Henry Winkler Reveals Decades-Long Rift With Tom Hanks
The Daily Beast • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Henry Winkler revealed that he was abruptly fired as director of the 1989 film Turner & Hooch just 13 days into production, a decision that strained his relationship with Tom Hanks, the film's star.
- Winkler admitted he was insecure and gave too much direction on set, which upset Hanks and others, leading to his dismissal by Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg.
- The fallout affected their relationship, with Hanks notably absent from a Happy Days retrospective featuring Winkler, and Winkler once making a pointed remark about getting along better with the dog than Hanks on the Turner & Hooch set.
- Ron Howard, a mutual friend, acknowledged the two actors had incompatible working styles and found the situation disappointing, noting both men had confided in him about the conflict.
- Despite the decades-long tension, Winkler expressed openness to reconciliation with Hanks, suggesting their relationship may still be repairable.
