Henry Winkler revealed that he would be open to reprising a senior citizen version of his Happy Days character, Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli.
In an interview with CNN, the actor, who played the iconic role on the ABC sitcom from 1974 to 1984, said he’d be down for a sequel of the show in some form. “I would do the Fonz retired, absolutely,” Winkler, 79, told the outlet. “Grandchildren… lot of fun, very difficult, but you get to give ‘em back!” he added in his signature tough-guy Fonz voice.
This isn’t the first time Winkler has addressed revival rumors. In a 2019 interview with Extra, the actor admitted he didn’t know if there would ever be a Happy Days reboot or movie, but he added, “Let me just say if there was, they would have to get me an expandable zipper [for Fonzie’s iconic leather jacket]. “I don’t know if I would fit in that same jacket,” he joked.
Ron Howard Shot Down the Idea of a ‘Happy Days’ Revival
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While Winkler is down to reprise his signature role, Ron Howard, who played lead character Richie Cunningham on Happy Days, recently told People magazine that there will never be a revival of the show, which still airs in reruns to this day.
“It’s amazing, but we’re not doing a reboot,” Howard said in May. “The fact that the show endures …it kind of blows my mind in an interesting way. There’s something about that that doesn’t age — it was nostalgia when it was made.”
In April 2025, Winkler, Howard, Anson Williams (Potsie Weber), and Donny Most (Ralph Malph) gave fans the closest they’ll get to a Happy Days reunion. The foursome appeared together at the Steel City Con panel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
“This is the first time we have appeared this way in 50 years,” Winkler told the audience.
“It feels like 50 minutes because we have had so much fun hanging, and this was sort of our great excuse to come together,” Howard added.
In addition to Winkler, Howard, Williams, and Most, Happy Days starred Marion Ross and Scott Baio. Several key Happy Days cast members are no longer living. Tom Bosley (patriarch Howard Cunningham), Erin Moran (little sister Joanie Cunningham), Pat Morita (original Arnold’s Drive-In owner, Arnold Takahashi ), and Al Molinaro (Al DelVecchio) have all died, as has series creator Garry Marshall.
