Henry Winkler And ‘Amazing’ Wife Of 45 Years Endured Struggles But 'Enjoy Each Other' And Their 3 Kids

Dec 01, 2022

Few people have had to overcome as much difficulty to succeed in their profession as actor, producer and children's book author Henry Winkler. The talented star is best known for playing the greaser with a roguish charm, Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli, on the popular sitcom "Happy Days" opposite Ron Howard from 1974 to 1984. His character would go on to surpass others on the show in popularity, leading the producers to write an even bigger part for him in the show. So convincing was he as the bad boy with a heart of gold that he earned three Primetime Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe awards for the role. 

“Happy Days” made Winkler a household name, but he didn’t want to get stuck playing bad-boy types forever. For a few years in the 1980s and early 1990s, he struggled to find work on screen, which led him to try his hand behind the scenes instead. He found success as a producer and director, including for the hugely successful series "Macgyver."

In later years, he excelled as a comedic actor, playing iconic roles on popular television shows such as "Arrested Development," "Parks and Recreation" and he even won an Emmy award for his performance as Gene Cousineau on the HBO dark comedy series "Barry." After first acting alongside Adam Sandler in 1998’s “The Waterboy,” he would return for roles in later Sandler films, such as “Little Nicky,” “Click” and “You Don’t Mess With The Zohan.”

But Winkler is successful in more than just his acting career. The Hollywood icon is also successful in his personal life, boasting a 45-year marriage and three children, Zoe, Max and Jed.

Winkler did not always have the easiest childhood. The actor grew up in a home where education was highly valued, however, because of his learning disability, his grades would often disappoint his parents. It was not until he was in his 30s that Winkler discovered that he was dyslexic.

"Education was really important to my parents and, of course, the thing that was most important to them was the most difficult for me. They were very critical and sometimes cruel. Their pet name for me was Dumm Hund (dumb dog)," he told the Guardian. 

Winkler showed an interest in acting at an early age, pursuing a career in the industry while attending Boston's Emerson College. He later attended the Yale School of Drama. Winkler took his talents to New York City's Broadway in 1972 but received more rejections than successful jobs.

One of his first big breaks came when he co-starred alongside legend Sylvester Stallone in the film "The Lords of Flatbush." This inspired him to head to Los Angeles and begin the audition process for additional projects. This was his first time acting in a feature film, and it gained him the attention of producer Tom Miller. Miller was instrumental in helping Winkler get cast on "Happy Days," as the actor was still relatively unknown.

Winkler spoke with the Today show in 2019 about the impact "Happy Days" had on his life and career. "Unbelievable. And what it led to. It introduced me to the world. And here I am. I was 27 when I got the Fonz. (Now) I'm 73 years old," he said.

The hugely popular sitcom "Happy Days" first aired in 1974. Winkler played the role of Fonzie. Fonzie can be described as a ladies' man or a greaser, and Winkler excelled in the bad-boy role despite it being contrary to his actual image. 

Working in Los Angeles proved to be a turn of fate that led Winkler to meet his wife while in California.

Stacey Furtsman was in a clothing store when Winkler asked for her help in selecting a jacket. Feeling the immediate chemistry, he asked her out for a soda, and the rest is history. It was just a few weeks later that Furstsman and her 4-year-old son moved in with Winkler, and the pair married after two years of dating.

However, life was not always easy for the pair. According to Wide Open Country, Furtsman was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after her daughter, Zoe, moved away for college. It came back a second time just a few years later, resulting in Furtsman undergoing a double mastectomy. She is now cancer-free.

Winkler and Furtsman have a deep love for one another, so it’s not hard to see how they’ve been married for 45 years! Winkler has always thought she was beautiful.

"She was wearing purple parachute pants, and she had red hair, and without her even saying a word, I thought, 'Woah, beautiful woman standing in front of me,'" he said of his wife, according to People.

And during an appearance on “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” Winkler commented on being with his wife for so long, saying, “And can I just say, she is still as beautiful.”

He told People, “All you have to do is look at Stacey. She is an amazing woman.”

It seems like Furtsman feels the same, as she tweeted a screenshot of Winkler with the caption, “Handsome Henry Winkler@hwinkler4real on Jimmy Kimmel tonite!”

The pair's daughter, Zoe, said that her parents have always served as an inspiration to her as it encouraged her to also want to find a soulmate. The school teacher is now married to Robert Reinis.

Max followed in his father's footsteps as a producer and director. Winkler's stepson, Jed Weitzman, said that he always felt as if he was a full part of the family. Like Winkler, he also suffers from dyslexia, bonding the two together. Zoe also struggles with dyslexia, which is one of the reasons she wanted to become a school teacher, according to Wide Open Country. “I don’t want anyone else to ever feel stupid,” she said.

Their entire family loves dogs, and in an interview with Be Chewy from 2019, Winkler shared that Max and Zoe both have dogs as well. "We have Sadie, and she is just a heart stealer. She has the energy of 7 dogs and is a relentless ball player. She's a 1-year-old Labradoodle, chocolate brown and she is a mini. I wasn't exactly sure I was getting a mini, but here she is," Winkler said.

He continued, "Eleven years ago, my wife found a baby Labrador, who was 4 months old, in a parking structure … We brought him home, and then he grew into a Great Dane. He's a mix … he is part Lab, part Great Dane. His name is Linus." 

Winkler has a wonderful family that is incredibly close. Speaking about his wife, he said, “We truly enjoy each other every day.”

What do you think about Henry Winkler’s family? Are you a fan of the actor? Let us know your thoughts, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones.