Fonzie Says 'Aaay!': Facts And Stories Of Henry Winkler's 'Happy Days' Character

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Henry Winkler as the Fonz on 'Happy Days.' Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

On Happy Days, Fonzie's "Aaay" could mean just about anything. The one-word catchphrase uttered by Henry Winkler, who played the Fonz (Arthur Fonzarelli), expressed everything from humor to seriousness. Though it's not even really a word with an official spelling -- "Eyy" or "Eeey" or Ayy" -- it's the one-syllable line that viewers associate with the character and the show, which ran from 1974 to 1984. Fonzie was a perfect TV character, and despite the stereotypical early-'60s tough-guy facade, there was a lot more to him -- especially as the show went on and he became its center.