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Fear was a powerful motivator for Henry Winkler
How Winkler used his anxieties to his advantage.
An actor like Henry Winkler may seem like he lives a carefree life, but even The Fonz gets nervous sometimes.
During an interview with The Daily Breeze, the Happy Days actor explained that he wasn't exempt from fears and insecurities, just like the rest of us.
"I have a lot of fear," Winkler said. "I'm scared that one day I'm going to wake up and discover I've forgotten to act. The techniques I've studied all my life have suddenly disappeared."
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Fame can feel like a blessing to some, Winkler included. "Stardom is thinking about what your wildest dream would be," he said. "And then finding it has come true and you're living it."
However, there were times when Winkler's celebrity status didn't always encourage positive emotions. Rather, it made the actor more wary.
"Sometimes it's as if the devil is behind me," he said. "Sometimes it's a lot of fun...it's a lot of fun to giggle and enjoy it. But it never allows you to get comfortable. There are so many things thrown at you that can pervert you."
But rather than get caught up in his fear, Winkler used the emotions to fuel his work.
"Fear isn't necessarily a bad thing," he said. "It can be very healthy, and very motivating. It's an individual's responsibility to take his own fear and make it work for him."
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3 Comments
who was the polar opposite in every way to the real life nerdish Henry, is a tribute to him.
As opposed to Edd Nelson - whose Kookie character was the basis of Fonzie - who really
was the tough, ultra cool idol of millions who the ladies swooned over.
But when actors say this stuff -
""Fear isn't necessarily a bad thing," he said. "It can be very healthy, and very motivating. It's an individual's responsibility to take his own fear and make it work for him."
I have to roll my eyes.
They spend so much time in the world of acting they become drama queens and forget how
good they have it.
Or what real fear is.
You want fear, Henry? Try being a mom and dad, each holding down a job, with five kids
and all the bills that entails not to mention the stress - and joys - of parenting.
How about being a cop or fireman and risking your life? Or a single mother with kids
living in a dicey neighborhood, worrying about what knucklehead might lead your kids
astray, how is she supposed to channel her fears?
Henry living in Beverly Hills, his only fear being the next door neighbors from the Ozarks inviting
him over for possum stew and a dip in the cement pond, just isn't the same thing.