Actor Henry Winkler Stepped Up To Care For His Mom In Her Final Years Despite Tough Childhood
February 03, 2023

Actor Henry Winkler stepped up to care for his mom in her final years despite his tough childhood. Henry, whom we love for his roles like Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli in "Happy Days” or Stanley Yelnats III in “Holes” learned to create laughter after leaving home.
He was raised by two parents who valued hard work and education. His parents had scars from their own parents dying in concentration camps, and his mother and father had escaped Concentration Camps in 1939.
RELATED: Henry Winkler Spills The Beans On The Secret To 40 Years Of Marriage
These tragic facts overshadowed any happiness and joy Henry tried to create. Growing up Henry gravitated towards comedy and laughter. At the same time, he struggled in school because neither his parents nor himself realized he had a learning disability.
Despite these unknown facts, Henry did the best he could given the circumstances of his life.
Actor Henry Winkler Recalls Tough Childhood
In a previous story on GodUpdates, Henry Winkler opened up about his family problems growing up. He shared how his parents nicknamed him "Dumm Hund” and constantly grounded him to his room for his comedic acts in hopes he would study harder in school. Despite his difficult childhood, Henry looked to look at life through the art of acting and comedy.
After going on to have a successful career in acting and television, Henry did something no one expected. He put his feelings and tough memories of his childhood aside to take care of his dying mother.
Henry Winkler was filled with compassion, love, and respect for his mother. He recalled only a couple of times he ever saw his mother happy. He recalled, “Once because we tickled her into a closet. The second time we were driving, and she was in the back of the car, reading an article about some silly invention, and she thought it very funny.”
When we navigate childhood trauma and pain, naturally, we want to cut toxic or difficult family members out of our lives. We don’t want to subject ourselves to the memories or the negativity. But Henry did the exact opposite. He embraced his mother with his whole heart.
RELATED: Dwayne Johnson’s Dad Had A Tough Life & The Rock Talks About Their ‘Complicated’ Relationship
The Bible tells reminds us to love those to love sinners. There’s no credit in God’s eyes for showing love for others who love you. Instead, we are called to love difficult people. And that’s what Henry did. As his mother grew sicker, Henry left his career to take care of her.
He knew she needed him. Henry also knew she needed to know love, joy, compassion, respect, and kindness.
Henry Winkler Cares For His Elderly Mom
Actor Henry Winkler loved his mother when she couldn’t love herself. He loved her when she couldn’t take care of herself. And he took the time to listen when no one else was listening. Henry also loved her in the way he wanted to be loved as a child.
RELATED: Mark Wahlberg Called His Mom Every Morning But Now She’s Gone
Can you imagine how healing it was for actor Henry Winkler and his mother to navigate the last decade of her life in a way that Jesus would love us? It’s just incredible.
God doesn’t call us to subject ourselves to abuse or be doormats. The Bible reminds us to set boundaries with difficult people, and the Lord tells us to love and respect our parents. Henry was the hands and feet of Jesus to his mother in the last moments of her life. What a stunning and compassionate way to love someone.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Chuck Norris Reveals His Mom Prayed For Him When He Nearly Lost His Soul To Hollywood
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also,” Luke 6:27-28.
WATCH: Henry Winkler Talks About How His Parents Escaped The Nazis In Germany
LISTEN: Cristiano Ronaldo Explains Why He Still Lives With His Mom | Stranger Blesses Mom In Tears
h/t: Newsner
Featured Image Credit: Facebook/John Andolina
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for God's Guidance as We Travel New Paths - Your Daily Prayer - June 16
Change can feel scary, but God’s blessing goes before us with peace, protection, and purpose for every new path.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for God's Guidance as We Travel New Paths - Your Daily Prayer - June 16
Change can feel scary, but God’s blessing goes before us with peace, protection, and purpose for every new path.
Past Stories
- Vietnam Vet Passes Away, His Mailman Rushes to Adopt His Dog
- 4-Year-Old Called a Hero After Teacher Collapses at Daycare, and She Knows Exactly What to Do
- After 100-Mile Journey, Including a Swim, Missing Golden Retriever Mix is Finally Back Home
- Life Delayed Her Dream, But Didn’t Deny it. At 88, She Became a Graduate, and Witness to God’s Timing
- Gary Sinise Opens Up About His Son’s Death and the Gift of Grandfatherhood
- Young Girl is Saved by Good Samaritan After Falling 15 Feet Into a Waterfall
- Retired Alaska State Trooper Helps Rescue Husband Pinned by 700-lb Boulder
- 9 Year Old Boy Saves Mom and Newborn Sister By Calling 911, 'My Mom Could Have Died'
- Police Escort Paralyzed Teen to Prom Years After Childhood Shooting
- Young Boy in Wheelchair Walks at His Kindergarten Graduation, Surprising His Family
- Woman Credits Her Faith After Tire Flies Through SUV Windshield in Near-Death Crash
- 98-Year-Old Twins Cherish Life, Love, and Faith While Living Next Door to One Another
- Airman Served in WW2, Now He is Finally Coming Home 81 Years After He Died
- Teens Are Heroes After Saving Family From Fire On Their Prom Night
- She Survived 3 Weeks Lost in the Wild, Fighting Off Animals and Snowstorms
- Triplets Graduate From Texas Tech Together, All Earning Degrees in Media and Communication
- She Lost Her Son's Baby Book, But It Was Returned to Her at the Right Moment
- Man and His Dog Reunited After Being Hit by Drunk Driver
- Nurse With Caring Spirit Says Yes to Dying Mother's Wish For Her Son, and It's Beautiful
- She Never Told Her Friends She Was the School Mascot, Then Shares Her Secret at Graduation
- Mom Donates Kidney to Daughter, Now They’re Graduating Nursing School Together
- Grieving Son Finds Kindness When Trying to Print a Photo of His Mother Who Just Passed Away
- Nebraska Mom Raised Concerns About Husband's Mental Health Before Tragic Murder-Suicide
- Brothers Discover 1976 Message in a Bottle, Then Find the Man Who Wrote It
- California High School Discovers They Have 14 Sets of Twins in Their Graduating Class
- Paralyzed Pup Tyrion Finds New Life With a Doggie Wheelchair
- Autistic 8-Year-Old Boy Goes Missing, Found by Water Thanks to Quick Response
- Two Nurses Come to the Rescue of a Teen Girl in the Process of Being Kidnapped
- Brave Man Jumps Into Water to Save Woman After She Was Attacked By Bull Shark
- She Was Going to Miss Prom After Breaking Her Back at a Trampoline Park, the Hospital Had Other Plans
- Mom Finds Hope After Tragedy, Hears Her Daughter’s Heartbeat in a Child Who Got a Second Chance
- 90-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Has Saved Over 10,000 Animals, and She’s Still Not Slowing Down
- First Responders Rescue 9-Month-Old From House Fire By Going Through Window
- Playful Black Bear Climbs Playground and Rides the Slide, Just Like a Kid
- Singer Michael Bolton Opens Up About His Aggressive Brain Cancer Diagnosis
- Brave 5-Year-Old Climbs 35 Feet Up a Tree, Firefighters Rush to the Rescue
- Woman Finds Her Father After Almost 28 Years — And Learns the Truth About Why He Left
- Woman Saves Her Late Son’s Best Friend’s Mom With a Life-Changing Donation
- An Indie Bookstore Asked for Help, What Happened Next Will Warm Your Heart
- From Teen Sweethearts to 80 Years of Marriage: ‘God Was So Good to Give Him to Me’
- WWII Veteran Celebrates His 101st Birthday and 75 Years of Marriage to His Loving Wife
- 88-Year-Old Korean War Veteran and Great-Grandfather Graduates From College
- One Year After Losing Boys in a Fire, Parents Find Light in the Form of a Beautiful Blessing
- They Dress Up As Disney Princesses to Bring Joy and Hope to Sick Children, and it's Amazing
- This Couple Parents Triplets and Foster Sons from Wheelchairs, and It’ll Leave You Inspired
- Two-Year-Old is Found By Rancher's Dog After Walking 7 Miles From Home
- Couple Reunites 15-Year-Old Blind Dog With Owners After Finding Her in the Wilderness
- He Saved Her Life in a Pool Accident Five Years Ago, Now They Are Engaged
- Actress Chrissy Metz Left Hollywood For Nashville and She Couldn't Be Happier
- Stranger Helps 81-Year-Old Waitress Who Couldn't Afford to Retire, Now Her Prayers Have Been Answered
Top Artists
Top Music Videos

Bill and Gloria Gaither Guy Penrod's Stirring Live Performance of 'Then Came The Morning'

Chris Tomlin Chris Tomlin’s Powerful Live Rendition of ‘The First Hymn’ Will Stir Your Soul

Oak Ridge Boys 'Jesus Is Coming Soon' The Oak Ridge Boys

toby mac TobyMac's 'Nothin' Sweeter' Official Lyric Video

Passion Music Passion's Soul-Stirring 'Agnus Dei' Live Performance
Blog
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.