Surprising Stories from the Set of Happy Days

Before Henry Winkler zipped up the leather jacket, another familiar face nearly became the Fonz. Micky Dolenz of The Monkees auditioned for the role, bringing his rock-star charm and TV experience to the table. It’s wild to imagine a Monkee ruling the streets of Milwaukee, right?

But there was one unexpected issue: height. At 6 feet tall, Dolenz towered over many of the main cast members. The producers ultimately decided Fonzie should feel more eye-to-eye with his peers — literally. So the role went to Winkler, proving that sometimes being the coolest guy in the room isn’t about standing tallest.