Henry Winkler Got The Part In Grease But He Turned It Down, - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

studd911 · 02-04-2011, 10:23 PM

Henry Winkler officially Got The Part In Grease But He Turned It Down, because i remember watching him in a interview where he said he couldn't sing, and Grease was a musical motion picture, him and Oliva would have been a dream boat, Oliva Newtown John should have made a special appearnce on Happy Days, austraulain femaile rebel riding with the Fonz

Marvo301 · 02-04-2011, 11:52 PM

It would have been neat if Olivia Newton John had played Pinky Tuscadero on Happy Days! After all she was a Pink Lady in Grease!

Elvis Fonzie Dean · 02-05-2011, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

It would have been neat if Olivia Newton John had played Pinky Tuscadero on Happy Days! After all she was a Pink Lady in Grease!

She would have been so much better.

Jessica · 02-05-2011, 04:45 PM

That's intresting. Though, John was great in that part if it's Danny we're speaking of.

Dr. Thong · 02-08-2011, 05:39 PM

I believe the real reason for Winkler turning down Grease was that he was already The Fonz and that playing Danny Zuko would stereotype him as a leather clad fifties character.

studd911 · 02-08-2011, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

I believe the real reason for Winkler turning down Grease was that he was already The Fonz and that playing Danny Zuko would stereotype him as a leather clad fifties character.

i kind of disgree because his character of the fonz was already kicking up into high gear and plus Paramount Pictures did own the movie, i belive that If He did get the part, he could have danced and done a few skits from the finger snapping to something else, he did get the part because of his role of happy days, which made him a star i remember roisie o donald asking him about that and he said that he admitted he couldn't sing and may have wanted him to lip sink, i still think he would have done well because of the fonz because he was kool like that.

Jessica · 02-11-2011, 04:48 PM

Well, since Grease was made in 1978, that means Henry Winkler would have been around 33 years old, and the character Danny is 18 and a senior in High School. John Travolta was 24 then. Though, it's common for actors to play characters with a different age. Stockard Channing, who played Rizzo in Grease was 34 years old and her character was 18, so.

studd911 · 02-11-2011, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessica

Well, since Grease was made in 1978, that means Henry Winkler would have been around 33 years old, and the character Danny is 18 and a senior in High School. John Travolta was 24 then. Though, it's common for actors to play characters with a different age. Stockard Channing, who played Rizzo in Grease was 34 years old and her character was 18, so.

speaking of Rizzo she to me was like the counter part of pinky basically Grease did have that Happy Days like feeling because it did take place in the 50's

Jessica · 02-11-2011, 10:22 PM

Yeah, true. Both were supposed to be in the 50's.

antman67 · 05-27-2014, 07:09 AM

I read that too. The movie would NOT have been the same without John Travolta and might not have been as good. I think it was better Henry did not take the role.

For fun I photo shopped Heny as Dany Zuko. Before and after (as it were)

And a side by side comparison.

Did you also know Jeff Conwaay who was also in Grease who played Kenickie was in Happy Days in 1976 BEFORE he was on Grease? Do you see a connection or pattern yet? It was season 3 Episode 45 Happy Days “Richie Fights Back”

Elvis Fonzie Dean · 05-27-2014, 03:03 PM

Neat photoshop, antman.

The Fonz is cool, wasn't Dany a jerk? Henry would have been playing two different characters, but I'm glad he didn't accept. I don't like Grease either, although I'd probably watch at least some of it again.

Dr. Thong · 05-27-2014, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antman67

I read that too. The movie would NOT have been the same without John Travolta and might not have been as good. I think it was better Henry did not take the role.

For fun I photo shopped Heny as Dany Zuko. Before and after (as it were)

And a side by side comparison.

Did you also know Jeff Conwaay who was also in Grease who played Kenickie was in Happy Days in 1976 BEFORE he was on Grease? Do you see a connection or pattern yet? It was season 3 Episode 45 Happy Days “Richie Fights Back”

Let's go back a little further to Henry's feature film debut, 1974's The Lords Of Flatbush....

icecream · 05-27-2014, 05:14 PM

Henry Winkler was great in Happy Days. But if he can't sing why on earth would the producers of Grease (a musical!) have given him the leading role? That would have been a disaster, John Travolta was perfect for the part.

Dr. Thong · 05-27-2014, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catsrule

Henry Winkler was great in Happy Days. But if he can't sing why on earth would the producers of Grease (a musical!) have given him the leading role? That would have been a disaster, John Travolta was perfect for the b.

Well, let's be honest, Travolta was not much of a singer, but enough that he could pull off a light musical like Grease. But that's okay, because Olivia Newton John couldn't really act and I think the chemistry between them balanced all that out.

antman67 · 05-27-2014, 05:51 PM

Lords of Flatbush was Henry's FIRST film ever. Filmed in 1973. It's weird to see Henry in this movie because, he looks like Fonzie (except younger) but doesn't act like the Fonz

Another interesting fact was Richard Gere was originally cast in The Lords of Flatbush but, after coming to blows with Sylvester Stallone, was let go by the director.[ That would have been weird right?

02-04-2011, 10:23 PM	#1
studd911 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 21, 2004 Posts: 1,285	Henry Winkler Got The Part In Grease But He Turned It Down, Henry Winkler officially Got The Part In Grease But He Turned It Down, because i remember watching him in a interview where he said he couldn't sing, and Grease was a musical motion picture, him and Oliva would have been a dream boat, Oliva Newtown John should have made a special appearnce on Happy Days, austraulain femaile rebel riding with the Fonz

02-04-2011, 11:52 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,450	It would have been neat if Olivia Newton John had played Pinky Tuscadero on Happy Days! After all she was a Pink Lady in Grease!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

02-08-2011, 05:39 PM	#5
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,545	I believe the real reason for Winkler turning down Grease was that he was already The Fonz and that playing Danny Zuko would stereotype him as a leather clad fifties character.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

05-27-2014, 07:09 AM	#10
antman67 The Fonz Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 17, 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 560	I read that too. The movie would NOT have been the same without John Travolta and might not have been as good. I think it was better Henry did not take the role. For fun I photo shopped Heny as Dany Zuko. Before and after (as it were) And a side by side comparison. Did you also know Jeff Conwaay who was also in Grease who played Kenickie was in Happy Days in 1976 BEFORE he was on Grease? Do you see a connection or pattern yet? It was season 3 Episode 45 Happy Days “Richie Fights Back”
	__________________ http://thefonz.webs.com

05-27-2014, 05:14 PM	#13
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,606	Henry Winkler was great in Happy Days. But if he can't sing why on earth would the producers of Grease (a musical!) have given him the leading role? That would have been a disaster, John Travolta was perfect for the part.
	__________________ Top 200 TV Shows https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...14#post6225214 Top 150 Movies https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...84#post6175384 Top 1100 Scripted TV Characters https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=493306 Top Rookie TV Shows by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=365017 Top Movies by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=473533

02-05-2011, 04:45 PM	#4
Jessica Retro fan Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 09, 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 9,034	That's intresting. Though, John was great in that part if it's Danny we're speaking of.

02-11-2011, 04:48 PM	#7
Jessica Retro fan Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 09, 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 9,034	Well, since Grease was made in 1978, that means Henry Winkler would have been around 33 years old, and the character Danny is 18 and a senior in High School. John Travolta was 24 then. Though, it's common for actors to play characters with a different age. Stockard Channing, who played Rizzo in Grease was 34 years old and her character was 18, so.

02-11-2011, 10:22 PM	#9
Jessica Retro fan Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 09, 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 9,034	Yeah, true. Both were supposed to be in the 50's.

05-27-2014, 03:03 PM	#11
Elvis Fonzie Dean Member Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 02, 2003 Location: theUSofA Posts: 16,671	Neat photoshop, antman. The Fonz is cool, wasn't Dany a jerk? Henry would have been playing two different characters, but I'm glad he didn't accept. I don't like Grease either, although I'd probably watch at least some of it again.

05-27-2014, 05:51 PM	#15
antman67 The Fonz Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 17, 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 560	Lords of Flatbush was Henry's FIRST film ever. Filmed in 1973. It's weird to see Henry in this movie because, he looks like Fonzie (except younger) but doesn't act like the Fonz Another interesting fact was Richard Gere was originally cast in The Lords of Flatbush but, after coming to blows with Sylvester Stallone, was let go by the director.[ That would have been weird right?