In 1973, when Henry Winkler heard for the role of Arthur “Phonzie” Fonzarelli on “Happy Days”, “ He was withdrawn by three years after graduating from the prestigious Yale theater school and earning a living as an actor by appearing in advertisements. This allowed him the freedom to take less lucrative theater and cinema concerts, which is often the only way to go anywhere as an actor and the reason why the washing rate is so high.

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Just before reading for the role that would completely change his life (and make the history of television in the process), Winkler won part of the comedy of maturity “The Lords of Flatbush”. Located in Brooklyn, the film depicts the buffoonery of four young Brooklyn fathers who mainly cause harmless problems around the borough. The film managed to succeed, giving a little boost to his cast – which, with Winkler, included investment came like Perry King, Susan Blakely and Sylvester Stallone (And almost presented Richard Gere). It was Sly’s first major performance, and it gave movies an overview of the sympathetic Paloka two years later in “Rocky”. Great things were on the horizon for some of the lords, and in the case of Winkler, the time he spent making this film turned out to be precious when he was preparing to try for the part of Fonzie.

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Although you thought Winkler could rely on his own performance as a fat in “The Lords of Flatbush” for inspiration, he actually looked at the representation of Stallone to get advice on the nailing of Fonz.

In a 2019 interview with PeopletvWinkler explained that the character of Stallone, Stanley Rosiello – a Muddler who likes to have fun who is shaking with his Laybout complacent when he accidentally permeates his girlfriend Frannie (Maria Smith) – looked more like her own character “Lords of Flatbush”, the Brainy Butchey Weinstein. According to Winkler, “when I heard, I just changed my voice a little, you know?”

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Fonzie’s modeling after Sly turned out to be a coup to Winkler, because it not only obtained the role, but also transformed it into one of the largest television stars in the 1970s. Fonzie was a single type of fat. He was hard, and could more than manage himself in a fight, but he preferred to court the ladies and make advice from sage to his friends Richie (Ron Howard), potsie (Mount Anson) and Ralph (Donnie Most). Fonzie was an absolute mensch. The only person in Milwaukee who did not love him was probably the owner of the automatic distributor whose juke box Fonzie could start with the slap of his hand.

Throughout his race on “Happy Days”, Winkler wondered often: “What would Sly do here?” How did Sly feel about it? Honored, it would seem. When Winkler won the Primetime Emmy for an exceptional support actor in a comedy series for his representation of acting coach gene cousineau on “barry,” Stallone congratulated its former co-star on Instagram. “I remember very well working with him in these cold streets in Brooklyn almost 47 years ago !!!” wrote Snenese. “He was then a super talented class act and even more one now !!!” I bet that Fonz and Rocky Balboa would have succeeded.

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