Henry Winkler admits there was a time when he was sensitive to people calling him “Fonzie” in real life – he even scolded a child for it.

The Happy days The icon made a name for himself in the ’70s and ’80s by portraying fan-favorite character Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on the sitcom for 11 seasons. But the 78-year-old actor was so “panicked” about being cast in the role that he reprimanded his future wife Stacey Weitzman’s son, Jed, who was just four at the time – and a big fan of Fonzie.

Winkler and Stacey told the hilarious story, starting with Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson, about how much Jed loved Fonzie when they just started dating Sibling rivalry Podcast.

“My oldest son, Jed, loved him like crazy and had Henry and the Six Million Dollar Man on his fourth birthday cake in June, and that was in August,” Stacey said. “It was sweet.”

When it came time to introduce Jed and Winkler, the boy knew exactly who he was going to meet.

“My parents were overseas and we stayed at their house like we were house sitters and Henry came to pick me up like a date was coming to pick me up,” Stacey said. “We went to the movies and maybe it was because I said to him, ‘Guess who I’m going out with?’ and it was his birthday cake guy, he opened the front door and said, ‘Fonzie!’ And Henry – who was extremely serious at the time – (said) ‘What did you say, darling?'”

The Emmy winner Barry The actor then explained: “I was panicking at the time because I was being pigeonholed, so I didn’t want to do anything out of the show. I was Henry and that was my character. (Jed) opened the door, I looked down at this little guy.” (Who said), “Fonzie!” I said, “My name is Henry. Would you like it if I called you ‘Ralph’?”

Stacey laughed and joked: “And then of course he went to therapy.”

“Swear to God,” Henry added.

The couple married a few years later in 1978 and had two children together, Max and Zoe, alongside Jed (Stacey’s son from her previous marriage to Howard Weitzman).

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Winkler recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of Happy days at the 2024 Emmys alongside co-star Ron Howard in a recreation of the Arnold’s Drive-In set (see video above). The pair presented the Emmy for Outstanding Directing of a Comedy Series, which went to Christopher Storer The bear.

“This is fantastic,” Howard began, appreciating the careful details Happy days Around them there is a live actor in a 50s outfit sitting in a booth studying the menu. Howard then told Winkler to channel the Fonz and turn on the jukebox behind them both. “First of all, I’m out of practice,” Winkler said. “Secondly, it takes samples.”

“You went to Yale School of Drama, Henry!” Howard reminded him. “Come on, you know you could do it.” Winkler immediately moved his hips and guided his Happy days Greaser and blasted the iconic theme song on the jukebox before closing with a Fonz arrival: “Good to see you.”

Listen to the full interview here Sibling festival with Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson above.