Henry Winkler: Overcoming Dyslexia to Inspire Others

Henry Winkler’s path to success wasn’t easy. As a child, he struggled in school due to undiagnosed dyslexia. His parents misunderstood his difficulties, calling him lazy and stupid, which deeply affected his self-confidence. He was often grounded and excluded from school activities.

Despite these setbacks, Winkler eventually earned an MFA from Yale. However, reading scripts remained a challenge. He learned to improvise and memorize, which helped him land the iconic role of “The Fonz” on Happy Days—though he still felt embarrassed during table reads.

Winkler didn’t realize he had dyslexia until age 31, after his stepson was diagnosed. Learning the cause of his struggles brought both anger and relief, but he turned it into motivation. He began writing the Hank Zipzer children’s book series about a young boy with dyslexia, receiving heartfelt letters from kids who relate to the character.

Now an award-winning actor and author, Winkler says his proudest achievement—aside from his family—is his books. He tells young readers: “Your learning challenge won’t stop you from reaching your dream. Only you can stop yourself.”