There are numerous stars in Hollywood, yet not all of them are as warm as Henry Winkler. The legendary actor who is better known to millions of people as The Fonz on Happy Days is not just a popular TV icon but a proud father, grandfather, and role model to many at 79.
Recently, on TODAY with Jenna & Friends, his children surprised Winkler in a sweet moment that brought fans around the country to tears.
The emotional tribute came right before Father’s Day and it was not only the touching words that got people talking, but also the striking similarity between Henry and his youngest son, Max Winkler, that had viewers shook.
Life of Love and Legacy
The road of Henry Winkler to becoming an American treasure has not been easy. Winkler, who grew up with dyslexia in a strict family, lacked confidence and a way to express himself.
But rather than allowing that to be his definition, he took those experiences and created another type of home, where love and listening and encouragement were the focuses.
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His three grown children, Zoe Winkler Reinis, Jed Weitzman and Max Winkler, united to honor him in the loveliest manner feasible, that is, in their very own words of affection, appreciation and admiration.
You Raised Us in a Loving Home
Zoe is a committed activist and mother, who commended her father on providing his children with such a contrasting childhood, compared to the one he had.
“The upbringing you had… that you could not be yourself and you could not ask questions or express your mind- you did just the opposite,” she remarked. You brought us up in the best loving environment where we could be ourselves.
They were emotional words, and they were addressed directly to the kind of father Henry was, a man who defied the pattern and raised kindness.
Jed, the stepson of Winkler, joined in the tribute, shouting the numerous “amazing memories” they had shared over the years they had known each other. There was the affection of a son who was very proud of the man who brought him up in his voice.
Then there was Max.
Get to Know Max Winkler-Aclone of His Father
Max Winkler, the youngest of Henry, made his message brief and to the point. Max merely said: Blowing a kiss to his dad through the screen:
“I do adore you.”
However, what fans did not expect was not only the feeling but also the fact that Max looks and sounds so much like his famous father. With his expressive eyes and sweet disposition, Max had social media taking a second look.
“Holy… His twin is called Max, one fan replied.
Wrote another: “His son is exactly like him.”
Your daughter is so beautiful,” another one chipped in, clapping back Zoe’s emotional dedication.
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The family moment was real, raw, and full of love, and fans could not get enough.
The Emotional Reaction of Henry–and a Bit of Wisdom
Henry was clearly moved as he watched the surprise unveil.
Putting his hand over his heart, he said, “I am so emotional.” “Thanks be to this.”
He also paused to consider the greater message behind good parenting and communication that something that obviously influenced his relationship with his children.
Winkler reflected, “The ear is the core of relationships.” Not as you intended it. That is the way it fell. It is the way it sounds.”
He continued by saying that as a child he was never allowed to speak freely. But as a dad, it was his quest to alter that.
“I never had a perspective when I was a kid- right here on 78 th Street,” he said. And my children were able to say what they think about.
It is an influential statement of a man who devoted his life to studying how to provide people with the freedom that he himself could not have.
Fan girls adore the “Nice Guy” of Hollywood.
The fact that Henry Winkler is one of the nicest guys in Hollywood is not a PR catchphrase, but a fact that is proven each time the actor talks, performs, or even simply communicates with people.
Whether it was his roles in popular series such as Happy Days, Barry, and Arrested Development, authoring children books, or becoming an activist and spokesperson of dyslexia, Winkler has worked with millions of people.
However, this Father Day, it is not his Emmy awards or timeless catchphrases that are being highlighted but rather his work as a father.
Why This Tribute Resonated
It was a humanizing moment in an industry that can be accused of being too superficial. No glitz, no red carpet, just a dad being honored by the kids he obviously put his heart into raising.
And perhaps that is what made it so good.
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It was not about fame. It was famaily. It was anex about overcoming pain and creating something better. It was regarding love that listens, cures, and endures.
With Father’s Day just around the corner, the story of Henry Winkler makes us realize that the greatest role that any human being can ever have is not on a sound stage or in front of a camera- it is the role that they play in the lives of those that mean the most to them.
