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TV Star Saves Suicidal Fan's Life with Unexpected Advice
1 Oct
Summary
- Henry Winkler, the actor who played "Fonzie" on Happy Days, saved a suicidal fan's life in 2015.
- The 17-year-old fan was ready to jump, but Winkler convinced him to go inside and sign over his record collection instead.
- Winkler's quick thinking and compassionate response prevented the tragedy.
In 2015, Henry Winkler, the beloved actor who played the iconic "Fonzie" character on the 1970s sitcom Happy Days, demonstrated his real-life heroism by saving a suicidal fan's life.
According to Winkler, the incident occurred while he was on the set of Happy Days. Suddenly, the phone rang, and a police officer from the Midwest informed Winkler that a 17-year-old young man was on a ledge, ready to jump. Before taking the drastic step, the teen wanted to speak with Winkler.
Winkler, now 79 years old, quickly sprang into action. He told the distraught fan, "I was 27 when I got the Fonz, John. You've got 10 good years to keep trying. Will you do that?" When that didn't seem to work, Winkler had another idea. He asked the teen if he had a record collection, and when the young man said he did, Winkler suggested he go inside and sign it over to Winkler. This unexpected advice prompted the teen to reconsider his actions, and he was ultimately stopped from jumping.
Winkler, known for his humility, admitted he didn't know where he got the nerve to talk the young man down, but his quick thinking and compassionate response undoubtedly saved a life that day.
