By India McCarty
Henry Winkler might be 80 years old, but he doesn’t plan on slowing down any time soon!
“I’m very grateful,” Winkler said during an episode of the “IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson” podcast. “You know, people keep asking me, ‘Am I gonna retire?’ Or, ‘Have you retired?’ And I think that is, like, the furthest thing from my imagination. I will retire when I am not able to do, again, more. You know, I just, I think that it is deadly.”
So much fun pic.twitter.com/DazZgENwlw
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) December 24, 2025
Related: HAPPY DAYS’ Henry Winkler Talks Career Highs, Lows: ‘Stay At The Table’
The HAPPY DAYS star added, “I work a lot. I have several jobs. I do a wonderful show on the History Channel called HAZARDOUS HISTORY, which, when they presented it to me, I just loved the facts of it. I thought, ‘This is outrageous.’ …And it did so nicely because people watched. We were now picked up for 30 [episodes].”
He also just published his 40th children’s book, “Detective Duck.” Winkler began writing kids’ books after meeting writer and producer Lin Oliver.
“I did not want the books to be an assignment from school. I wanted kids to be able to relax and giggle. This was important to both me and Lin,” the actor told Scholastic Kids Press.
Many of his books feature children with learning disabilities, which was important to Winkler as he struggled with reading as a kid.
“When I was in school, it was hard for kids who had learning challenges to get certain support. I think it is very important for parents and teachers to be patient,” he explained. “It does not matter how you learn. Everyone learns differently and as long as you have an imagination, that is what is important.”
Winkler has also spoken about his desire to continue working, telling PEOPLE in 2023 he doesn’t have a retirement timeline in mind.
“I just have that feeling,” he said. “I will stop when I have to stop.”
In another interview with Entertainment Tonight, Winkler said, “I have good genes! [And] just the will to be young. You know, people say, ‘Are you gonna retire?’ I don’t even know how to say the word. Working is in my DNA.”
“Being an actor or writing, it so keeps your mind agile,” the actor explained. “Acting is like putting a jigsaw puzzle together in order to create a human life, and writing a memoir, you have got to really remember not only what you think you remember but the events around it.”
From acting to writing, Winkler is still keeping plenty busy!
Read Next: Henry Winkler Reflects on HAPPY DAYS’ 50th Anniversary: ‘Grateful’
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
– Content: +3Share:
– Content: +4