Being Henry: The Fonz And Beyond by Henry Winkler (Audio Book)

 

Being Henry: The Fonz And Beyond by Henry Winkler (Audio Book).

Narrated by Henry Winkler.

Released 31st October 2023 by Pan Macmilllan.

From the cover:

Henry Winkler, launched into prominence by his role as 'The Fonz' in the beloved Happy Days, has transcended the role that made him who he is.

Brilliant, funny, and widely-regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood (though he would be the first to tell you that it’s simply not the case, he’s really just grateful to be here), Henry shares in this achingly vulnerable memoir the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia, the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own, and the path forward once your wildest dream seems behind you.

Since the glorious era of Happy Days fame, Henry has endeared himself to a new generation with roles in such adored shows as Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and Barry, where he’s revealed himself as an actor with immense depth and pathos, a departure from the period of his life when he was so distinctly typecast as 'The Fonz', he could hardly find work.

Filled with profound heart, charm, and self-deprecating humor, Being Henry is a memoir about so much more than a life in Hollywood and the curse of stardom. It is a meaningful testament to the power of sharing truth and kindness and of finding fulfillment within yourself.

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As someone who remembers watching the American sitcom Happy Days as a child in the 1970s, I have fond memories of Henry Winkler playing 'The Fonz' - the role that launched him into stardom. Henry is now seventy-nine years old, and Being Henry is his candid memoir about his life, the highs and lows of his career, and his, not always easy, relationship with the part that made his name. It is more or less a chronological journey through Henry's life, from his childhood to the present day, and he comes across just as funny, self-effacing, and genial as I expected - in fact, the all-round good guy that he is reputed to be, which I was rather pleased about (illusions very much unshattered). 

Henry talks a lot here about his struggles with dyslexia, which I was already familiar with, but what really surprised me is the frank way he speaks about the difficult relationship he had with his German emigre parents, and how this shaped him. He is so honest about how he now recognises that life-long feelings of low self-esteem, complicated attitudes to money and work, and the inability to connect emotionally with his loved ones stemmed from growing up with parents that openly displayed disappointment in his achievements and choices. I found that quite refreshing.

While Henry fails to mention my recent favourite role of his in the delightfully cheesy Christmas movie, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, there is plenty here to entertain anyone interested in his long and varied career. His narration is very easy on the ear, which makes it a delight to listen to. I really liked that his wife of forty-six years, Stacey, narrates part of this book too, giving her take on fascinating aspects of living with an actor, the ups and downs of their life together, and how Henry has overcome his issues through therapy.

I did not laugh as much as I thought I would reading this memoir, but there is added depth and poignancy in Henry's account of his life and journey that makes this a really interesting listen, and lifts it above what could otherwise simply be another acting story full of talk of roles and amusing anecdotes. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Being Henry is available to buy now in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audio formats.

About the author:

Henry Winkler is an American actor, comedian, author, executive producer and director. He rose to fame playing Arthur Fonzarelli on the long-running hit television series Happy Days, and won over a new generation with roles like Barry Zuckerkorn in Arrested Development, Uncle Joe in The French Dispatch, Dr Saperstein in Parks and Recreation and Gene Cousineau in Barry. He has won a Primetime Emmy, two Daytime Emmys, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Critics Choice Award. In 2011, he was awarded an OBE for his work around dyslexia. Being Henry is his first autobiography.