Henry Winkler didn't have The Fonz's luck with the ladies.

Henry Winkler has been married to Stacey Weitzman since 1978

Henry Winkler has been married to Stacey Weitzman since 1978

The 'Happy Days' legend - who played smooth talking Arthur Fonzarelli on the iconic sitcom - has admitted he didn't share his character's sex symbol status in his real life.

He told The Big Issue magazine: "I was so awkward with girlfriends. I would call a girl from my apartment in New York City on the Upper West Side and it was summertime.

"But I went to the closet and got my winter coat and put it on because I was so nervous, I felt like I was freezing in the middle of a heatwave.

"So I'd be sitting in a winter coat at the desk in my living room trying so hard to be relaxed."

The 78-year-old actor admitted rather than the smooth demeanor of The Fonz, he was actually like jelly "before it congeals".

He added: "I was sloshing all around in that bowl. I was pretty good socially and I used my humour to infiltrate.

"What the world saw was a confident young man. But I still felt 'less than'. So I was torn."

However, Henry did have some luck as he's been married to Stacey Weitzman, 75, since 1978, having met her at the height of his fame on the ABC sitcom.

He previously revealed that the key to their long, happy marriage is choosing the "right person", and learning to listen.

He told Fox News Digital: "What’s the secret? First, it’s picking the right person.

"In 45 years, there are ups, there are downs. You need the right person who can face those ups and downs with you. There is also the will to be together – I believe in that very strongly.

"I’ve rethought this, and it always comes back to that. The centre of the relationship is the ear — not the heart, not the head."


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