Who is Henry Winkler

On 25 February 1972 'Love American Style' aired its 22 episode of season 3, the episode had a segment entitled 'Love and the Happy Days' which became an unsold pilot. Thankfully due to the success of American Graffiti in 1973 it convinced ABC to pick it up as the series "Happy Days".

The Show originally revolved around Richie Cunningham (played by Ron Howard), his family and best friend Potsie Webber. Henry Winkler's Arthur"Fonzie" Fonzarelli character was seldom seen during the first few episodes as ABC initially feared he would be perceived as a hoodlum. However, the character became extremely popular with viewers and the show's producers decided to give Fonzie a more prominent role in the series. Following this, the show's ratings began to soar and Fonzie became a 70s icon and the epitome of coolness. His motorcycle, leather jacket, thumbs-up gesture, and uttering of the phrase "Aayyyy!" became television trademarks. The character become so popular that ABC considered renaming the series "Fonzie's Happy Days" but eventually decided against it. By the sixth season The Fonz had acheived top billing for the show.

Happy days ran for 11 seasons and spurned a further 7 shows, only 3 of them were of any note, these being:

• Laverne and Shirley
• Mork and Mindy
• Joanie Loves Chachi

Henry Winkler was nominated 3 times for an Emmy for Happy Days but unfortunately never won one for this show but he did win 2 Golden Globes for Happy Days. He also won the "When Bad Teens Go Good" TV Land Award in 2007.

Fonzie's leather jacket is part of the Smithsonian's 150th anniversary exhibition. It is one of the most popular objects in the American History Museum along with Archie Bunker's chair and Judy Garland's red slippers from the Wizard of Oz.

Unfortunately Happy Days did earn Henry Winkler something he didn't want and that was being typecast as a leather clad biker.