Henry Winkler is opening up about the reported decades-long tension between himself and Tom Hanks, revealing he is still trying to understand what went wrong between them.
In a recent interview on “In Depth With Graham Bensinger,” Winkler — who was fired as director of Hanks’ 1989 movie “Turner & Hooch” after 13 days of filming — addressed the situation that initially ignited the reported rift.
Winkler admitted he was not “suited” to direct the movie, but accepted the job after being handpicked by Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg.
“I went completely against my tummy, and it hit me in the face with a 2×4,” Winkler said. “I now meet the puppies, and I meet with Tom [Hanks]… and I, at that time being insecure, I talked too much and I gave them direction. I [did] what I thought was my job, and I wanted to do it over again and apparently that p—ed them off.”
Winkler said the situation came to a head just 13 days into filming.
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“I’m called into [Katzenberg’s] office, and he said, ‘It’s not in the dailies,’” Winkler recalled. “I then go to the set. I get my things. I drive home. I’m fired as a director… I don’t handle it well. I’m devastated.”
Winkler was replaced by director Roger Spottiswoode.
Winkler also revealed that Hanks later declined to give permission for a clip from his “Happy Days” appearance to be used in a retrospective about the sitcom.
“We did a retrospective on ‘Happy Days,’ and we wanted 60 seconds of Tom Hanks in his episode, and we did not get permission for that,” Winkler said.
Hanks appeared on the sitcom in 1982, years before his movie career took off.
When asked what his “perspective” was on his relationship with Hanks, Winkler replied, “I am still working on my perspective.”
Asked whether he believed the relationship could ever “repair itself,” Winkler responded, “Sure.”
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Winkler has previously spoken about the difficult experience while continuing to deny that he and Hanks had an outright feud.
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In comments to TMZ in 2020, which were later reported by Vanity Fair, Winkler said, “I don’t have a feud with Tom Hanks. What everybody says and what is true are two different things.”
Winkler added that he had seen Hanks at the Screen Actors Guild Awards that year.
“It was beautiful,” he said.
However, during an appearance on “Watch What Happens Live” a year earlier, a viewer called in and asked the “Barry” star about the reported feud.
“What was the real reason why you and Tom Hanks didn’t get along on the set of ‘Turner & Hooch,’ and did you ever wind up seeing that movie?” the fan asked.
Winkler detailed his firing before discussing his relationship with Hanks’ canine co-star.
“I got along great with that dog,” he said. “Love that dog.”
Host Andy Cohen then asked Winkler if he had gone to see the movie in theaters.
“I don’t even remember the title of that movie,” Winkler said.
Hanks has not publicly commented on the reported tension between the two actors.
