Henry Winkler 'Put a Stop' to Daughter Zoe's Reality TV Career and Her Chance to BeThe Bachelorette

Mar. 15, 2025

(L) Zoe Winkler and Henry Winkler.Photo:Stefanie Keenan/Getty

Stefanie Keenan/Getty

Once upon a time,Henry Winkler’s daughter,Zoe, wanted to become a bonafide reality star.

“Do you remember when I was in the running to beThe Bachelorette?” she asked to which theHappy Daysalum replied, “Oh, my goodness. And we put a stop to that and only for your protection.”

After Henry jokingly asked his daughter for a “thank you,” Zoe shared how, back in the day, she,Kim Kardashianand Sarah Howard had been asked to be a part of a show calledQuarter Life Crisis— an opportunity that Henry also turned down on her behalf.

Zoe Winkler and Henry Winkler attends the TIAH 4th Annual Fundraiser on August 27, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.Stefanie Keenan/Getty

“I’ll never forget Matt Hanna [an executive producer],” she recalled. “He worked at VH1 at the time, he flew out to LA and did a sizzle reel of us. And I don’t even think like I mentioned it to you… I was living at home at the time because I was just done with college. He came to the house and you met him outside.”

“I did,” Henry continued. “I said, it is so lovely that you’re here, I can suggest some really good restaurants, [but] my daughter is not doing your show.”

Though Zoe’s reality dreams were dashed and Kim went on to “become the most famous person in the world,” she admitted that her father’s firm stance allowed her to pursue a life long dream she’d always had of teaching.

Zoe Winkler Reinis.John Sciulli/Getty

John Sciulli/Getty

“I became a teacher, which was the best job and what I always truly wanted to do,” she explained, before Henry added that he knew she was “born” to teach after visiting her classroom on multiple occasions.

“I’m not kidding, [it’s] not because I’m your dad,” he continued. “I’m just objectively telling you I saw it happen. If I were a young parent, at the time that I saw the way you parent and the way you taught, I would have stolen your technique and used it as my go-to.”

Zoe began working as a nursery school teacher after graduating from Loyola Marymount University. After several years of teaching, she transitioned into a humanitarian role after co-founding the nonprofit, This is About Humanity, in 2018.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

At the time, she toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat she was inspired to launch the organization after seeing the conditions migrants were living in at border holding facilities.

“I could not get the images out of my head of these children,” she told the outlet. “I have a 1-year-old, a 3-year-old, and a 6-year-old, and having them separated from me would be, I don’t know that they would make it. I mean it’s so damaging and we’re living in such a scary time as it is right now that I feel like I never in my life thought I would become an activist, but I don’t have any other choice.”

source: people.com