Why Henry Winkler Passed on Starring in 'Grease'

It’s been nearly four decades since the beloved musical 'Grease' lit up theaters and charmed audiences worldwide. But here's a twist you might not have known: Henry Winkler, famous for his role as "The Fonz" in 'Happy Days,' once had the chance to play Danny Zuko, the movie's leading man. In a candid interview with 'AARP The Magazine' for its December 2017/January 2018 issue, the 72-year-old actor revealed he turned down the role of Danny because he was worried about being pigeonholed. "I didn’t want to be typecast," Henry explained. But as life often shows us, things don’t always work out the way we plan. "You're typecast anyway," he admitted with a laugh. "And it’s not like I’m sitting here now thinking, 'Oh, I should’ve done it.' It’s more that I made the decision intellectually instead of listening to my gut. Sometimes, you’ve got to trust your instincts. So, I went home and had an orange juice. John Travolta, on the other hand, went home and bought a plane!"

At the time, Henry was busy playing Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on 'Happy Days,' a character so similar to Danny Zuko that it made the decision to pass on 'Grease' feel easier. Both characters were bad boys with hearts of gold, and Henry thought stepping into Danny’s shoes might blur the lines between the two roles too much. But who knows? Maybe seeing Henry in that leather jacket could’ve been magical.

Elvis Presley and the 'Grease' Cast

henry winkler john travolta getty images r/r

Henry (left) in 'Happy Days' and John (right) in 'Grease'. (Photo Credit: Getty Images, R/R)

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Now, let’s rewind a bit. In a 2016 'Vanity Fair' article, the 'Grease' filmmakers revealed an even more surprising tidbit: Elvis Presley was once considered for the role of Teen Angel. Unfortunately, the King of Rock and Roll passed away in 1977 during the filming of the movie, and the part eventually went to teen idol Frankie Avalon. As for the role of Sandy Olsson, John’s love interest, it was ultimately played by Olivia Newton-John. But other actresses, including Carrie Fisher, Susan Dey, Deborah Raffin, and Marie Osmond, were also in the running for the iconic role. Imagine how different 'Grease' could’ve been with any of these incredible talents!

Fighting Dyslexia and Finding Success

While we can all agree that John Travolta’s portrayal of Danny Zuko is unforgettable, it’s fascinating to think about how Henry might’ve brought his own flair to the role. During his chat with 'AARP,' Henry also opened up about his lifelong battle with dyslexia. "I was dyslexic and didn’t even know it until I was 31," he confessed. "I couldn’t do math, spell, or tell left from right. To me, left was the elbow that stuck out the window when I drove. People told me I should write books for children about my experience, but I thought, 'I can’t—I feel stupid.' Then I realized, 'OK, I’m going to try.'"

Henry poured his heart into creating 'Hank Zipzer, the World’s Greatest Underachiever,' a series of 29 books featuring a young boy who struggles with learning challenges. "My fourth-grade teacher, Miss Adolf, was pretty harsh, and I made sure she was just as tough in the books. But my music teacher, Mr. Rock, was always encouraging. He told me, 'You’re gonna be OK.' And I’ve clung to that for the past 50 years," he shared.