Henry Winkler is revisiting his complicated relationship with Tom Hanks. However, decades after their Turner & Hooch experience, he still seems unsure about what caused the lasting tension. The Happy Days star has offered more insight into their troubled professional history. This time, Winkler also admitted his own actions may have played a role.
Henry Winkler reflects on his complicated history with Tom Hanks after Turner & Hooch
During an In-Depth With Graham Bensinger interview, Winkler discussed directing the 1989 comedy Turner & Hooch. Hanks starred in the movie, while Winkler originally signed on to direct.
Winkler admitted he had doubts about taking the job from the beginning. Still, studio executive Jeffrey Katzenberg convinced him to move forward. Once production began, Winkler believes his insecurity affected his directing style. He recalled talking too much and repeatedly giving direction to the actors.
“I wanted to do it over again,” Winkler said, adding that his approach apparently upset people on set. Just 13 days into filming, Katzenberg fired him. Winkler said the experience left him devastated.
Still, Winkler cannot fully explain where his tension with Tom Hanks actually began. Hanks had previously guest-starred on Happy Days before becoming a major movie star.
Winkler also recalled a later incident involving a Happy Days retrospective. Producers wanted to use 60 seconds from Hanks’ episode, but they did not receive permission.
When Bensinger asked about his perspective on the relationship, Winkler admitted, “I am still working on my perspective.” Still, he appeared open to reconciliation and said the relationship could potentially repair itself.
The history is not entirely bitter. Winkler still owns a model airplane that Hanks built and signed during their Turner & Hooch meetings.
Interestingly, Winkler previously pushed back against reports of a feud. In 2020, he told TMZ there was no feud. His latest comments suggest the relationship remains more complicated than a simple Hollywood falling-out.
