The Fonz is ready for battle with Peter Pan once again in panto return (From Wirral Globe)

The Fonz is ready for battle with Peter Pan once again in panto return

11:45am Wednesday 25th November 2009

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HENRY Winkler makes his Liverpool Empire debut as Captain Hook in Peter Pan next month.

The New York-born star of 70s comedy series Happy Days makes his fourth appearance in the pantomime, which will be staged at the Empire for the first time from December 11 until January 3.

Joining the actor, author and director are former Atomic Kitten Natasha Hamilton as Peter Pan and Les Dennis as Buttons.

Looking forward to stepping into Captain Hook’s shoes in Liverpool, Henry, who played Arthur ‘Fonz’ Fonzarelli in the hugely popular 1970s comedy, told the Globe: "When I first played Captain Hook it was a very scary process. I didn’t quite know what a pantomime was.

"Then I thought, well, I could sit home and make life easy, or I could take the leap and see what this adventure was like. Here I am, four years later.

"There really is no better part. In Cinderella I would be the king, and he says three lines. Here I fight with a sword, I wear a pair of boots, I wear crushed velvet, I lose weight. It's fabulous. I love how much fan we have."

Although it's his first time at the Liverpool Empire, Henry said: "I was in Liverpool with my parents on a trip when I was 14, but I don’t remember the city at all, it was blur.

"This time, I have had a chance to explore Liverpool. I've only been in the city for a few days, but everyone has been wonderfully warm to me.

"I've even seen the plastic penguins, and have asked one on a date."

Henry is best remembered for his role as the cool motorbike mechanic Fonz in Happy Days, which ran from 1974 until 1984.

He also produced and directed a number of American television shows, including action series McGyver and teenage comedy Sabrina, the teenage witch.’ He also appeared in the films Scream and The Waterboy.

In addition to his television and film work Henry, 64, is also an accomplished children's author, and has worked on a hugely successful series of books based on his childhood struggles with dyslexia.

The books, 'Hank Zipser, the World's Greatest achiever', have sold more than three million copies worldwide.

Looking back on his childhood and subsequent career, he said: "I never thought I would be successful in anything because, as a kid, I was very poor in school.

"I was in the bottom three percent, academically in America and was told I would never achieve, and now here I am sitting in the Empire Theatre talking to you. It's a pretty amazing journey. When reading scripts I have to work a bit harder.

"The most important thing that children can know is that how they learn has nothing to do with how brilliant they are.

"In January, I'm going to Downing Street to kick off My Way, a campaign which aims to put across the message that not every child learns in the same way.

"It's really important for people to accept that not every child learns in the same way."

Asked if he would ever consider appearing in a film version of Happy Days, Henry replied: "It all depends on who did it. I’ve learned never to say never.

"I loved playing the Fonz and the people I starred with. The Fonz is, actually, the foundation of my life.

"He bought me a house, put food on the table and sent my kids to university.

"Of course, now, when you have a daughter with a credit card, you have to find another series, because in this job you go from doing really, really well to selling apples.”

Tickets for Peter Pan are from the box office on 0844 847 2525 or the related link below.

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