The Fonz Is Back: Henry Winkler, Ron Howard Celebrate ‘Happy Days’ 50th Anniversary

Ayyyyy! Henry Winkler and Ron Howard reunited at the 2024 Emmys on Sunday, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Happy Days.

Dressed in black suits, Howard and Winkler stood behind a booth at their usual haunt, Arnold’s. Before channeling their fictitious characters from decades ago, Winkler acknowledged Howard’s recent Emmy for his work on the Disney+ documentary Jim Henson Idea Man. After a round of applause from the audience, Winkler said of standing on the Happy Days replica set, “Feels like home.”

The Happy Days theme song is just as legendary as the show itself. During the duo’s reunion, Howard jokingly mentioned to Winkler that the music was missing from their moment on stage, prompting Winkler to bring out his inner Fonze. Winkler sauntered over to the jukebox, banged on it like his iconic character always did, and shrugged his shoulders in a way only Arthur Fonzarelli could.

There are several layers of nostalgia at play here, as Happy Days was set in the Fifties but filmed in the Seventies, and the show turned 50 years old in January.