Showbiz
Legendary Jewish actor Henry Winkler set to star in new comedy series
The actor is best known for his role as Fonzie in Happy Days
January 20, 2026 13:47
The actor is best known for his role as Fonzie in Happy Days
January 20, 2026 13:47Legendary Jewish actor Henry Winkler is set to star in a new comedy series being developed by NBC, titled Last Chance Lawyer, which he will also executive produce.
According to Deadline, the show “centres on Howard Greenberg (Winkler), a hard-driving and unconventional criminal defence attorney who is a fierce advocate for his underdog clients, believing that no matter what they are accused of, the system is always guiltier.”
Winkler, 80, rose to fame as the beloved character Arthur Fonzarelli, better known as Fonzie, in the smash-hit sitcom Happy Days, which first aired in 1974.
The show, which was set in 1950s and 1960s Milwaukee, ran for 11 seasons and eventually spawned several successful spin-off shows, including Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy.
In a 2024 interview with the JC, Winkler detailed how his parents fled Nazi Germany by pretending they were taking a business trip, while his aunt Anna escaped by hiding in a coffin.
He also revealed that, early on in his career, he turned down the role of Danny in Grease out of fear of being typecast, and that he struggled for work after Happy Days finally ended, saying he “could not get arrested”.
And, in a recent episode of IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson, Winkler addressed rumours of retirement, saying: “People keep asking me am I gonna retire, or, ‘Have you retired?’ And I think that is the furthest thing from my imagination.
“I just think that it is deadly. I will retire when I am not able to [act] again.”
In addition to Last Chance Lawyer, Winkler currently presents Hazardous History With Henry Winkler on the History Channel.
Over a 50-year career, he has earned a host of accolades, including three Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and two Critics' Choice Awards.
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