Henry Winkler Shares Thoughts on Long-Standing Tension With Tom Hanks | Just Jared

Henry Winkler is reflecting on the tension between himself and Tom Hanks.

In the 1980s, the 80-year-old Happy Days alum was personally chosen by a Paramount executive to direct Turner & Hooch, which starred Tom.

During a new episode of In Depth With Graham Bensinger, Henry revealed that he didn’t think he was “suited” to the job, but he accepted it anyway.

“I now meet the puppies, and I meet with Tom [Hanks]… and I, at that time being insecure, I talked too much and I gave them direction. I [did] what I thought was my job, and I wanted to do it over again and apparently that pissed them off.”

He continued, “And in 13 days of filming, I’m called into [studio executive Jeffrey Katzenberg’s] office and he said, ’It’s not in the dailies.’ I then go to the set. I get my things. I drive home. I’m fired as a director… I don’t handle it well. I’m devastated.”

There was another incident revolving around Happy Days. Tom was once a guest star on the show and Henry recalled there was a time when they were doing a retrospective and wanted to get permission to use 60 seconds of the movie star for it.

“We did not get permission for that,” he said.

Asked to shares his “perspective” on their relationship today, Henry said he’s still “working on” it.

As for the possibility that they might mend the relationship one day, Henry said, “Sure.”

Find out which Happy Days guest star he previously called an “a–back.”

Posted To:Henry Winkler Tom Hanks