Together on stage, Winkler and Matlin delight audiences with an intimate dialogue revealing their profound connection and individual journeys. Through humorous anecdotes, inspirational life lessons and moving stories, Winkler and Matlin explore themes of overcoming adversity and believing in oneself. Henry met Marlee when she was just 12 years old. He, being Henry, encouraged her to pursue her dreams and a life-long friendship ensued. Marlee lived with Henry and his wife for years. They each had to confront challenges—his undiagnosed dyslexia and her profound deafness—only to defy the odds and establish incredibly successful careers and lives. Hear them as they tell stories, interacting with (and interrupting) each other just like family.

“If you will it, it is not a dream.” – Henry Winkler

“I saw you before I went on stage and you signed ‘I love you.’” – 12-year-old Marlee Matlin to Winkler

About Henry Winkler

A 1973 audition in Los Angeles forever changed the life of the Yale School of Drama graduate when producers Garry Marshall and Tom Miller cast Winkler in the iconic role of Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli in the TV series Happy Days. During his 10 years on the popular sitcom, he won two Golden Globe Awards, was nominated three times for an Emmy Award, and was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Both his famous leather jacket and Fonzie’s lunch box became part of an exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum in 1980.

With more than 50 years of success in Hollywood, Henry continues to be in demand. He has appeared in many series, including Arrested Development, Children’s Hospital, Royal Pains, New Girl, Parks and Recreation, and, most recently, Barry, which earned him his first Primetime Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, two Television Critics Choice Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, and multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Award nominations. He also starred in and co-executive produced the popular NBC reality series Better Late Than Never.

A much sought after voice actor, Winkler has lent his talent to many shows including Monsters at Work, Rugrats, Human Resources, American Dad, All Hail King Julien, Family Guy, and Clifford: The Puppy Years, for which he received a Daytime Emmy Award. Winkler has also made a name for himself behind the scenes and has executive produced, produced, and directed TV series, specials, and movies for over 25 years. His Broadway credits include Neil Simon’s The Dinner Party (with the late John Ritter) and The Performers.

Among Winkler’s illustrious titles sits the coveted designation of New York Times bestselling author. His first book, Niagara Falls, or Does It? was inspired by Winkler’s own struggles in school due to undiagnosed dyslexia. It became so popular that it grew into a series of 18 books known as Hank Zipzer: the World’s Greatest Under-Achiever, a prequel series titled Here’s Hank, and a British children’s sitcom. The Hank Zipzer books have been translated into nine languages and have sold more than 7 million copies worldwide. To date, he and his co-author, Lin Oliver, have written nearly 40 children’s books with many bestsellers among them. Recent works include Alien Superstar, a science fiction trilogy, and Detective Duck, a mystery series whose second installment is expected October 2024. Winkler’s autobiography,* Being Henry...The Fonz and Beyond*, was on the New York Times bestseller list for 11 weeks and won the Goodreads Award for Best Humor book.

Winkler has always believed in helping others and is especially passionate about children. He has been a featured speaker at WE Day Celebrations promoting education and service for students. His work also includes Honorary Chairman of United Friends of the Children; Founding Member of the Children’s Action Network; the first National Honorary Chairman of the Epilepsy Foundation of America; National Chairman of the annual Toys for Tots campaign; the National Committee for Arts for the Handicapped; the Special Olympics; the Los Angeles Music Center’s Very Special Arts Festival for children who are physically challenged; and participating in numerous teenage alcohol and drug abuse programs.

He has received numerous accolades, including the AARP Inspire Award, the Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award, and Women in Film’s Norma Zarky Humanitarian Award, presented to both Henry and his wife, Stacey, for their tireless efforts and devotion to the “improvement of the human condition.” He also received the Chevallier de l’Ordre des Artes et Lettres, the French government’s highest honor, and was appointed an Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) “for services to children with special educational needs and dyslexia in the UK.” Of all the titles he has received, the ones he relishes most are husband, father and grandfather.

About Marlee Matlin

Marlee Matlin received worldwide critical acclaim for her film debut in Children of a Lesser God, for which she received both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Actress. At 21, she became the youngest recipient of the Academy Award, one of only four actresses to receive the honor for her film debut, and the first Deaf performer to win an Academy Award in any category. More recently, Matlin played a supporting role in the hit Apple TV+ film CODA which swept every category it was nominated in at the Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Matlin has starred in numerous television shows, including Seinfeld, The West Wing, Law and Order SVU, The L Word, the Peabody Award-winning series Switched at Birth, The Magicians, and Quantico, garnering four Emmy nominations along the way. She also executive produced Feeling Through, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. With her first foray into directing, Marlee became the first Deaf network television director for the Fox TV anthology drama Accused. The trailblazer also broke barriers with her participation in Dancing with the Stars.

Though Matlin lost her hearing when she was only 18 months old, she never let her challenges dictate her future or deter her dreams. Along with a successful Hollywood career, Matlin has dedicated herself to raising awareness for many humanitarian causes, including diversity and LGBT rights. She is a staunch advocate for children and a champion for those struggling against domestic abuse and addiction. Matlin has also helped raise awareness for better hearing health for millions of Deaf and hard of hearing children and adults in developing countries.

Her activism has led her to President Barack Obama’s White House ceremony celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and to the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, representing the Actors Branch.

Matlin is the creator of Marlee Signs, the first celebrity-driven app teaching the basics of American Sign Language on mobile devices. She has also penned three novels for children, as well as her New York Times bestselling autobiography, I’ll Scream Later.

Marlee’s journey is an inspiration to everyone, regardless of the barriers they face. She has refused to let the naysayers get in the way of her dreams of success. As she so aptly stated, “The only thing I can’t do is hear. The rest is there for the taking.”