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Hanks & Winkler: On-Screen Rivalry & Real-Life Clash
8 Mar
Summary
- Hanks played a vengeful psychiatrist against Winkler's Fonzie.
- The fictional fight occurred during the tenth season of Happy Days.
- Actors later had conflicts off-screen after this on-screen bout.
Veteran actors Tom Hanks and Henry Winkler, both respected for their genial public images, have a history of both on-screen altercations and real-life disagreements.
In a memorable Season 10 episode of "Happy Days," Winkler's iconic character, Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli, faced an unexpected opponent in psychiatrist Dr. Wayne Twitchell, played by Hanks. Dr. Twitchell harbored a years-long grudge against Fonzie, stemming from a childhood incident.
Seeking retribution, Dr. Twitchell, who had earned a black belt in karate, confronted Fonzie at Al's diner. After an initial evasion, Fonzie agreed to stand still, only to be forcefully propelled through diner fixtures by Twitchell's powerful kick. Their characters resolved their differences moments later.
However, the camaraderie between their characters did not fully translate to their later interactions, as Winkler and Hanks encountered conflicts on a movie set not long after this "Happy Days" appearance.
