“Happy Days” Star Henry Winkler Reveals the ‘Unbelievable’ Birthday Gift That ‘Thoughtful’ Ron Howard Sends Him Every Year

Nicki CoxSat, November 7, 2026 at 2:59 PM UTC

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Ron Howard and Henry Winkler in 2024Credit: Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty -

Henry Winkler says Ron Howard sends him a basket of cheese and crackers for his birthday each year

The Happy Days costars have remained close friends for five decades

Winkler says he would gladly work with Howard again but jokes they cannot top Night Shift

Henry Winkler celebrated his 81st birthday on Oct. 30 — and longtime friend Ron Howard made sure he didn’t miss it.

Winkler reflected on the big day during an appearance on Good Morning America, sharing the sweet gift his Happy Days costar sends him every year.

“Every year, I forget his, and he sends me this unbelievable basket of cheese and crackers,” Winkler said of Howard, 72.

“He’s so thoughtful,” Winkler added. “You know, I met him when he was 18. I was 27.”

The two became household names in the ’70s on the hit sitcom, with Winkler playing Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli while Howard portrayed Richie Cunningham.

Henry Winkler and Ron Howard on ‘Happy Days’ in 1974Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Winkler and Howard have remained friends for the last 50 years, yet the Barry star admitted he isn’t as consistent when it comes to gift-giving.

“I do [forget his birthday],” Winkler said. “I know that it’s on March 1, but I never seem to send him cheese.”

Still, Winkler notes that it hasn’t impacted their friendship.

“I love him very much,” he added.

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Ron Howard and Henry Winkler in 2024Credit: Ron Howard/Instagram

While catching up with PEOPLE in August, Winkler admitted he would jump at the opportunity to work with his former costar again, but had “no idea” if Howard felt the same.

Howard left Happy Days in 1980, but the iconic costars reunited just two years later in Night Shift. Howard directed the movie while Winkler played Chuck Lumley, a former stockbroker working in a morgue.

Although the Waterboy actor would love to collaborate with Howard again, he joked that they “can’t do anything better” than the beloved 1982 comedy.

While Winkler, who is set to voice an animated character on the Disney cartoon SuperKitties, has been working in Hollywood for five decades, the actor has no plans to slow down.

He recently shared on Graham Bensinger’s In Depth podcast that work for him feels like “heaven,” noting that he loves the process of trying to figure out each of his characters.

“I love the job. I love my job,” he said. “It is like putting a puzzle, a jigsaw puzzle, together and most of the pieces [are] of the same color.”

If he were to retire, he admitted he would likely “wither” away — which is why he hopes to keep busy for as long as possible.

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Winkler appears in Disney’s new animated movie Hexed (in theaters Nov. 25).

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”