Henry Winkler & Sylvester Stallone Enjoy 'Great Afternoon' In Delightful Get-Together Selfie

Aug 01, 2023

Some may say Hollywood greats Henry Winkler and Sylvester Stallone are past their prime years, but their impacts and impressive entertainment resumes are nothing short of pivotal for the movie industry. Stallone and Winkler made a name for themselves in various movie projects ranging from action to American drama as well as their joint projects like "The Lords of Flatbush." These days, they enjoy their lives as senior citizens and don't mind a little reunion from time to time.  

The pair had their slew of fans expressing admiration on July 27, 2023, when they took to their respective social media platforms to flaunt a wholesome star reunion. Winkler and Stallone shared several snaps showing them reveling in the meet-up and delightfully looking back at their classic days. 

As a young actor bustling with energy, Winkler started his career in the 70s, getting a small role on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." By 1974, he got his breakout role as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on the sitcom "Happy Days." For the next decade, his fame in the acting industry grew, leading to roles in film projects like "Heroes," "The Waterboy" and “Third Watch,” among others. 

Once reflecting on his career, Winkler shared that he sometimes changed his voice to match Stallone when he played Fonzie. Per EW, the star talked about how the role made him a household name, noting that he received about "155,000 letters every two weeks." 

For Stallone, a career in Hollywood meant working odd jobs to rise to the top. The American actor struggled to get movie roles, and even when he tried being an extra, it did not work out. The turning point came in 1976 when he wrote "Rocky." 

The action movie centered around a boxer who went from grass to grace and became critically acclaimed after it was released. It also got nine Oscar nominations. One notable part of making "Rocky" was how Winkler played a significant role in seeing the movie succeed.  

Speaking on "The Tonight Show" in 2021, Winkler opened up about making "Rocky." He told Jimmy Fallon that he and Stallone were pals way before his big break. Winkler had been filming on the 1974 sitcom "Happy Days" when Stallone asked him to pass his script to the ABC Brass team. Although the script impressed the showrunners, Stallone was not satisfied with the terms, and Winkler made sure to get his script back. 

The Rocky Balboa actor and Winkler displayed their friendship chemistry in the coming-of-age film, "The Lords of Flatbush." The star starred alongside Perry King and Paul Mace. The movie revolved around four teens who belonged to a gang with the same name as the movie. Martin Davidson and Stephen F. Verona directed the 1974 film. The movie served as one of Stallone and Winkler's first roles.  

Back in 2022, the actors were in the news after they were embroiled in drama over the rights to "Rocky." According to Daily Mail, an upset Stallone accused "The Here Comes The Boom" star and his family of "controlling" the "Rocky" and "Creed" franchises. Stallone tagged the situation as the “real Rocky horror show” on social media. However, it appeared things simmered down as the old-time pals reunited for lunch in 2023.

On Twitter, now known as X, Winkler shared a post showing him and Stallone posing for a selfie. In the snap, the pair appeared to be standing outdoors as Winkler held the camera with both hands. He rocked a blue and white gingham shirt and a big smile while Stallone stood by his side, also bearing a smile. Winkler heartily captioned:

"This was a great lunch !!!!"

The "Rambo" actor also took to his Instagram page to share several snaps from their little reunion. The first photo was similar to Winkler's, showing the pair flashing big smiles. The duo's sweet reunion was in Beverly Hills, California. Winkler and Stallone were joined by the latter's brother Frank and comedian Jon Lovitz for lunch.

The gathering was also filmed for Stallone's reality show, "The Family Stallone." The star actor and his wife, Jennifer Flavin, launched their family show in 2023 featuring their three grown daughters. The "First Blood" actor gushed in his caption:

"Spending a great afternoon with my very, very long time friend Henry Winkler. Great guy , great actor , and hysterical Jon Lovits and my very talented brother, the Frankster!"

The stars all stood close while Stallone and both arms stretched to embrace everyone. Fans did not hold back their admiration as they gushed over the actors. 

One fan recalled the pair's beloved roles and commented, "Lords of Flatbush! Such an underrated movie!" Another wrote, "Unbelievable to see Balboa and Fonzarelli together! Another cheered, "A day of fun and a lot of laughing." Years after fans watched the friends on "The Lords of the Flatbush," they were pleased to reminisce about the classic days.  

Wasn't it delightful to see Henry Winkler and Sylvester Stallone enjoy a warm reunion after their classic days? Do you recall your favorite "The Lords of Flatbush" scene? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to other fans.