Henry Winkler, popular for his role as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on the classic ABC sitcom Happy Days, recently took a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reflecting on one of the most unforgettable moments from the early period of his professional career.
In a new interview, The 79-year-old shared his memory about a once-in-a-lifetime experience that happened to him in the ’70s when legendary musician Neil Diamond invited him on to the stage during one of his performances, an unexpected event that he described as surreal and left a lasting impression on him.
Henry Winkler reflects on the moment when Neil Diamond invited him onstage
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During his appearance on the Wednesday episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Winkler, while reacting to a clip on the show, reminisced about the memorable evening when he unexpectedly shared the stage with Neil Diamond during the height of his Happy Days fame.
Describing the events in detail, he explained that he was sitting in the audience on a hot August night with his wife, Stacey, while rocking a stylish cable sweater when, without prior warning, the “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” crooner invited him onstage leaving him both surprised and overwhelmed by the opportunity to perform alongside one of the best-selling musicians of all time.
Henry Winkler explains the wave of emotions he felt from the performance
Despite the immense popularity of Happy Days at the time, Winkler revealed that nothing matched the adrenaline rush of performing alongside Diamond. Speaking on how he felt about the unexpected turn of events, he humorously admitted that he immediately developed dyslexia and was unable to remember the lyrics of any song except for “God Bless America.”
However, he noted that he could not resist the opportunity when the legendary musician eventually asked him to perform a duet of “Song Sung Blue” in his character as the Fonz. Thus, he playfully joined him to sing the classic hit while blending his beloved TV character’s charm with the energy of a live performance.