Henry Winkler (THE WATERBOY) is perhaps best known for his role as Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli (‘The Fonz’) in the popular American sitcom ‘Happy Days’, which ran between 1974 and 1984 on ABC. However, what you may not know about him, is that he was diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult, and has since been helping children all over the UK to do the same. In the last two years he has travelled to schools all over Britain where he has talked to youngsters about the learning difficulty. Additionally, he has written several books, aimed primarily at children, about Hank Zipzer, a boy with dyslexia, whose experiences are based on the actor’s own childhood struggles.
The British ambassador to the US, Nigel Sheinwald, presented the OBE to Winkler – for his services to children with dyslexia and special educational needs – during a ceremony at the British embassy in Washington DC. Winkler described being given the accolade as ‘humbling’, but also that it was never his goal. His main aim has always been to ‘change how people think about those around them for whom learning is a struggle.’
Not only is he the ‘king of cool’, but he is changing the world for the better; which is more than can be said for a lot of ‘cool’ people. Long may his wonderful work continue.
Source: Guardian
