Henry Winkler, best known for his Happy Days character Fonzie, did not grow up in the flashy atmosphere typically associated with celebrities. Winkler, who was born into an immigrant family fleeing Nazi Germany, battled with an undiagnosed reading disorder.
His parents referred to him as “dumb” and even dubbed him a “Dummo Hund,” or dumb hound, unaware that he had dyslexia. Peers and professors did the same, resulting in a difficult environment that influenced his perspective of himself.
Despite these hurdles, Winkler remained committed to his aims. After applying to 28 institutions, he was accepted by two of them and ultimately received an admission letter from the prestigious Yale School of Drama. His career began with an impromptu Shakespearean speech in which he demonstrated his skill.