Henry Winkler Details Tom Hanks’ Snub of Happy Days Tribute Amid Longstanding Rivalry

Henry Winkler reveals Tom Hanks refused to appear in a Happy Days tribute, reigniting their decades-old feud.

September 10, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — City, Country — Henry Winkler has shared new details about his long-standing tension with Tom Hanks, including a reported snub from the actor during a Happy Days retrospective.

The two actors’ conflict began during the 1989 film ‘Turner & Hooch,’ when Winkler was hired as director but was fired after just 13 days due to creative differences. He later recalled that he had more rapport with the movie’s canine co-star than with Hanks.

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During an interview on In Depth With Graham Bensinger, Winkler reflected on the fallout, stating that he gave notes on performances and wanted to re-shoot scenes, which reportedly upset Hanks. He also revealed that Hanks declined to participate in a televised Happy Days tribute, despite having previously appeared on the show in 1982.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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