Friend Encounters: Henry Winkler and Jerry

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends meeting celebrities.

I became friends with Jerry through covering Wizard World conventions for many years. Jerry handled the press. Over the years, it became more fun catching up with Jerry. There aren't many Press Managers I looked forward to seeing, but Jerry is one of them.

Wizard World was sold to FanExpo. Jerry still handles press, but is not the only one. Unfortunately, I haven't seen Jerry here in a few years. I have seem him at a Global Traveler function last year. It was great seeing him and his friends.

Also a great guy, but on the celebrity side, is Henry Winkler. I am sure Winkler is ranked in the nicest celebs list of most folks. He is absolutely a wonderful human being.

I have met him many times and each one if special, because he makes it that way. He usually walks his line every 20 minutes or so, thanking everyone for coming. If he spots someone with physical difficulties, he usually invites them to the front of the line, while apologizing to the others who have to wait a few minutes more (nobody ever complains though).

I love this picture, because it reminds me of many fun times at Wizard World. If t can be summed in one picture, this is it.

Henry Winkler and Jerry in Philadelphia, PA-May 2018.

Being Henry: The Fonz...and Beyond

I am pretty sure everyone has heard what a nice guy Henry Winkler is. I'm here to confirm, he is one of the nicest people ever (if not THE nicest).

I have met Winkler several times at various conventions. Every time, he walks the line thanking everyone for being there and being patient. It doesn't matter if the line is five deep or hundreds in number, Winkler leaves his booth every so often to walk the line and express his appreciation. It's not schmaltzy either. He asks your name, shakes your hand and even hugs on occasion.

His line often moves slowly, because he takes time to interact with each person once they are at his booth. He genuinely engages everyone. In a world of quick pics and next up, Winkler is a rarity.

Winkler is currently on tour to promote his book, Being Henry: The Fonz...and Beyond. Go to CeladonBooks.com for more info on the book and tour. I will be at a Chicago stop and recapping all here.

Henry Winkler and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2023.

Friend Encounters: Henry Winkler and Glen and Alicia Rylko

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

Today I feature one of the coolest guys with Henry Winkler. With no disrespect to The Fonz, Glen Rylko was one of the coolest, nicest people I have known. Unfortunately, Glen passed away a couple years ago. I miss my convention pal.

Glen and his wife Alicia were constant presences at comic cons. We often crossed paths in various lines, stopping to chat and take pictures every time. It was uncanny how many times our celebrity meet lists were nearly identical.

I knew Glen for many years. We also shared a passion for wrestling. I always enjoyed seeing Glen at events.

We texted often between events. We'd vent our wrestling frustrations for laughs. I knew Glen's health wasn't great, but I never heard him complain. Then there was a long stretch with no texts. I texted his son, hoping there was some other reason. Sadly, Glen was not doing well. Shortly after, his son relayed the news Glen had passed.

Every time I go to any convention now, I always think of Glen. I don't see Alicia at cons, because I think it was more Glen's thing.

Rest in peace, my friend. You're at every convention in spirit!

Glen, Henry Winkler and Alicia in Rosemont, IL-August 2019.

Henry Winkler Is The Coolest and the Nicest

I have met hundreds of celebrities. People always ask me who the best and worst was. Fortunately, I have had very few bad celebrity encounters, but on the topic of good ones, Henry Winkler must be mentioned first.

Winkler rose to fame as "The Fonz" on tv's Happy Days in the mid-1970's. Some 40+ years later, he is still fondly remembered and very popular with fans of all ages. Part of his lasting popularity must be attributed to him being one of the nicest people ever.

I first met Winkler many years ago at a celebrity convention. His line was incredibly long, but nobody complained. He did a few things I never saw before or since. Winkler would take an occasional break to walk the line and thank people for waiting. He also made sure to bring anyone with physical limitations to the front of the line (and nobody complained). If that wasn't enough, he made every encounter special. At conventions, time constraints are tight, but a few pleasantries by the celebrity can make all the difference. Winkler actually had personal interactions with everyone he met.

At the recent Wizard World, Winkler was once again a hit with the fans. Because he was there all four days (a bit of a rarity for celebrities), Winkler's line was never exceptionally long, but it was steadily among the longest there all weekend.

Once again, Winker proved to be a wonderful person. He gladly talked about Happy Days and other parts of his career. With a lot of wrestling fans as attendees, he often was asked questions about The One and Only, a wrestling movie from early in his career. I asked about The Lords of Flatbush, one of my favorite mvies from very early in his career (also starring Sylvester Stallone).

Not only did Winkler spend quality time with everyone, he seemed to enjoy it all. I always say, the minimum requirement for any celebrity at these events is to at least "act" like it is fun (or at the very least not unpleasant). Winkler didn't have to act. He genuinely appreciates his fans and we appreciate him.

In a world ready to jump on all negative stuff, especially with celebrities, Winkler deserves applause for a career of being a wonderful person. As cool as it was to meet Fonzie, it was even cooler just meeting Winkler.

I also wrote about meeting Winkler online for Global Traveler at Fonzie Is Still the Coolest. Thank you to Wizard World and PR Manager Jerry Milani for this opportunity.

Henry Winkler and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2019.

Henry Winkler Is Really Cool

We have all heard that Henry Winkler is one of the nicest guys and I saw just how nice he is at a Hollywood Celebrity Show.  He is in a class by himself.

Winkler, best known for his role as "Fonzie" on tv's Happy Days, had one of the longest lines at the show, but nobody complained.  Winkler did his best to keep the line moving and the fans happy.

First, he stood in front of his table.  This allowed more interaction and quicker picture-taking.  He didn't have to continually move back and forth.  He chose to stand up the entire time of his appearance.

In addition to this, he also occasionally walked the length of the line thanking people for waiting and for being fans.  It was sort of a preview of actually meeting him.

Lastly, he tinually brought handicapped people to the front of the line, rather than have them struggle while standing so long in a line.  Despite being pushed back a few people during your time in line, again nobody complained.

These may seem like simple things, but simple things make a huge difference.  I have never seen a celebrity do more for the line of fans.  I'm almost surprised he didn't supply beverages and snacks.

Besides all of that, he actually tried to make your moment with him special.  Granted he couldn't spend 10 minutes with each person, but he really tried to make your moment special by connecting with you.

Itt's one thing to hear stories of how nice Winkler is.  It was just that much better to see it in person and be involved.  All I can say is that Winller truly is the coolest.

Henry Winkler and me in Rosemont, IL-October 2011.

Friendly Encounters: Nancy Blais Meets Fonzie

This is a weekly series about my friends who have met celebrities.

My sister Nancy is cool.  Don't just take my word for it.  Ask Fonzie.  Yes, Fonzie, better known as Arthur Fonzarelli, the former Mickey Mantle of the grease pits, the man who really did "jump the shark."
Oh sure.  People can pretend to be "cool" now by knocking the old Happy Days tv show, but I am not buying it.  I admit that I watched that show religiously.  I bet you did, too.
On a recent trip to Milwaukee (which comes from the Algonquin and means "the good land"), Nanc ran into the man who exuded cool.  Nanc ran into the Fonz!
As you can clearly see, the Fonz gave Nanc two thumb's up!  That is high praise from Fonzie, but Nancy does deserve it.
Nanc always looks out for me when a celebrity photo op is around.  Okay, perhaps this "Fonz" isn't quite as animated as Henry Winkler would be, but that does not prevent me from making this a Friendly Encounter!
Thanks Nancy and as Fonzie would say, "Aaaayyyyyyyyeeeeee!"

Nancy Blais and Fonzie in Milwaukee, WI-May 2013.

Henry Winkler was the Coolest

Back in the day, didn't everyone think the Fonz was the coolest?  Didn't everyone mimic his trademark "Aye"?
Since those happy days, Henry Winkler has gone on to a hugely successful career mostly behind the camera.  Stars of his magnitude don't usually do autograph conventions and when they do, they usually charge a lot more than the average celebrity guest.
Winkler is the exception on both counts.  He has done a few conventions and he only charged the same amount as the other stars at the Hollywood Celebrities Show.  That in itself provided a unique opportunity for his many fans.  Winkler didn't stop there though.  He went out of his way even more for the fans in attendance. 
Winkler stood on the fans' side of his table, allowing for quicker and better photo opportunities.  This doesn't sound like a huge deal, but it entailed Winkler standing for about 8 hours straight.  It also allowed more fans to have the chance to meet him during the event.
He didn't stop there though.  About every 20 minutes or so, Winkler walked past his entire line of fans thanking them for waiting and promising they would all get their time with him.  How incredibly nice is that!!  I have never seen that from any celebrity.
When I was growing up, Fonzie was the coolest.  Now as an adult, I have to say, Winkler is the nicest!

Henry Winkler and me in Rosemont, IL-October 2011.