Hey cool cats get ready for some awesome news about everyone's favorite cool dad Henry Winkler ! You know him as The Fonz from Happy Days right? Well turns out in real life he is just as fun and maybe even funnier especially when it comes to his family. Recently Henry and his daughter Zoe have been making us all smile with some seriously sweet and hilarious stories about their family life in Hollywood. Let's dive in!
'Garden Tool' Dad? Henry Winkler Jokes Daughter Zoe Only Listened When Boys Were Around (and It's Hilarious)
So Henry Winkler and his daughter Zoe hit up the iHeartRadio Music Awards looking like the cutest father-daughter duo ever. But it wasn't just about the music folks. They were there to chat about Zoe's podcast "What In The Winkler?" and of course growing up with a TV icon as your dad. And that's when Henry dropped a total dad joke bomb.
When asked about raising Zoe Henry quipped "She used me like a garden tool." A garden tool? What does that even mean? Turns out according to Henry young Zoe only paid attention to him when there was a "nice young fellow in the vicinity!" Can you picture Fonzie being used as a teenage girl attention magnet? Too funny! Zoe totally played along confirming it and joking that she is still using him to promote her podcast. Seriously this family is comedy gold.
'What In The Winkler?!' Podcast: Zoe and Mom Stacey Spill Family Secrets (and Hollywood Normality?)
Zoe's podcast "What In The Winkler?!" is where a lot of these fun family stories come from. The podcast which she co-hosts with her mom Stacey Winkler dives into what it's really like growing up in Hollywood. Zoe says people assume it's all glitz and glam but for them it was just a "normal family". They go through the same "insanity as everybody else" which sounds pretty relatable even if your dad isn't The Fonz.
Henry has been super supportive of Zoe's podcast. He even joined her at the Dolby Theater to help promote it proving he is not just a garden tool but also a great dad who shows up for his kids. The podcast sounds like a fun and down-to-earth peek into a Hollywood family that is maybe not so different from our own.
Winkler Family 101: 45 Years of Marriage 3 Kids and Keeping it Real in Hollywood
Henry and Stacey Winkler's marriage is a Hollywood success story. They tied the knot way back in 1978 meaning they have been together for over 45 years! They met in 1976 at a clothing store in Beverly Hills when Henry was already mega-famous from "Happy Days". Talk about a meet-cute!
Together they raised three kids Zoe Max and Jed (who is Stacey's son from a previous marriage). Despite the Hollywood spotlight they seem to have built a strong and loving family. Zoe emphasizes that they are "just a normal family" dealing with the same things everyone else does. It's refreshing to hear about long-lasting relationships and family normalcy in the often crazy world of Hollywood.
Wise Words from Winkler: Zoe Shares the Best Advice Dad Henry Gave Her (and It's Actually Great)
While on the red carpet Zoe shared some of the best advice she has gotten from her dad Henry. It's not about acting tips or Hollywood secrets but actually some really solid life advice that anyone can use.
- "The people you meet on the way up are the people you meet on the way down." This is classic Hollywood wisdom but it applies to life in general. Be kind and respectful to everyone because you never know where paths will cross again.
- "The energy you put out is the energy you get back." This is simple but powerful. Positivity and kindness tend to attract the same in return. Good vibes in good vibes out as they say.
Zoe mentioned there are "so many" lessons she's learned from her dad making it tough to pick just one or two. But these pieces of advice show that Henry Winkler's wisdom goes beyond just being a TV star. He has some genuinely good insights on life and relationships.
Godfather Fonzie and the Howard Clan: Bryce Dallas Howard's Heartwarming Family Connection
The Winkler family's awesomeness extends beyond just Henry Stacey and Zoe. Get this Henry Winkler is actually Bryce Dallas Howard 's godfather! His friendship with Bryce's dad Ron Howard goes way back to their "Happy Days" days where they played Richie Cunningham and Fonzie. Talk about a Hollywood bromance that spans generations!
Bryce Dallas Howard recently shared some super sweet stories about Henry and his wife Stacey being her godparents on Zoe's podcast "What In The Winkler?!". She said Henry and Stacey have always been "the most incredible godparents very supportive." She joked that the Winkler house was the fun house with "candy everywhere" and Zoe always had great style unlike her own family who "suffered a little bit in that department." Sibling rivalry even among Hollywood god-families haha!
Bryce also shared a funny story about Henry giving her dating advice back when she was crushing on her now-husband Seth Gabel. Young Bryce was anxious about getting Seth's attention and Henry's advice was simple and Fonzie-esque: "Bryce all you have to do is breathe. You're beautiful. You're talented. You’re strong.” Smooth Fonzie smooth.
For Bryce growing up in Connecticut the Winklers and her grandparents in L.A. were her main connection to Hollywood. She felt "safe" and "related to" the Winkler family in a way that was really special. It is clear that the friendship between Ron Howard and Henry Winkler created a lasting and loving bond between their families.
From Fonzie to Family Icon: Henry Winkler's Enduring Appeal
Henry Winkler's career has spanned decades from his iconic role as Fonzie to his more recent work. But beyond the acting roles it is clear that family is incredibly important to him. Whether he is joking about being a "garden tool" for his daughter sharing wise advice or being a supportive godfather Henry Winkler comes across as a genuinely warm funny and down-to-earth guy. And that's probably why he is still beloved by so many after all these years. He's not just The Fonz he is a real life family man with a heart of gold and a great sense of humor. What's not to love?