Henry Winkler shares his regret for turning down iconic Grease role

Virgin Radio

15 Nov 2022, 15:21

Happy Days icon Henry Winkler admitted he would turn back the clock and say yes to playing Danny Zuko in the iconic musical, Grease. 

Of course, the role eventually went to John Travolta, and it made household names of the actor and its cast.

While speaking to CNN about his incredible career, Henry, famous for playing greaser Arthur ‘The Fonz’ Fonzarelli in Happy Days, shared he didn’t want to fall into being typecast after playing such a similar, albeit legendary, character before. 

When asked by host Chris Wallace if he was a “damn fool” for saying no to the role of Danny, Henry replied: “Yes. I am [a damn fool]. I only realised years afterwards. I thought, ‘I’ve played the Fonz, I don’t want to do it again…’ It has already happened, I’m already typecast!”

He then joked: “I go home, I say no, and I have a Diet Coke. John Travolta goes home – and has done the movie – and buys a plane.

“[I] should have just shut up and had a really good time making that movie.”

By the time Grease was being made in 1978, Henry was already a massive star on Happy Days, and went on to become one of only two characters to appear in the whole 255 episodes across a decade. 

He also bagged four Emmy nominations and won two Golden Globes for his portrayal of the slick motorcycle-riding character.

Grease went on to become one of the most popular musicals to hit the big screen, becoming highest-grossing musical film ever at the time, and landing an Oscar nomination for soundtrack classic, Hopelessly Devoted to You. 

Recently, the cast of Grease suffered a massive loss following the passing of its Sandy star, Olivia Newton-John in August.

Co-star and close friend Travolta paid tribute via Instagram, sharing a throwback photo, alongside the caption: “My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. 

“I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!”

Grease then returned for limited cinema run in the US, with AMC Theatres donating $1 of their ticket price to breast cancer research in the Australian actress’ memory.