Henry Winkler Recalls Turning Down John Travolta’s Role inGreaseBecause He Feared Being 'Typecast'

Mar. 15, 2025

Henry Winkler in ‘Happy Days’ in 1978 and John Travolta in ‘Grease’ in 1978.Photo:ABC Photo Archives Getty; PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive/Alamy

ABC Photo Archives Getty; PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive/Alamy

The prospect of playing Danny Zuko in the 1978 film adaptation ofGreasewasn’t exactlyelectrifyingtoHenry Winkler.On the most recent episode ofKelly Ripa’s podcastLet’s Talk Off Camera, theHappy Daysstar, 78, explained why he turned down the role that ultimately went toJohn Travolta, earning him a 1979 Golden Globe Award nomination.“In my pathetic mind, I thought to myself, ‘I have now been the Fonz for 10 years,’ ” Winkler recalled, referencing his greaserHappy Dayscharacter. " ‘I’m now gonna play him again in the movies? I’m gonna be so typecast. I will never get work again.’ “Henry Winkler in ‘Happy Days’ in 1975.ABC Photo Archives/Disney/Getty“A leather coat will be in your wardrobe for the rest of your life,” Ripa chimed in.“So what happened?” Winkler continued. “I go home. I relax. I have a V8. John Travolta goes home and buys a plane.”Despite missing out on starring in a blockbuster musical that further burnished Travolta’s status as a Hollywood leading man, Winkler admitted that he wasn’t the strongest singer — presumably a prerequisite for a role inGrease.“I am not a singer,” he said. “Here is my dream: that I could sing likeLewis Capaldi, like Bruno, like,the Boss, likeBrandi Carlile. I dream to sing and take the audience on a journey. I sing and I watch the audience get up and run for the exit.”To illustrate his point, Winkler pointed to the time he joined singerNeil Diamondonstage in the late ’70s.Henry Winkler and Neil Diamond onstage together in 1977.Michael Ochs Archives/GettyNever 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.“I love Neil Diamond,” he said. “At that time, nobody admitted to having Neil Diamond records except that he sold billions. So, somebody had to have them besides me!”“I’m sitting in the audience,” Winkler continued, “And he said, ‘Hey. We got a surprise for you. Come on up, Henry Winkler.’ And I think, ‘Thank God I bought this new sweater.’ ”Winkler recalled Diamond inviting him onstage to perform a duet of his 1972 hit, “Song Sung Blue.”“I actually [could not] remember the words,” Winkler admitted. TheBarryEmmy winnersaid he ended up just repeating the lyrics Diamond sang.“Did you get dizzy in the head?” Ripa asked.“What I did was I immediately bought incense,” Winkler joked. “And I have built a small altar, which I pray to every day that it never happens again.”

The prospect of playing Danny Zuko in the 1978 film adaptation ofGreasewasn’t exactlyelectrifyingtoHenry Winkler.

On the most recent episode ofKelly Ripa’s podcastLet’s Talk Off Camera, theHappy Daysstar, 78, explained why he turned down the role that ultimately went toJohn Travolta, earning him a 1979 Golden Globe Award nomination.

“In my pathetic mind, I thought to myself, ‘I have now been the Fonz for 10 years,’ ” Winkler recalled, referencing his greaserHappy Dayscharacter. " ‘I’m now gonna play him again in the movies? I’m gonna be so typecast. I will never get work again.’ "

Henry Winkler in ‘Happy Days’ in 1975.ABC Photo Archives/Disney/Getty

ABC Photo Archives/Disney/Getty

“A leather coat will be in your wardrobe for the rest of your life,” Ripa chimed in.

“So what happened?” Winkler continued. “I go home. I relax. I have a V8. John Travolta goes home and buys a plane.”

Despite missing out on starring in a blockbuster musical that further burnished Travolta’s status as a Hollywood leading man, Winkler admitted that he wasn’t the strongest singer — presumably a prerequisite for a role inGrease.

“I am not a singer,” he said. “Here is my dream: that I could sing likeLewis Capaldi, like Bruno, like,the Boss, likeBrandi Carlile. I dream to sing and take the audience on a journey. I sing and I watch the audience get up and run for the exit.”

To illustrate his point, Winkler pointed to the time he joined singerNeil Diamondonstage in the late ’70s.

Henry Winkler and Neil Diamond onstage together in 1977.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

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.

“I love Neil Diamond,” he said. “At that time, nobody admitted to having Neil Diamond records except that he sold billions. So, somebody had to have them besides me!”

“I’m sitting in the audience,” Winkler continued, “And he said, ‘Hey. We got a surprise for you. Come on up, Henry Winkler.’ And I think, ‘Thank God I bought this new sweater.’ ”

Winkler recalled Diamond inviting him onstage to perform a duet of his 1972 hit, “Song Sung Blue.”

“I actually [could not] remember the words,” Winkler admitted. TheBarryEmmy winnersaid he ended up just repeating the lyrics Diamond sang.

“Did you get dizzy in the head?” Ripa asked.

“What I did was I immediately bought incense,” Winkler joked. “And I have built a small altar, which I pray to every day that it never happens again.”

source: people.com