Henry Winkler, best known as Fonzie on Happy Days, had a far-from-glamorous childhood. Born to immigrant parents who escaped Nazi Germany, Winkler faced difficulties due to an undiagnosed reading disorder.
Unfortunately, his parents were unaware of his dyslexia and labeled him as “dumb,” even going as far as calling him a ‘Dummo Hund,’ or dumb dog. Despite these hardships, Winkler never gave up on his dreams. He applied to 28 colleges and was accepted into two.
Eventually, he received an acceptance letter from the prestigious Yale School of Drama. His talent shone during an improvised Shakespearean monologue, which propelled him to success.