Catherine MessierUSA TODAY NETWORK – New England
Nov. 9, 2026, 12:06 p.m. ET
Rhode Island Comic Con took place over the weekend of Nov. 6-8, bringing together comic fans and celebrities in Providence.
Outside the convention, some celebrities were seen around the state, including actor, director and author Henry Winkler. Best known for playing Fonzie on the sitcom “Happy Days,” Winkler found time between co-hosting a convention panel and meeting fans to explore the Providence area.
Here are the places Henry Winkler visited during his trip to the Ocean State.
Where did Henry Winkler visit in Rhode Island?
According to social media posts, Henry Winkler stopped at two restaurants while in Rhode Island: Maven’s Deli in Pawtucket, and Lotus Pepper in Providence.
Winkler also made an appearance at The Hamilton School at Wheeler in Providence, where he gave a speech about his own struggle with dyslexia and read an excerpt from one of his children’s books.
“You have greatness inside of you. I know because I am you,” Winkler told the students, according to an Instagram caption from The Hamilton School. “Your job is to figure out what that greatness is, and give it to the world. Because we need it.”
Why was Henry Winkler at Comic Con 2026?
Winkler attended Rhode Island Comic Con to host a “Happy Days” panel with costar Anson Williams at the Omni Hotel in Providence. While on the panel, Winkler revealed that the sitcom was almost called “Fonzie’s Happy Days,” and that his character, Fonzie, almost got his own spinoff show, though he rejected both proposals.
Winkler also spoke about working with Dolly Parton in her first television movie “A Smoky Mountain Christmas,” telling the audience that the late country music icon was “everything you can imagine she was and more.”
“The most amazing star, she just was a powerful being on this earth,” Winkler added. “Truly, I was honored to direct her first television movie.”
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