Henry Winkler’s journey to success was **far from easy**. As a child, he struggled in school, often facing **harsh punishment and putdowns** from his parents, who thought he was simply lazy. It wasn’t until he was **31 years old** that he was diagnosed with **dyslexia**, finally understanding why he had struggled for so long.

Despite his difficulties with reading, Winkler worked **incredibly hard** to achieve success. He graduated with an **MFA from Yale University** and became famous for his role as **Fonzie in *Happy Days***. However, he admitted that even then, reading scripts was a challenge:

> *”I embarrassed myself for 10 years reading around that table.”*

When his stepson was tested for a learning disability, Winkler realized he **also had dyslexia**. He initially felt anger over the **years of unnecessary punishment**, but he turned his experience into **a source of inspiration for children**. He created the **Hank Zipzer** book series about a young boy with dyslexia, sending messages of encouragement to every child who writes to him:

> *”Your learning challenge will not stop you from meeting your dream. Only you will stop yourself.”*

Beyond his acting success, Winkler considers his books his **greatest achievement**. His memoir, set to be released in **2024**, will further share his **inspiring journey**.

What do you think of Henry Winkler’s story? Let us know in the comments!