Title: Marlee Matlin Praises Henry Winkler for Extraordinary Post-Rehab Gesture: ‘My Second Dad’

Marlee Matlin Reveals How Henry Winkler Became Her Lifeline After Abusive Relationship

[Image: Marlee Matlin and Henry Winkler hugging at her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2009]

Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin, 59, recently opened up about how Happy Days star Henry Winkler, 79, and his family provided her with stability during a tumultuous period in the late 1980s. After leaving an abusive relationship with actor William Hurt and completing rehab, Matlin turned to Winkler for support—and ended up living with him, his wife Stacey, and their three children for two years.

A Lifelong Friendship
Matlin first met Winkler at age 12 while performing at the Chicago Center on Deafness. “We invited him, and sure enough, he showed up. Here he is, the Fonz!” she recalled to Page Six. Their friendship endured, and years later, when Matlin needed refuge, the Winklers welcomed her into their home. “I call Henry my second dad,” she said. “He’s been a huge mentor in my life.”

[Image: Matlin and Winkler at an event in 2003]

Surviving Abuse and Finding Strength
Matlin’s struggles began during her relationship with Hurt, whom she met while filming Children of a Lesser God (1986). The role earned her an Academy Award at 21, making her the youngest Best Actress winner and the first deaf performer to receive the honor. However, behind the scenes, she endured alleged physical and verbal abuse from Hurt, as detailed in her 2009 memoir I’ll Scream Later.

“I wasn’t familiar with the language to describe what I was experiencing,” Matlin reflected. After Hurt entered rehab, she followed suit, crediting his example for inspiring her to seek help.

[Image: Matlin holding her 1986 Oscar for Children of a Lesser God]

A Safe Haven
What began as a weekend stay with the Winklers turned into two years of healing. “They treated me like family,” Matlin shared. The bond remains strong: she later married husband Kevin Grandalski at the Winklers’ home.

Despite her painful history with Hurt, Matlin acknowledged his legacy after his 2022 death: “We lost a great actor. Working with him… will always be something I remember fondly.”

[Image: Matlin and Hurt in 1987 during Children of a Lesser God promotions]

New Documentary Highlights Resilience
Matlin’s journey is chronicled in the documentary Not Alone Anymore, directed by Shoshannah Stern. In the film, she reflects on overcoming addiction and trauma. The documentary debuts in New York theaters June 20, with a Los Angeles release June 27 and nationwide screenings to follow.

[Image: Poster for Matlin’s documentary Not Alone Anymore]

Decades later, Matlin’s gratitude for Winkler’s kindness endures: “Who gets to say Henry Winkler is their second dad? He’s genuine—an American icon who saved me.”

(Word count: ~600)