The role of The Fonz almost went to a Monkee

[TMC]

https://www.metv.com/stories/the-rol...nt-to-a-monkee

It came down to him and Henry Winkler.

[icecream]

Oy vey! If Mickey Dolenz had been Fonzie, the Happy Days shift in direction would have never worked. It would have been lucky to go past 4 or 5 seasons.

[Duster76]

I don't know about this, on the surface it feels like it's made up or at the very least greatly exaggerated. At the inception of the series(and that's what's under discussion) the role of Fonzie was a much smaller part, so why would the production company have given Dolenz any consideration. When the series started Winkler was not acknowledged in the opening credits. Howard of course was the star, Anson Williams was in the opening credits playing Potsie, I guess you could consider him Richie's wingman, and Tom Bosley who had already been a regular on several series received the final credit as "Also Starring".

The addition of Mickey Dolenz would have thrown the show completely out of kilter. His status would have required a much higher compensation than the virtually unknown Winkler, plus his character would have required a more prominent position in the scripts. The initial premise of the series was a lookback at life in the 1950's, the styles, the music and pop culture of that time, so casting an individual so uniquely associated with the late 1960's wouldn't make any sense. As we all know the actors were older than the parts they were playing and even though Dolenz was just a few months older than Winkler, the fact that he had been a star a decade earlier would have aged him in the eyes of the audience. The closer you look at this the clearer it becomes that this is completely made up or greatly exaggerated. So what's actually going on here....

Well, Dolenz is currently doing a nationwide concert tour and he needs publicity. In the old days he could seek out oldies/greatest hits stations to help promote the tour but those days are largely gone. He'll probably try to get booked on the SiriusXM 60's station for an interview or two maybe a guess DJ thing. He needs something new to say to grab attention, so we get nonsense like this.

[stevea]

Based on what Dolenz says to People, I'd say maybe there's a shred of truth to it. He could have been among several actors who read for what-was-then the minor part.

[opus]

Happy Days 50th anniversary book also has the Mickey mention. Although I don’t think this is new info. I feel I’ve heard this at times in the past.

[opus]

And in honor of Bonnie's birthday, Michael Lembeck also auditioned for the part (and also for Jack Tripper over on Three's Company)


https://youtu.be/yxO2R_beF-I?si=jvk2U4jQdK3TSQdo

[opus]

Originally Posted by opus

Although I don’t think this is new info. I feel I’ve heard this at times in the past.

Here’s a story from 2015.

Mickey Dolenz almost played another iconic TV character: ‘Still laugh about it’

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by opus

Here’s a story from 2015.

Mickey Dolenz almost played another iconic TV character: ‘Still laugh about it’

What I see here in your two posts is confirmation that he auditioned for the part, so I'll concede that. I see no evidence that it came down to a choice between Winkler and Dolenz. It wouldn't make any sense to cast Dolenz for the reasons I noted earlier. No way a pro like Gary Marshall would make a mistake like that. It must have been tough for Dolenz at that point, still about a decade away from the 60's nostalgia craze left to primarily make a living doing voice acting on cartoons.

In early 2005 he became the morning man on WCBS FM, the New York City oldies station. He lasted only 5 months, the station changed formats in June.

[biffbronson]

Oh Micky you're so fine
Go audition, get in line
Hey Micky
Hey Micky

Oh Micky do Happy Days
That's a gig that really pays
Hey Micky
Hey Micky

Oh Micky give it a whirl
Then you can bop Laverne & Shirl
Hey Micky
Hey Micky

Oh Micky...