Henry Winkler may not chase danger, but he's certainly met it. Both on and off screen.
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The beloved actor is back with a new series, Hazardous History with Henry Winkler, premiering June 15 on the History Channel. This time, he's not jumping motorcycles or dodging stunt cars. Instead, he's diving headfirst into America's most reckless traditions.
Before the premiere, Winkler reflected on his own brushes with danger. And yes, they're as wild as the show.
On Set, Off Script
"The most dangerous thing I've ever done for a role was ride a motorcycle," Winkler said in a recent interview with PEOPLE. He was referring, of course, to his iconic Happy Days character, Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli.
"I'm so dyslexic. I couldn't tell the difference between the gas, the gear, and the brake," he explained. "I nearly killed the head of cinematography."
That wasn't his only scare. During filming of the 1977 movie Heroes, Winkler drove a race car around a track with professional stuntmen nearby. However, one wrong move turned the scene into a near-tragedy.
"I hit the brake too hard and spun out. They had to swerve to miss me," he said. "It wasn't scripted. I just made a mistake."
The stunt team rushed over. Their message was clear: that moment could've been fatal. Winkler said their reaction left him shaken.
From Danger to Discovery
Although he avoids thrill-seeking in real life, Winkler admits he's fascinated by the extremes of American history. That curiosity powers Hazardous History, a series exploring the bizarre, bold, and downright unsafe things people once did in the name of fun.
"You could actually mail your child to their grandparents," he said, laughing. "And those lawn darts -- jarts -- people would throw them straight into the air. They'd land in someone's foot."
Each 60-minute episode highlights forgotten fads, outdated products, and wild behavior once common across the U.S. From backyard toys to postal oddities, the show reveals how unregulated much of American life used to be.
New Chapter for The Fonz
Winkler remains best known for Happy Days, the 1970s hit that aired for 11 seasons on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series followed teenager Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) and his Milwaukee family in the 1950s. But it was Winkler's cool, leather-jacketed Fonz who stole the spotlight and became a pop culture legend.
Now, decades later, Winkler brings that same energy to storytelling.
"I've done the stunts," he said. "Now I'm just exploring how crazy we all used to be."
Hazardous History with Henry Winkler debuts Sunday, June 15 at 10/9c on the History Channel.
