Current:Home > MyHenry Winkler reveals he was once visited by the FBI: 'Oh my God' -Thrive Financial Network
Henry Winkler reveals he was once visited by the FBI: 'Oh my God'
Johnathan Walker View
Date:2025-04-07 02:15:40
They just wanted to say "ayyyy!"
Henry Winkler shared a story on the "SmartLess" podcast Monday about the FBI once showing up at his apartment. The "Happy Days" star, 78, recalled sitting at home listening to a Dan Fogelberg record when he heard a knock on his door.
"I get up, there are three men with badges, and I said, 'Oh, no, you do not smell what you think you're smelling,'" Winkler said, implying there was weed in his apartment. "Oh my God."
It turns out, though, this wasn't why they were there. The men were just massive fans of "Happy Days."
"They said, 'We're with the FBI,'" Winkler said. "We're not here for that. We just wanted to meet The Fonz.'"
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Henry Winkleron being ghosted by Paul McCartney, that 'baloney' John Travolta 'Grease' feud
"SmartLess" host Jason Bateman noted this seemed like an abuse of power, but Winkler was simply relieved to not be in any trouble.
"I was so happy that I wasn't being put in handcuffs that I didn't care what they did," he quipped.
Winkler didn't specify when this incident happened. But he mentioned it while discussing being flooded with fan mail and gifts at home when he starred as Fonzie on "Happy Days," the classic sitcom that originally aired from 1974 to 1984. These gifts included jewelry, stuffed bears, crucifixes and even lingerie.
Quarantine Diaries:Henry Winkler is eating dinner mid-day and waiting to hug his grandkids again
The FBI incident wasn't the only strange encounter the "Barry" star had at his apartment.
"People would come to the apartment and lift their shirt and ask me to sign parts of their anatomy," the Emmy-winner said. "And of course I wouldn't because I was afraid that the ink would get into their blood stream."
Winkler previously reflected on his career in the memoir "Being Henry: The Fonz…And Beyond," published last year. Speaking with USA TODAY, he explained he tried never to speak as The Fonz in public while "Happy Days" was on, though he did channel the character once at a fan event when a screaming crowd was blocking his exit.
"Using Fonz voice, I shouted, 'Alright! You are going to part like the Red Sea. You're not going to touch us,'" he said. "And they actually parted. We walked to the car, got in, and drove off."
Contributing: Bryan Alexander
veryGood! (35)
Related
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- North Dakota voters will decide whether to abolish property taxes
- Babies R Us shops are rolling out in 200 Kohl's stores: See full list
- Flavor Flav, Alexis Ohanian step up to pay rent for US Olympian Veronica Fraley
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Simone Biles' stunning Olympics gymnastics routines can be hard to watch. Here's why.
- Conn's HomePlus now closing all stores: See the full list of locations
- What are maternity homes? Their legacy is checkered
- 'Most Whopper
- Cardi B asks court to award her primary custody of her children with Offset, divorce records show
Ranking
- Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
- DOJ finds 5 Texas juvenile detention centers abused children
- A 'dead zone' about the size of New Jersey lurks in the Gulf of Mexico
- 'Depraved monster': Ex-FBI agent, Alabama cop sentenced to life in child sex-abuse case
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- Families react to 9/11 plea deals that finally arrive after 23 years
- Florida-bound passengers evacuated at Ohio airport after crew reports plane has mechanical issue
- Harvard appoints Alan Garber as president through 2026-27 academic year
Recommendation
Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
First two kickoff under NFL’s new rules are both returned to the 26
Thousands were arrested at college protests. For students, the fallout was only beginning
French pharmacies are all the rage on TikTok. Here's what you should be buying.
Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in the Kansas state primaries
Kate Douglass 'kicked it into high gear' to become Olympic breaststroke champion
Christina Hall Slams Estranged Husband Josh Hall’s Message About “Hope”