Happy Days 50th anniversary reunion: Ron Howard and Henry Winkler have a moment at Arnold's

16 September 2024, 10:13 | Updated: 16 September 2024, 10:15

Ron Howard and Henry Winkler at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards
Ron Howard and Henry Winkler at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards. Picture: Getty Images

By Mayer Nissim

Richie Cunningham and The Fonz get back together at the 2024 Emmys.

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Happy Days premiered 50 years ago, and was a massive success throughout the 1970s and '80s, giving viewers a slice of the rock 'n' roll era from two decades earlier

These days that sense of nostalgia is doubled over, and a reunion of two of the show's biggest stars at last night's Emmys at the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, California, brought back all the memories.

Ron Howard and Henry Winkler appeared during the ceremony on a recreation of Arnold's Drive-In diner.

The stars had been tasked with presenting the award for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series when they complained that they hadn't been given a theme song.

"I have a solution," said Howard motioning towards the on-set jukebox. "Well, you know... you could do it."

Henry Winkler channels Fonzie at Emmys 2024 ‘Happy Days’ reunion with Ron Howard

Winkler replied: "No, come on. First of all, I'm out of practice. And second of all, it takes schooling..."

Ron said: "You went to the Yale School of Drama, Henry. You know you can do it!"

Winkler then adopted his classic Fonz shuffle and did the honours, giving the jukebox a bump, with the Happy Days theme starting immediately.

Ron Howard and Henry 'The Fonz' Winkler
Eyyyyyy. Picture: Getty Images

Happy Days received nine Emmy nominations in its heyday, with Winkler being recognised in the Lead Actor category for three years in a row from 1976 to 1978.

However, the show only actually ever won one Emmy award in all those years, for film editing in 1978.

It wasn't until 2018 that Winkler actually picked up an Emmy, winning Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in Barry.