Hey i remember way back when fonzie character sky rocketed through out the happy days years, he got the part to play danny in grease, i heard him say that he turned the part down because he couldn't sang, he would have looked good with oliva newton john, ino that grease was a play in the 1950's
but i think during the merge of fonzie character on happy happy days, it gave paramont pictures some kind of idea to cast him in grease, i think happy days and american graffith inspired paramont to bring grease to the theatures

The way I remember reading about this, Winkler turned down the part because he didn't want to be type-casted.

The way I remember reading about this, Winkler turned down the part because he didn't want to be type-casted.

Besides, they already had enough thirty-somethings in the cast. Stockard Channing was 35...playing an 18 year old. Oh yeah, she looks 18!!:rolleyes:

I can't imagine Winkler in that role. He didn't have the acting range for something like that. Travolta single handedly made the film. It wouldn't have been the same without him. You can tell Travolta brought excitement and energy to the movie that probably wasn't part of the play, because he was so talented and was such a huge star at the time.

I also coudn't imagine Winkler in another huge greaser role after Fonzie was so huge. It's like he would have had to leave HD after that.

By the way, the whole 50's nostalgia was actually started by the Statler Brothers. They had a few hits in the early 70's (preceding American Graffiti) that focused on their growing up years.

he couldn't sing (not that travolta could)but wilkler was kind type cast already
by that time .he had played a leather jacket dude in THE LORDS OF FLATBUSH
he was kinda like FONZIE but not even half as cool.

Grease worked because Travolta couldn't sing and Olivia couldn't act: They balanced each other perfectly. Besides, they had chemistry and likeability - and that counts for a lot in the entertainment world.

HW did the right thing :thumbsup:

could you picture him singing sandy or your the one that i want or how about (better yet) summer lovers i keep thinking of the fonzie super star episode when he he did heart break hotel with laverne and sherliy

I've heard Winkler say that his children have never let him off the hook for turning Grease down, lol.

But still, he was typecast enough as Fonz without Grease really cementing that as the only role people could picture him as