https://www.metv.com/stories/ron-howard-on-what-it-would-take-for-him-to-return-to-acting

The former child star is happy behind the camera now, but there's one thing that would get him back in front of it.

He really seems full of himself-a real ego maniac.

Opie was always a bit of a brat.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think he had a hard time dealing with a rising breakout star when he considered himself the true star of Happy Days. I think that's why he went to the other side of the camera.

Somebody with his ego couldn't deal with being upstaged by Henry Winkler.

So as you say he went behind the scenes. And only his daughter could persuade him to act again. So far the offer hasn't been made.

He probably looks at the TAGS reruns and says to himself, "what a cute kid I was. What happened?"

He was in the hot rod movie Eat My Dust (1976). He wasn't bad in the movie, but he wasn't that great either. I like him on Happy Days and TAGS playing supporting roles. I give him much credit for realizing that he is better as a director.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think he had a hard time dealing with a rising breakout star when he considered himself the true star of Happy Days. I think that's why he went to the other side of the camera.

Henry Winkler definitely stole the show for a while, there.

Henry Winkler definitely stole the show for a while, there.

Ronny started out being the star of HD. Henry Winkler became the de facto lead.

https://www.newsmax.com/thewire/ron-howard-fonzie-happy-days-henry-winkler/2019/11/18/id/942172/

Ronny started out being the star of HD. Henry Winkler became the de facto lead.

https://www.newsmax.com/thewire/ron-howard-fonzie-happy-days-henry-winkler/2019/11/18/id/942172/

True, I've read his performance in American Graffiti led to the role.