Overview

• Producers early in Happy Days’ run eyed renaming the series “Fonzie’s Happy Days” to leverage Henry Winkler’s breakout popularity.
• Howard said he threatened to walk away over the optics of a title centered on Fonzie and noted his contract offered no protection against such a change.
• He credited creator Garry Marshall with honoring his objection and said Winkler later confirmed he also opposed the renaming idea.
• Howard played Richie Cunningham for seven seasons before leaving to focus on directing, while Winkler stayed with the show through its full eleven-season run.
• He revealed the behind-the-scenes dispute in the Vulture interview, which he used to spotlight his new survival thriller Eden, due August 22 and starring Jude Law, Sydney Sweeney and Ana de Armas.