Henry Winkler is best known for his iconic role as the Fonz on Happy Days, but when the cameras stop rolling, he’s far from the daring persona he sometimes plays. The 79-year-old actor recently revealed that he’s “not a thrill seeker” in real life, and his idea of adventure is much more grounded, and sentimental.
“I channel [being a daredevil] only when I am acting. I am not a thrill seeker. I am thrilled,” Winkler told PEOPLE. Rather than chasing adrenaline rushes, Winkler treasures quiet, meaningful experiences. One such moment stands out clearly in his memory: a peaceful chair lift ride in Utah with his kids, Zoe and Max, now in their 40s, and stepson Jed, who’s in his 50s.
“I remember years ago, with my children… being on a chair lift in Utah with them, traveling up and over the tops of snow-covered pine trees,” he recalled. “Thinking this might be one of the most beautiful moments I have ever had. That’s my thrill.”
This genuine, grounded nature hasn’t stopped Winkler from diving into new projects that fascinate him. His latest venture is Hazardous History with Henry Winkler, a new series for the History Channel that explores bizarre and shocking moments from the past.
Winkler knew right away that the concept was a perfect fit. “I knew from the first description that this was right up my alley,” he said. Unlike his previous work that might lean into nostalgia, Winkler made it clear that Hazardous History is all about uncovering the bizarre decisions and customs from the past.
“One of the people I spoke to on my radio tour today was talking about nostalgia. And I said, ‘It has nothing to do with nostalgia,’” Winkler explained. “I think the subtitle of this show is, ‘Wait, we allowed that to happen?’”
And he’s not exaggerating. From the fact that people once mailed children through the post office to the deadly toys of decades past, like jarts, the giant metal darts that would come crashing down with the potential to impale someone’s foot, Winkler is stunned by what history reveals.
As always, his unique mix of humor, curiosity, and sincerity makes even the strangest topics feel both entertaining and worth exploring. While Henry Winkler may not be chasing thrills on mountain tops or skydiving, he continues to find excitement in history’s oddities and the quiet beauty of time spent with family.
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