How Henry Winkler’s Wife Helped Him Find Success Despite Being a “Disappointment” to His Parents

Henry Winkler, The Happy Days star known for his role as “The Fonz,” made a guest appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show where he opened up about his struggles with dyslexia, a learning disability that he has lived with his entire life. He candidly shared how this condition left him feeling like a letdown to his family.

Henry Winkler’s dyslexia caused “massive issues” with his parents.

In the candid interview, Winkler shared that he lives with dyslexia just as Kelly Clarkson’s daughter River does, and she often gets teased for her difficulties with reading. The revelation moved Winkler to offer some words of support and encouragement to the young girl.

Winkler shared his struggles with dyslexia, including the impact it had on his relationship with his parents. Speaking about his school days, Winkler stated, “All I can remember about my school days were the rows about why I wasn’t doing well, the groundings, the ultimatums.” He also revealed that his dyslexia caused “massive issues” with his parents, leading him to feel like a disappointment to them.

He also struggled with low self-esteem.

He reflected on a memory from his childhood when he struggled to answer a question in class. The experience left a lasting impression on him as he could still recall the disappointment he felt from his teacher and the scrutiny from his classmates. Despite his efforts, he found himself unable to retain the information, causing frustration and confusion. Looking back on the memory, he could still feel the weight of those emotions.

Winkle revealed, “I grew up thinking I was stupid,” and unfortunately, that belief became a part of his self-identity. As a result, he struggled with self-confidence and often struggled to keep up with his classmates.

Meeting his wife led to an unexpected development.

Winkler struggled with almost every subject in school, including reading. Despite his success as an actor on Happy Days, he still had trouble reading scripts and would improvise instead. Surprisingly, his improvisations became the highlight of the show and made his character, “The Fonz,” the star of the series.

Winkler also struggled with insecurity around girls during his school days. He confessed that he didn’t have “much luck” with school girls because he was worried they would see him as “dim.” However, in 1976, after earning enough from his television roles, he went out to buy his first sports jacket and met Weitzman, who would later become his wife.

Once you find true love, no obstacles can be a barrier to you.

Winkler was smitten with Weitzman when he first saw her, and they went for a soda. When Winkler told Weitzman about his learning issues, she offered to help, and he started relying on her. He eventually got over his embarrassment and even asked her to spell words for him.

“The most wonderful thing is to really be able to grow with someone,” said Weitzman, who was there when Winkler won an Emmy for Barry in 2018. Within weeks of dating, Weitzman and her son, Jed, who was also experiencing reading issues, moved in with Winkler. They married in 1978 after 2 years and welcomed children Zoe and Max.

Weitzman acknowledged that their 40-year marriage took work, but their love and friendship helped them through the rough patches. They enjoy fishing, spending time with their grandchildren, going to the movies, and being together every day. His journey with dyslexia and his loving relationship with Stacey Weitzman serve as a reminder that overcoming challenges is possible with the right support and perseverance.