Henry Winkler says 'Arrested Development' role was meant to last just 2 episodes
Los Angeles, June 28
Veteran actor Henry Winkler has shared some of his favourite memories from working on the hit comedy series 'Arrested Development.'
The 80-year-old actor said being a part of the show remains one of the most enjoyable experiences of his career.
According to PEOPLE, in a recent appearance on The Eisen Show, Winkler spoke about the series so special for him. He said the talented cast, the strong writing and getting to stay on the show much longer than expected made the experience memorable.
"First of all, the cast was amazing. Second of all, I was hired for like two episodes, and I stayed for five years. Third of all, it was written so incredibly well," Winkler shared.
The actor also spoke about the show's creator, Mitch Hurwitz, and said he often came to the set with even better lines for the actors.
"Mitch Hurwitz, the creator, had a feed in his office of what we were doing on the soundstage. He could see every angle of the cameras, and you were about to say something so funny you couldn't believe it, and he came running in, 'Say this! Say this!' And it was funnier than one of the funniest things I was ever going to say that he had already written."
Although Winkler said he does not have one favorite scene from the show, he still enjoys looking back at his time on the series.
"I enjoy my job, I love my job every day," he added.
Winkler played Barry Zuckerkorn, the lawyer for the Bluth family, in Arrested Development. He appeared in 33 episodes across the show's five seasons between 2003 and 2019. The series also starred Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Portia de Rossi, Alia Shawkat, Tony Hale, David Cross and Jessica Walter.
The actor also spoke about his longtime friendship with filmmaker Ron Howard, who narrated Arrested Development and earlier worked with Winkler on Happy Days. Calling Howard "like a relative," Winkler said their bond goes back nearly 50 years.
"Ron comes from a family that left the farm in Oklahoma. They went to New York. This was before Ron and his brother Clinton were born. I met him when he was 18 and I was 27. We were touched by the universe. There was a string between us. I didn't have to tell him what I was going to do. He didn't tell me what he was going to do. We just were in the same space at the same moment, it's rare."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Watching Arrested Development on Netflix during lockdown was a lifesaver! Henry Winkler's timing as the bumbling lawyer was perfection. I love how he describes Mitch Hurwitz running in with better lines – that's the mark of a true collaborative genius. Shows like this remind us why good writing and strong ensemble casts are unbeatable. More Indian sitcoms need this kind of love! 🎬
I never really got into Arrested Development – it felt too chaotic for me honestly. But I respect Henry Winkler's dedication. The way he talks about his work ethic ("I love my job every day") is something we can all learn from. Also interesting to see how a small role can turn into a long-term gig. Just wish the show had a more straightforward plot, yaar. 😅
The bit about Ron Howard is beautiful – "touched by the universe" – such a poetic way to describe a friendship. I think about how many of our Indian film industry friendships have lasted decades too, like the camaraderie between Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha. It's special when creative people find their tribe. Henry and Ron's bond seems genuine and rare. ❤️
Honestly, Barry Zuckerkorn was one of the best parts of the show. The scene where he's wearing the "hot" outfit while taking a deposition? Classic! Henry Winkler is a legend for a reason – from Fonzie to this, man has range. I wish more shows let actors improvise like Mitch Hurwitz did. This interview just proves how much love went into making Arrested Development special. 🙌
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