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There’s no way to imagine anyone other than Henry Winkler playing Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on *Happy Days*, but it seems we nearly saw a very different performer as the beloved greaser. Before the “Barry” star entered the picture, the role almost went to Micky Dolenz, a member of The Monkees.
Things quickly changed after Winkler auditioned and impressed the show’s casting directors. At least, that’s likely how Winkler hoped things would go. Initially, however, he sort of underwhelmed series creator Garry Marshall, who was envisioning someone with a bit more physical stature for the character.
The young actor had actually been recommended by former Paramount development head Tom Miller, who had conceived a proto-*Happy Days* with then-future Disney CEO Michael Eisner before Marshall’s involvement. But when Winkler showed up to audition, Marshall was reluctant to cast the 5-foot-6-inch actor in a role that epitomized coolness. According to the book *Happier Days*, Marshall reportedly remarked, “This is my Fonzie?”
So, how did Winkler end up with the part?
It seems the deciding factor was that no other actor could do justice to Fonzie — a fact that any *Happy Days* fan can attest to. Winkler also won over Marshall with his confidence.
Back in 1974, Henry Winkler starred alongside Perry King, Paul Mace, and a young Sylvester Stallone in the comedy *The Lords of Flatbush*. Playing a rambunctious, leather-jacketed 1950s street kid, Winkler was essentially portraying a prototype of Arthur Fonzarelli in the movie. While *The Lords of Flatbush* took place in the streets of the titular New York neighborhood, as opposed to the quiet Midwestern suburbs of *Happy Days*, Winkler’s portrayal of Butchey Weinstein helped land him an audition for Fonzie.
Interestingly, Stallone’s portrayal of Stanley Rosiello in the film was said to have actually inspired the creation of the *Happy Days* greaser.
Despite catching the eye of Tom Miller, Winkler still had to convince Garry Marshall, who was harder to win over. When Winkler tried out for the role, he faced competition from several contenders, including Micky Dolenz and another Monkee, Michael Nesmith.
Eventually, the shortlist was narrowed down to Winkler and Dolenz. Dolenz was already a star from his band and their 1960s TV show. His involvement would have instantly helped transport Baby Boomers back to their youth, which was central to the sitcom’s mission.
However, Winkler’s suitability for the role was undeniable. Dolenz himself admitted to *People* magazine, “Oh my God, he’s just so good. I was definitely not as good as he was.”
In his memoir, *My Happy Days in Hollywood: A Memoir*, Marshall recalled the moment Winkler walked into the audition. “I thought I wanted a tall, handsome blond, and in walked a short, dark-haired actor,” he wrote.
Thankfully for Winkler, Marshall wasn’t overly impressed with the other prospects, as detailed in the *Happier Days* book. In a separate interview with the Television Academy, Marshall said he was eventually “won over” by Winkler, and credited Tom Miller as “the whole key” to casting the young Yale School of Drama graduate over Dolenz.
Ultimately, Winkler impressed the showrunner by confidently “acting like he was 10 feet tall,” a quality that perfectly embodied the spirit of Fonzie.
https://www.slashfilm.com/1994432/happy-days-producer-garry-marshall-fonzie-issue-henry-winkler-height/
