Henry Winkler, the beloved actor best known for his role as Fonzie on Happy Days, recently shared his heartwarming reaction to his longtime friend and co-star, Ron Howard, receiving his first-ever Emmy nomination for acting. The nomination stems from Howard's role in the satirical comedy, The Studio, where he plays a fictionalized, and apparently quite unflattering, version of himself.
A Friendship Spanning Decades
Winkler, speaking to People magazine, revealed that he immediately called Howard upon hearing the news. "I called him immediately. He was so excited. He is limitless," Winkler gushed about his friend of over 50 years. Their bond began on the set of Happy Days in 1974, where Howard played Richie Cunningham and Winkler, as Fonzie, quickly became a breakout star.
Howard's Emmy-Nominated Role
The Studio, an Apple TV+ show that premiered in March 2025, offers a behind-the-scenes look at a production company. Howard described his role as playing an "a-----e version of myself," adding that he was getting a "kick out of it." Winkler expressed his desire to even appear on the show alongside his friend.
While Howard initially played the lead in Happy Days, Winkler's popularity grew, leading to a shift in focus. Howard has spoken about feeling overshadowed and even disrespected by studio executives who favored Fonzie. Despite this, their friendship has endured, with Winkler even serving as the godfather to Howard's four children, including actress Bryce Dallas Howard.
The 2025 Emmys are scheduled to air live on September 14th. It will be interesting to see if Howard takes home the gold for his comedic acting performance. Regardless, the support and admiration between Winkler and Howard is a testament to their enduring friendship.