paying attention in class, that if I stayed in my room long enough, I would eventually get it right. And of course, I never did. Believing in myself was a long, slow journey. I feel it was just last Tuesday that I figured out I wasn’t stupid.”
Does he, I ask, look back with bitterness? “No, because it’s a part of who I am now. There have been times when I’ve thought – Oh, wouldn’t it be great to carve this dyslexia out of my brain! Now I’m glad I can’t spell. All of a sudden, these things become gifts. There are people who give up and go under, but tenacity is the name of the game. The greatness inside you has nothing to do with how well you do in school. But it took me a while to figure that out.”
One wonderful outcome of Henry’s childhood is that he has written a series of children’s books: Hank Zipzer, The Mostly True Confessions of the World’s Best Under-Achiever. In the 11th book, Hank makes a deal with his father: he has to get a B plus in long division or he can’t be in the school play. And he gets a B. But his father holds him to it, even though a B is the best he’s ever got. “When I wrote those scenes, it all came out of the top of my head, from memory. I never got a B, however. My Lord, if I got a C minus, I threw myself a party!”
In his unpretentious way, Henry is excited about starring in a panto, an unfamiliar genre of theatre to an American. “All I know about panto is that it’s been a tradition since 1607, and I am one of the first Americans ever to be invited to do this. That is absolutely thrilling, however you cut the ice, and I am over the moon. There will be 40 people on that stage, singing, dancing and creating great comedy. I understand that hissing and booing are part of the tradition. Well, I’m telling you right now: if I am booed, I will come down to the footlights and take names. But I promise you, I will be dastardly. That’s for sure.”
Hook has had a bad press for years, but Henry refuses to see him as totally evil. “It must be said he’s a bad guy, but I truly believe he’s misunderstood. I mean, look at it this way: you have your hand eaten by a crocodile. Well, that’s got to create some anger and resentment. He has to live with that; he can’t tie his boots, he can’t do up buckles, he can’t properly hug anyone. And the crocodile took his watch as well, so he doesn’t know what time it is! Think how difficult that must be. No, I think he has redeeming qualities.” Like what exactly? “Well, he’s very dashing. He’s a good leader – he doesn’t delegate well, but he’s a good leader. There’s some good in him.”
Henry is excited about living in south west London for December and January. “I love England and I love English actors. One of my favourite performances in my entire life was Albert Finney in Luther. I nearly gave up acting because of that – it was so good. And the first question I asked the producer about coming to London was, will I be able to get a ticket to see Billy Elliot? I am really looking forward to being in Wimbledon too. It’s a very historic and beautiful theatre – and I want to explore the town. The trouble is, though...” He leans forward conspiratorially. “I don’t play tennis. Not at all. Do you think the people of Wimbledon will forgive me for that?”.
Henry Winkler is starring in Peter Pan with Sarah-Jane Honeywell and Bobby Davro at New Wimbledon Theatre from 8 December to 14 January. Box office: 0870 060 6646 (www.newwimbledontheatre.co.uk)