Henry Winkler’s journey to fame wasn’t smooth. Long before he became known as “The Fonz” on Happy Days, he was a child struggling to keep up in school. What no one knew then—including Winkler himself—was that he had dyslexia. Labeled lazy and unintelligent by his parents, his confidence took a major hit. He was frequently punished and left out of school activities, never understanding why learning felt so difficult.

Even as he pursued acting and earned an MFA from Yale, reading scripts remained a serious challenge. To cope, Winkler leaned on improvisation and memorization—skills that would help him land one of the most iconic roles in TV history. Still, he often felt anxious during table reads, embarrassed by his reading struggles.

It wasn’t until he was 31 years old that Winkler finally discovered he had dyslexia, after his stepson received the same diagnosis. The revelation brought a mix of emotions—anger over years of misunderstanding, but also a sense of relief. Determined to use his experience to help others, he co-wrote the Hank Zipzer book series, inspired by his own childhood. The books, centered on a young boy with dyslexia, struck a chord with kids facing similar challenges.

Today, Winkler is not only an award-winning actor but also a beloved children’s author. While proud of his long career, he says his greatest accomplishment—besides his family—is writing books that give struggling kids hope. His message to them is simple but powerful:
“Your learning challenge won’t stop you from reaching your dream. Only you can stop yourself.”