Henry Winkler Recalls How He ‘Nearly Flunked Out’ of College in Georgetown Commencement Speech

He’s one of the most beloved stars of classic (and current-day!) television, but Henry Winkler didn’t always have Happy Days.

In a graduation speech at Georgetown University’s College of Arts & Sciences on May 17, Winkler discussed his early setbacks.As he grew up on New York City’s Upper West Side — with “very, very short Germans” as parents — Winkler dreamt of acting. But first, he needed an education, and geometry class turned out to be the sticking point during high school, both during the regular school year and during summer school.