Happier days with The Fonz

Henry Winkler with pupils Sam Mallam and Hannah Shelmerdines

THE Fonz dropped into a Chadderton school yesterday to spread some of his trademark confidence and positive thinking.

But as the actor who played the legendary “Happy Days” star, Henry Winkler, admitted to pupils at North Chadderton school, his own childhood wasn’t filled with the same kind of bravado.

Henry - now an award-winning children’s author - was diagnosed as dyslexic at the age of 31 — after a childhood full of education trauma. The actor, director and producer started writing books for children based on his own academic battles.

He said: “My parents called me dumb dog. People have called me lazy and stupid. When this happens when you are younger, you believe it and start to define yourself in this way.”

He told pupils: “I am here to tell you that every single one of you has greatness inside you. Every single one of you has a gift. You may not know what your gift is yet, but it’s there. There is more than one way to get to where you want to be.”

The 66 year old is touring English schools to talk about his 21st children’s book. Henry, who has also appeared in moves such as “Scream”, “Waterboy” and “Click”, signed copies of “Ghost Buddy” and took questions from pupils.

His first series of books was based on dyslexic Hank Zipper “the world’s greatest underachiever”. The new series is about bullying. The father of three was awarded the OBE in the 2011 New Year Honours for the work he does for children with learning difficulties.




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