From Struggles with Dyslexia to Inspiring Generations of Children

His path to success was far from easy. Before becoming a beloved Hollywood icon, he spent much of his early life battling frustration, misunderstanding, and self-doubt.

As a child, he struggled in school—often punished and labeled “lazy” or “stupid” by teachers and even his own parents, who simply didn’t understand why he couldn’t keep up.

What no one realized at the time was that Winkler had dyslexia, a learning difference that made reading and writing extremely difficult.

“I was called lazy. I was called stupid. I was told I wasn’t living up to my potential,” Winkler once told The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity. Despite the harsh words, he knew he was doing his best.

Determined to succeed, Winkler pushed through years of challenges, eventually earning a Master of Fine Arts from Yale University.

But even as his acting career began to take off, the struggles followed him.

During table reads for Happy Days, where he played the iconic Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli, Winkler often stumbled over words in front of his castmates.

“I embarrassed myself for 10 years reading around that table,” he admitted.

Everything changed when Winkler was 31 years old. After his stepson was diagnosed with a learning disability, he underwent testing and discovered that he too had dyslexia.

“Suddenly, everything made sense,” he said. “All those years of arguments and punishments were for nothing.”

Rather than dwell on anger, Winkler decided to use his experience to help others. He co-authored the Hank Zipzer children’s book series, inspired by his own struggles in school.

The main character, Hank, is a bright young boy with dyslexia who learns to overcome challenges through creativity and perseverance.

The response was overwhelming. Winkler received thousands of letters from children who said Hank’s story made them feel seen, understood, and capable.

“Every child who writes me a letter about Hank Zipzer, I write back,” Winkler shared. “In every letter, I tell them: ‘Your learning challenge will not stop you from achieving your dream.

Only you can stop yourself.’”

Today, Henry Winkler has not only earned critical acclaim as an Emmy Award–winning actor, author, and producer but also as a passionate advocate for children with learning differences.

His upcoming memoir, set to release in 2024, promises to explore more of his remarkable journey.

Despite all the fame, Winkler says the most meaningful part of his career isn’t acting—it’s writing books that give hope to others.

“Outside of my family, my proudest achievement, no matter what I’ve done, are the books,” he says.

Henry Winkler’s story is more than one of success—it’s one of resilience, compassion, and inspiration.

His journey proves that even the toughest beginnings can lead to extraordinary outcomes when met with courage and heart.