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Henry Winkler Handled a ‘Happy Days’ Heckler in a Way That Was Pure Fonzie
Henry Winkler was one of the biggest stars of the 1970s due to his iconic role on Happy Days. The actor played Arthur ”Fonzie” Fonzarelli for all 11 seasons of the ABCsitcom, from 1974 to 1984, and the leather-jacketed auto mechanic’s tough guy ‘tude became an essential part of the show.
But early on, Happy Days struggled in the ratings—to the point that showrunner Garry Marshall sent Winkler and his co-stars on the road to promote the sitcom.
During a recent appearance on Ted Danson’s Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast, Winkler shared, "In the beginning, the show was not doing very well. Happy Days was not doing very well. There were 100 shows. We were 48th. And in that calculus, we were not doing well. So, they sent us out into the world. They sent us to different cities to make personal appearances.”
Winkler recalled a fan event at the Neiman Marcus store in Dallas, Texas, where an unbelievable 25,000 fans showed up to meet the Happy Days cast, which included Ron Howard,Anson Williams, and Donny Most. The actor shared that the massive crowd blocked the path for him and his co-stars to get into their limousine. When Most (Ralph Malph on the show) expressed fears that the group would “die” getting out of there, Winkler stepped into Fonzie mode, complete with his signature tough guy voice.
“And I have never used the Fonzie’s character offscreen. I turned to Donny, and I saw his panic,” Winkler said as he segued into his signature Fonzie voice. “I said, ‘I will take care of this.’ And I just looked at the crowd, and I said, ‘All right, listen up. A lot of you. Four of us. You are now going to part like the Red Sea.’ I swear to God.”
But the money didn’t stop there. While the fans obeyed Winkler’s command, one heckler decided to make a comment about Winkler’s height. The actor is 5-foot-5.
“We started walking. Now somebody said, ‘He's so short,’” Winkler recalled. “I turned to where I thought I heard it and I said, ‘F--- you. I'm not short!’ Then somebody else yelled, ‘He's so cool.’ And then we got in the car and left.”
RELATED: Henry Winkler Addresses Rumors That ‘Laverne & Shirley’ Stars Were a ‘Nightmare’
Winkler may not have been the tallest of the Happy Days guys, but his commanding voice and naturally cool style made him the perfect choice for the role.
The actor was 27 years old and a graduate of the Yale School of Drama when he auditioned for Happy Days. But Winkler initially wasn’t sure he was right for the Fonzie role as he read lines with a man named Pascal.
“I only have six lines. And I don’t know where it came from… I changed my voice,” Winkler shared on the IMO With Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson podcast earlier this year. “I’m looking at him. I’m a scared short Jew. I’m playing a tall Italian. I threw the script up in the air. I walked out of the room.”
During an appearance on Who's Talking to Chris Wallace?, Winkler shared that while Happy Days producers originally envisioned Fonzie as "a taller Italian kid,” he ultimately wowed them during his audition.
He was offered the part on his 28thbirthday.
"They got you know, this short Jew from New York, but all I did was change my voice," Winkler recalled. "I introduce myself as Henry, and then as I started to do it, something overtook me ... And I changed my voice like this, and it unleashed me."
Related: ‘Happy Days’ Star Thought His Career Was ‘Over’ After Hit Sitcom Ended
'Toy Story 5' New Voices: Meet the 'Wicked' Breakout and 'Ghostbusters' Legend Joining the Fun
Anytime I watch an animated movie, I fight the urge to Google which actors are behind the voices—right from my theater seat! And with Toy Story 5 out now, that urge is going to be overwhelming because it boasts one of the most star-studded new casts in Pixar history.
With comedy legends like Conan O'Brien and Craig Robinson joining the gang as new toys and newcomers like Scarlett Spears (Wicked: For Good) and Mykal-Michelle Harris (Raven's Home) voicing the kids, we've got so much to cover! Plus, meet the stars stepping into roles originally voiced by the late, great Don Rickles and Estelle Harris—and the Ghostbusters icon paying tribute to his dear friend Carl Weathers.
Whether you're reading this before seeing the movie, or discovering it immediately after, you're in luck. Read on for your complete guide to every new character in Toy Story 5 and the actors who voice them.
'Toy Story 5' New VoicesBonnie – Scarlett Spears Scarlett Spears also played Young Glinda in Wicked: For Good.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Nine-year-old Scarlett Spears takes over the role of Bonnie, which was previously voiced by Madeleine McGraw in Toy Story 4. Spears may not be in double digits yet, but she's one of Hollywood's most exciting young stars. The Florida native got her start on the long-running soap opera General Hospital back in 2022 and played the younger version of the title character in 2025's Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado.
Most recently, she played Young Glinda in Wicked: For Good. But voicing Bonnie is so special for Scarlett. "My mom was a little girl and watched it, and now I'm in the movie!" she told Entertainment Tonight at the premiere.
In Toy Story 4, we saw Bonnie go crazy for Forky—a toy spork she crafted on her first day of kindergarten. Forky quickly became Bonnie's most cherished toy, but things turn a corner in Toy Story 5, when bullies tease her for still playing with toys and she's given a new tablet named Lilypad.
Lilypad – Greta Lee Greta Lee voices Lilypad.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
If you've seen The Morning Show, the voice of Lilypad will most definitely sound strikingly familiar. That's because Lily is voiced by scene stealer Greta Lee, who played UBA network president Stella Bak from Seasons 2-4.
The role of Lilypad marks uncharted territory for Lee, who also dazzled critics in 2023's Past Lives. "I can't believe any of this!" she told Good Morning America on June 18. "I was twelve when the first one came out, so this whole franchise means so much to me."
As for Lilypad, she's a frog-shaped tablet who wants to help Bonnie make friends and thrive at school. But it's totally different from the way the toys want to help. For example, while Jessie's idea of making new friends is in the literal sense, Lily believes this is done by just adding them on social media. “I love that even though Jessie and Lily are polar opposites, they both fundamentally care about Bonnie,” Lee told RottenTomatoes. “That is something that they do have in common, but with very different tactics, obviously.”
Blaze – Mykal-Michelle Harris 14-year-old Mykal-Michelle Harris attends the red carpet premiere of Toy Story 5.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Mykal-Michelle Harris joins the Toy Story universe as Bonnie's animal-loving BFF Blaze. Blaze bonds with Jessie after Bonnie becomes more interested in her new tablet. "She's one of the coolest 9-year-olds I've ever met," Harris told ABC. "I think it's because she's so brave and she loves animals, and she's always herself."
In real life, Harris is 14 years old, and she's no stranger to Disney—or voice acting. The New Jersey native played Alice in Raven's Home and since 2024, she's starred in the title role on Disney Jr.'s Ariel.
Smarty Pants – Conan O'BrienPhoto by Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort via Getty Images
He's one of Hollywood's most self-deprecating stars, so it's no surprise that Conan O'Brien had no qualms about playing a potty-training toy named Smarty Pants!
When #Pixar asked me to join the cast of #ToyStory 5 I said “only if I can play a potty-training device called Smartypants.” The rest is history. Congrats to the whole team and thanks for having me along. pic.twitter.com/JE0r9qCjhM
— Conan O'Brien (@ConanOBrien) June 11, 2026In the film's earliest production stages, Smarty Pants was originally going to be an actual pair of pants. But then, a Pixar intern named Naomi Ureythe came up with the idea to make him a potty-training toy that's shaped like a roll of toilet paper! It's certainly not O'Brien's first foray into animation. He spent two years writing on The Simpsonsand guest starred as himself in Season 5.
Related: What Is Conan O’Brien’s Net Worth in 2026? All About the Comic’s Financial Fortune
Atlas – Craig Robinson Craig Robinson plays Atlas, a GPS toy hippo.Photo by Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Most people know him as Darryl on The Office, but Craig Robinson has also had a phenomenal career in voice acting. He was Cookie in Shrek Forever After, George in Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters and Mr. Shark in The Bad Guysmovies.
Now, Robinson enters the Toy Story universe as Atlas, a GPS toy hippo who's long been forgotten in Blaze's tech junk drawer. That is, until new batteries bring the happy-go-lucky hippo back to life. "He's old school tech," Robinson told The Atlanta Voice. "He's gonna get you there, and you can count on him."
Shelby Rabara as Snappy Shelby Rabara grew up in Orange County, California, where she was a Disneyland season passholder!Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney
Steven Universe fans know Shelby Rabara as Peridot, but in Toy Story 5, she's Snappy—an excitable camera toy. Just like Atlas and Smarty Pants, she's old-school tech and the trio works together to help Jessie on her journey. "Recording Snappy was a dream come true," Rabar said at the red carpet premiere. "She's just this excitable camera and she's always there to help."
Check out the trio in action in this sneak peek!
Combat Carl – Ernie Hudson Ernie Hudson voices Combat Carl, who was originally played by the late Carl Weathers.Joe Maher/Getty Images
Ghostbusters legend Ernie Hudson voices Combat Carl in Toy Story 5. The action figure was previously voiced by the incredible Carl Weathers, who passed away in February 2024. Both are legends, but what makes this casting choice extra special is that Hudson and Weathers were actually close friends in real life.
But knowing he'd be taking over for his late friend was a complete surprise. "I was very happy to be included but I didn't know I was stepping in for Carl, who was a good friend," he told TMZ. "I think the fact that I didn't know in the beginning was probably for the better."
Matty Matheson as Dr. Nutcase Matty Matheson's Dr. Nutcase had a memorable moment in the Toy Story 5 trailer!Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images
Fans of The Bear will immediately recognize Dr. Nutcase—he's voiced by Matty Matheson. The Canadian star was originally a chef before he transitioned into acting. So who's Dr. Nutcase? That would be the tiny peanut daredevil in a luchador costume who loathes electronics with every fiber of his being. He's the toy Woody finds strapped to a kite in a tree in the trailer, and his dramatic "We're doomed!" is already a fan favorite moment.
Blaze's Mom – Krys Marshall Krys Marshall is all smiles at the red carpet premiere of Toy Story 5.Amy Sussman/WireImage
While news of For All Mankind and Paradise star Krys Marshall's casting was revealed months ago, her actual role was unannounced—until now. She voices Mrs. Manoukian, Blaze's sweet and kind mother. "Becoming a part of the Toy Story franchise has been an absolute dream come true," she wrote on Instagram. "And getting to share this special moment with my kid is the cherry on top. Thank you Andrew Stanton, for bringing me on this wild ride. Little Me is somewhere doing a Happy Dance."
Evil Bullsye – Alan Cumming Alan Cumming's role may be a cameo, but it's bound to be unforgettable.Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
In the history of Toy Story, we've never heard the voice of Woody's beloved horse, Bullseye. That will change in Toy Story 5—well, sort of. Alan Cumming voices Evil Bullseye, described as Bullseye's mischievous alter ego who comes to life in Blaze's imagination. "Don't expect too much, as it is a cameo, but it is quite exciting as this character has never had a voice before," Cumming said of the role.
Mr. Pricklepants – John Hopkins John Hopkins steps into the role of Mr. Pricklepants.Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images
British actor John Hopkins takes over the role of the dignified plush hedgehog Mr. Pricklepants. The role was previously voiced by James Bond himself, Timothy Dalton, in both Toy Story 3 and 4. Outside of his Pixar debut, Hopkins is known for Poldark and Midsummer Murders.
Bad Bunny as Pizza with Sunglasses Bad Bunny went from making Toy Story videos to joining the franchise!Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Global superstar Bad Bunny also has an iconic cameo as Pizza with Sunglasses—an effortlessly cool pizza slice who lives with other forgotten toys in an abandoned backyard shed. Pixar reportedly sought him out after noticing his genuine love for the franchise and once in the recording booth, he improvised lines in both Spanish and English. So cool!
Related: Record-Breaking Singer, Who Has Been Dominating the Music Charts, Joins the ‘Toy Story 5’ Cast
Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head – Jeff Bergman and Anna Vocino Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head are voiced by Jeff Bergman and Anna Vocino.Jesse Grant/Getty Images
The absolutely legendary Don Rickles voiced Mr. Potato Head from the very first film in 1995 up until his passing in 2017. The comic's family loved the character so much that they gave Pixar permission to use existing recordings so he could appear one last time in Toy Story 4. Meanwhile, the incomparable Estelle Harris perfectly voiced Mrs. Potato Head until she died in April 2022 at the age of 93.
Toy Story 5 carries their legacy forward with veteran voice actor Jeff Bergman stepping in as Mr. Potato Head and Anna Vocino taking on Mrs. Potato Head. "We found two people that sounded very close to the original actors," Director Stanton shared in a Reddit AMA.
"I mean, these two people were legends, and we have big shoes to fill," Vocino told The Porterville Recorder. “I had to do a massive deep-dive and just try to embody everything that's hilarious, and the way that she talks is so iconic, and just such a fabric of who she was.”