Many people would be shocked to learn that Henry Winkler and his wife hardly ever saw each other again after their initial encounter in a garment store despite having three children and a devoted 44-year marriage.
Henry Winkler’s portrayal of Arthur Fonzarelli on “Happy Days” is probably his most well-known performance, but he also deserves praise for his loving marriage to Stacey.
It’s difficult to realize that they almost didn’t go on their first date.
Due to the classic parts that the actor has played during his lengthy career, Henry Winkler is a name that the majority of people are familiar with. Winkler is best known for playing Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli in the television series “Happy Days,” a part that continues to be heavily cited in modern society.
When Stacey and Henry first met, the respective public relations specialist and actor were in a clothes store that Stacey’s agency worked with. Henry enlisted Stacey’s assistance while trying to get a sport coat, and the rest is history.
Speaking about the first time they met, Henry said, “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’. I came back to the store the next week, and she was there. And within 10 minutes, I learned how strong she is.”
When Stacey and Henry first met, the respective public relations specialist and actor were in a clothes store that Stacey’s agency worked with. Henry enlisted Stacey’s assistance while trying to get a sport coat, and the rest is history.
Stacey and her son, who was four at the time, went beyond courting and moved in with Henry right before the couple decided to get married in 1978.
The pair had to start negotiating Henry’s rising celebrity after getting married in the same Manhattan synagogue where Winkler had his bar mitzvah. Stacey frequently had to deal with the overwhelming amount of female attention he started to get.
Stacey revealed that even after the couple got married, women kept going up to their husband. Knowing that the attention was excellent for his work, she said that she would just have to learn to deal with it.
She went so far as to say, ”People would rush up to Henry and literally walk over my feet. One time I said, ‘You’ve just completely ruined my stockings.’ And this woman said, ‘But I love Fonzie!’”
Female fans were not a major concern to the pair compared to upcoming challenges. In 1980, Henry and Stacey welcomed their daughters Zoey and Max, and they coexisted for many years with their offspring and careers.
Max Daniel Winkler made the decision to follow in his father’s footsteps in the entertainment industry and is now a writer, director, and producer for hit shows like “New Girl” and “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” among others.
However, the family’s circumstances took a depressing turn in the late 1990s. After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, Stacey had to deal with a brand-new problem.
Stacey had remission very soon. This continued for some months until her disease, regrettably, came back in 2007. She underwent a double mastectomy at this time, and she has been cancer-free ever since.
Henry has gotten deeply interested in breast cancer awareness in support of his devoted wife. At the 13th annual “In The Pink of Health” Luncheon, one of several activities the group holds to raise money for breast cancer patients and their families, Winkler was invited to speak as the guest speaker.
Henry had been assisting folks with cancer long before Stacey was diagnosed, showing up at an all-star basketball game in 1976 to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Henry and his wife have been able to sustain a long and happy marriage by showing each other support and respect. Even though they insist there are other factors contributing to their successful marriage, they do not hide their love.
Henry was shocked when James Corden presented him with a photo from his and Stacey’s wedding day on the James Corden show. Winkler’s comment was that Stacey is still just as stunning today as she was on the day of their wedding.
Henry is not the only person who has publicly declared their love. She frequently uses social media postings and images to express her support for her still-busy husband.
Despite the fact that 44 years of marriage are never simple, the couple has frequently been candid about collaborating to meet life’s problems.
”It does take work. There are glitches in the road, and you get a little off kilter, but if you have the ability and the stick-to-itiveness based on love, then your friendship and your relationship only gets better,” Stacey once explained to People.
Winkler and his wife now enjoy having grandchildren. Since all of his grandparents were sent to concentration camps during the Holocaust, Winkler was unable to form a close bond with them; as a result, he treasures his relationship with his grandchildren.
He told an interviewer about one of his grandchildren recognizing him from television. He said, “my wife and I babysat our four-year-old grandson, who is allowed to watch one show before he goes to bed. He has Happy Days on his DVR. He turned to me, he said, ‘That’s you. Your hair was different. You were skinnier then’”
He claimed that his young grandchildren didn’t know he was a well-known actor; instead, to them, he was just their adoring “Papa,” which was fine with him.
The two should truly be an inspiration to the rest of us for their realism, courage, and love as individuals and a couple