Sylvester Stallone Inspired A Key Part Of Fonzie, Says Henry Winkler

Even timeless cultural icons got their inspiration from somewhere, For Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli, as portrayed by Henry Winkler, that inspiration came from Sylvester Stallone. While it’s easy to see parallels between the Fonz and, say, John Travolta’s Danny Zuko from ’78, a very unique part of Sly made the original impression for Winkler’s acting as the suave, lovable greaser.

Winkler, and by extension Fonzie, quickly became the breakout performance in ABC’s Happy Days, to the point he almost eclipsed Richie Cunningham, played by Ron Howard. He became a quotable merchandising magnet, but the memorable image is something less tangible than the leather jacket and motorcycle; a lot of that power comes from his voice.

Henry Winkler names Sylvester Stallone as a key inspiration behind his portrayal of Fonzie

Speaking with the Archive of American Television, Winkler shared the inspiration he took from Stallone when crafting Fonzie. “I studied Sly,” shared Winkler. “Sly Stallone.” Winkler actually worked closely with Stallone previously in The Lords of Flatbush. There, the two played characters who were part of a rough-and-tumble gang.

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Even at this early stage, before Happy Days creator Garry Marshall dreamt up the Fonz, Winkler was captivated by Stallone.

“He was very big,” mused Winkler, tossing in an impression along the way. “He would say to me, ‘What is that guy looking at? I’m gonna eat him.'” Indeed, “I’m gonna eat him” was repeatedly tossed around in the interview.

Channeling something within the spirit too

While Sly’s voice stayed with Winkler well after filming wrapped up, Winkler also noted the enduring, inspiring nature of Stallone’s character.

“He is just a fabulous human being,” Winkler said. Stallone’s story is indeed an inspiring one from the start, as he endured a complicated birth that saw the doctor use forceps ineffectively, resulting in his unique facial expression.

There were also times before his career took off that he was always between jobs, living from paycheck to paycheck; the underdog stories he tells in his sports film come from a very real place.

Stallone displayed for Winkler a unique, captivating duality, that of a strong, tough, untouchable guy who was also capable of tenderness and vulnerability. This right here was the exact source that Winkler wanted to tap into when bringing his most famous character to life, giving Happy Days fans catchphrases of their own between quoting Rocky Balboa.