Henry Winkler, who became well-known for his Happy Days character Fonzie, didn’t grow up in the glitzy world that is usually associated with superstars. Born into a family of immigrants who had fled Nazi Germany, Winkler struggled with an untreated reading issue.
His parents called him “dumb” and even called him a “Dummo Hund,” or dumb hound, not realizing he had dyslexia. Peers and teachers did the same, which resulted in a challenging upbringing that affected his perception of himself.
Despite these obstacles, Winkler never wavered in his pursuit of his goals. After submitting applications to 28 universities, he was accepted to two of them and eventually earned an acceptance letter from the esteemed Yale School of Drama. His career was sparked by an improvised Shakespearean speech in which he displayed his talent.
