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Here's how Henry Winkler kept a practical perspective on his fame
“Fear isn’t necessarily bad,” said the Happy Days actor.
Success isn’t worth a thing if you don’t appreciate it while you’ve got it. After an accomplishment, it can be so easy to turn your attention to the next mountain you’re looking to climb, but the smartest of us understand that sometimes, it’s just as important to appreciate the view from where you’re at.
Henry Winkler experienced a meteoric rise to fame, seemingly overnight. One day, he was Henry Winkler, actor. The next day, he was Arthur Fonzarelli, a.k.a. “The Fonz” of Happy Days.
Winkler’s character became a fan favorite, one that fans idolized and adored. But during an interview with The Daily Breeze, Winkler confessed that fame wasn’t at the forefront of his mind; rather, it was a fear that he’d lose it all someday.
“Sometimes I don’t know if I’ll ever work again,” said Winkler. “I’m totally aware that my rise - or whatever it is - can be over in a minute. The crucial thing for me to remember is that I am an actor.”
Unlike his character, Winkler took no issue with staying honest about his feelings and insecurities.
“I have a lot of fear. I’m scared that one day I’m going to wake up and discover I’ve forgotten to act,” said the actor. “That the techniques I’ve studied all my life have suddenly disappeared.”
Luckily, the fear didn’t immobilize Winkler; it fueled him to become a better actor. “Fear isn’t necessarily bad,” said Winkler. “It can be very healthy, very motivating. It’s an individual’s responsibility to take his own fear and make it work for him.”
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