‘Happy Days’ Star Henry Winkler Admits He Was ‘Dumb’ To Turn Down ‘Grease’

Henry Winkler, who’s finest recognized for enjoying the legendary character of Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on the sitcom “Blissful Days” from 1974 till 1983, is admitting that he was “dumb” to show down within the hit 1978 film Grease that ultimately went to John Travolta.

Henry Winkler was requested to play Danny Zuko in Grease (1978), however turned the function down fearing he could be typecast. pic.twitter.com/lwc0iTGN5t

— ℂ𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕦𝕝𝕠𝕚𝕕ℂ𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕞𝕒 (@acroce66) October 13, 2020

‘I Was Dumb’

“I used to be dumb,” Winkler, 77, instructed People Magazine. “I spent a lot vitality, a lot time … I spent so many sleepless nights considering, ‘How do I not get typecast?’”

When Winkler was provided Grease, he was on the peak of his fame taking part in the leather-based jacket-wearing Fonzie on “Blissful Days.” He in the end turned down the film as a result of he feared that the function of Danny Zucko, which later went to John Travolta, would lead to him being typecast as different characters much like Fonzie. If he might return and do all of it once more, nonetheless, Winkler would simply take the function.

“You drift,” he continued. “What you do is you put together to reinvent your self. You do one thing utterly completely different after which come again to heart.”

“I spent most of my grownup life being frightened, on the skin wanting like I had it collectively and principally being anxious,” Winkler added. “The most important lesson, I actually now imagine at the moment in 2023 wanting again, is just not solely should you be tenacious, not solely should you be grateful, however you additionally need to be versatile.”

Blissful Days star Henry Winkler was initially provided the function of Danny Zuko in Grease, however he turned it down out of concern of being typecast. pic.twitter.com/44jEVj9aPa

— KickyFacts (@kickyfacts) August 13, 2022

Associated: Henry Winkler Regrets Turning Down John Travolta Role In ‘Grease’ – ‘I Should Have Shut My Mouth’

Winkler’s Recommendation For Youthful Actors

Winkler went on to disclose what he’d inform youthful actors for recommendation.

“It’s a must to take a leap of religion. It’s a must to bounce off the precipice and simply belief you’re going to fly, as a result of there have been so a few years I used to be not employed as an actor,” he defined. “I’ve a household, I’ve a home. What am I going to do? After which someone instructed I turn into a producer. I begin off saying, ‘I can’t do it. I’m dyslexic. I do not know what the enterprise is. I can’t do it.’ After which lastly you say, ‘Oh, simply shut up and check out.’”

“So I feel ‘shut up and check out’ is perhaps crucial lesson that I might move on to someone,” Winkler concluded.

It is a disgrace Henry Winkler turned down the a part of Danny Zuko in Grease, i reckon he’d have been un, if not higher!

(Simply saying! Haven’t got a go) #Ayyyyyyyy 😂👍👖🚘🖤🤩 pic.twitter.com/pRggyESqHI

— 💫©️🅰️TH3️⃣®️ℹ️N3️⃣💫 (@20RockChick19) October 28, 2023

Associated: Henry Winkler Once Dressed As Fonzie To Meet Terminally Ill Child, His ‘Happy Days’ Costar Reveals

Winkler’s Earlier Grease Feedback

Winkler beforehand opened up about turning down the Grease function final yr.

“I’m a rattling idiot. I solely realized years afterwards. I believed, ‘I’ve performed the Fonz, I don’t need to do it once more. It’s already occurred,’” Winkler instructed CNN.. “I’m already typecast, I ought to have simply shut up and had a extremely good time making that film.”

“I am going dwelling, I say no, and I’ve a weight-reduction plan Coke. John Travolta, who has executed the film, goes dwelling and buys a aircraft,” he lamented.

Henry Winkler watches Henry Winkler bounce the shark, and is requested if he knew when he jumped the shark, he jumped the shark. Get it? pic.twitter.com/UsGcvjVvP6

— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) November 12, 2022

Good for Winker for having the ability to admit that he made a “dumb” mistake in his profession, as many celebrities wouldn’t be humble sufficient to do this.

Although he regrets turning down Grease, Winkler has nonetheless had a vastly profitable profession in Hollywood that continues to this present day, so he can’t kick himself an excessive amount of! In the long run, every little thing labored out because it was meant to, as a result of it’s onerous to think about Grease with out Travolta in it.