Macmillan scoops Henry Winkler’s memoir

Pan Macmillan publishing director Ingrid Connell has scooped UK and Commonwealth rights excluding Canada for Being Henry, the memoir of American actor Henry Winkler, from Celadon Books, a division of Macmillan US. President and publisher Deb Futter acquired the book for Celadon Books, and Esther Newberg of ICM negotiated the deal.

According to the publisher synopsis, the Emmy-award winning actor explores “the lifelong effects of stardom and the struggle to become whole”. The publisher said: "Brilliant, funny and widely-regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood (though he would be the first to tell you that it’s simply not the case, he’s really just grateful to be here), Henry shares in this memoir the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia, the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own and the path forward once your wildest dream seems behind you."

The memoir will be published by Macmillan in hardback, e-book and audiobook on 31st October 2023. Winkler first became known from his role as “The Fonz” in "Happy Days", and has since appeared in "Arrested Development", "Parks and Recreation" and "Barry".

He said: “I am both excited and nervous to contemplate writing a memoir, because it’s hard to remember what happened the day before yesterday. But here I go!”

Connell added: “Henry Winkler is a legend with fans of all ages, from those who tuned in every week to watch the Fonz in ’Happy Days’ to a younger generation discovering him in ’Barry’. In Being Henry he tells his extraordinary story with warmth, honesty and humour.”