Henry Winkler bonds with co-stars in NBC's 'Better Late Than Never'
During an hourlong chat at his Los Angeles home, Henry Winkler does impressions of George Foreman, Terry Bradshaw and William Shatner (his co-stars in the new NBC reality series "Better Late Than Never," premiering at 9 p.m. Tuesday), walks like a ninja who suddenly sports jazz hands and improvises a scene as the intolerant acting coach he plays in a new HBO comedy.
The 70-year-old entertainer is visibly animated as he discusses his career, which spans four decades and counting. But the overriding vibe from the former Fonz is one of gratitude.
"I live by tenacity and gratitude," he said. "I am grateful for every inch of earth that I tread on in my life."
Acting remains a passion. Winkler is also a successful author of children's books and travels the country as a motivational speaker. And he's a doting grandfather of four.
His current television endeavor is "Better Late Than Never." The four-episode reality series follows Winkler, Foreman, Bradshaw, Shatner and comedian Jeff Dye on various cultural and culinary adventures in Asia.
As an executive producer, Winkler helped assemble the quintet, who barely knew one another before embarking on the 35-day trip through Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand. But talk about your bonding experiences: Together, they appeared on a Japanese game show, studied with samurai warriors, danced in a K-pop video and befriended elephants at an animal sanctuary.
Now "it's friends for life," Winkler said. "It might have been the trip of a lifetime."
He's so confident about the show - "to the point that I will come to your house and do the dishes" - if each episode isn't better than the last.
Winkler is also embracing the outrageous in scripted form with "Barry," a new HBO series that starts production in January. "Saturday Night Live" alum Bill Hader stars as a middling hit man who finds unexpected community among a group of theater hopefuls in Los Angeles. Winkler is their cantankerous acting coach.
Winkler studied drama at Yale and has pursued the craft with vigor since he graduated. He only started writing children's books when he had difficulty shedding the Fonz persona after "Happy Days" ended its 10-year run. But he's never stopped looking for the next great part. Even now, he still goes out on auditions and dreams big.
"My favorite role is the next role I do," he said. "I love going to work."
Winkler's joy and gratitude is palpable, though he still yearns for one particular piece of hardware.
"Here's my bucket list," Winkler said. "I would like to see my grandchildren thrive. I would like to work until I absolutely cannot anymore. I would like to win a Tony. I watch the Tony Awards and cry every year. I love it. That is my dream."
His thank-you speech may already be written.
“Better Late Than Never”
Airs at 9 p.m. Tuesday on NBC