Henry Winkler Credits Adam Sandler With Saving His Career

It wasn’t always Sunday, Monday, happy days for Henry Winkler. Although he secured national regard as Fonzie in Happy Days, Winkler endured a significant lull in his career that was only disrupted by Adam Sandler approaching him for a lewd ’90s comedy film.

Winkler is telling his life’s story in his new memoir, Being Henry: The Fonz…and Beyond, which was released on October 31. In promotion of this recent release, Winkler reunited with Sandler on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday. There, the two recalled working with one another in a film that would mark a significant point in both their careers.

Henry Winkler credits Adam Sandler with getting his career back on track

The 1970s belonged to Arthur Fonzarelli, the biker with the slick-backed hair, leather jacket, and unfailingly smooth swagger. But in the decades that followed, Winkler would go from providing the face for a massive supply of merchandise into something close to a starving artist.

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Winkler struggled with typecasting limiting his options and closing countless doors. He even said that his “agent would put me out there and people would say, ‘You know, he’s great, he’s a wonderful guy, really good actor. Funny, So funny. But he was the Fonz.'”

It was a rut that could have led right to a dead end with no more pages to turn. Then came Sandler, looking to recruit Winkler for a significant and very different role in 1998’s The Waterboy.

‘The Waterboy’ changed the tides for them both

The Waterboy tells the story of a bullied water boy for a local football team. When he ends up fired, he uses his frustrations as a new star tackle for the rival team that leaves a lot to be desired – like winning. Winkler found himself playing a role unlike any other – certainly unlike cool guy Fonzie. He was the well-meaning Coach Klein.

“The Waterboy was a very important reemergence for me,” Winkler admitted, speaking with Sandler and Kimmel with a meaningful look. “You know, when I finished [playing] the Fonze, I could not get hired really as an actor. And this was a very important [role].”

Box office profits of $161 million put Winkler back on the map and made him popular among a new generation of fresh fans. But it wasn’t just a great career turnaround; it was also a pleasure to film. Again, Winkler gave a significant amount of credit to Sandler, saying, “When you do a movie with Adam, he wants you to be the most comfortable you can be.” Winkler also recalled the rest of the cast and crew making the experience fun and memorable, like when he was dragged out of bed for a midnight bass fishing expedition. “I learned also to smoke a cigar because of you,” he added.