Ron Howard, acclaimed director and former star of the iconic television series Happy Days, recently shared insights into how his co-star Henry Winkler significantly influenced his career in film directing. Howard is famous for having directed Academy Award-winning films including A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, and Frost/Nixon. He attributes a great deal of his success to the encouragement he got from Winkler – better known as the Fonz.
Howard’s path to directing began while he was starring on Happy Days. He was a lead on the first seven seasons and returned for the abbreviated final seventh season. In the meantime, he took advantage of the opportunity to really go after his dream of making film. Each weekend, he rented 16-millimeter sound equipment and made short films on location. He stated, “I was working on my dream of directing throughout the Happy Days run.”
Prior to departing Happy Days, Howard had entered into a contract. This considerable success enabled him to produce and direct some television movies, setting a path for his later works. Four years later, he launched Imagine Entertainment, a production company that would subsequently produce dozens of hit films. His second feature film through 20th Century Fox, Grand Theft Auto, released at the same time period that the series was shelved. This was the beginning of a new chapter in his life.
In 1982, Howard directed Night Shift, a film that would serve as a launching pad for his soon coming transition to feature films. Winkler’s promise to star in the film was half the battle to get it made. Howard remarked, “Henry was always so supportive of that. When Henry said yes to Night Shift, that’s what got that movie greenlit.” The world premiere of “The Outlaw Josey Wales” laid the groundwork for Howard’s reputation as a trustworthy director to take root.
Howard and Winkler have cultivated a deep bond over the decades. Winkler makes an adorable and proud godfather to Howard’s daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard. Looking back on their relationship, Howard said he is thankful Winkler has always had his back. “He played a hand in helping my dream ultimately come true, which was to be a studio, Hollywood, feature director,” he noted.
Howard has a pretty great filmography. Other films he directed such as A Beautiful Mind – for which he won an Academy Award for Best Director – as well as iconic movies Willow and Cinderella Man. His unique gift to combine empathy, ingenious storytelling, and relatable character development with creative direction has placed him among one of Hollywood’s most admired filmmakers.
