Henry Winkler, 81, opens up on therapy journey and pre-therapy confusion
Synopsis
At 81, Henry Winkler told Drew Barrymore he had no idea 'where he was' when he first walked into therapy in his 60s — and that he still sees himself as 'Swiss cheese' working toward becoming 'cheddar.' It is a rare, unguarded window into the inner life of one of Hollywood's most enduring stars.
Key Takeaways
Henry Winkler , 81 , revealed he felt 'very confused' before beginning therapy in his 60s .
He has been in therapy for a decade and says it has changed his entire outlook on life.
Winkler described his pre-therapy state as having 'the top of my head clamped shut like an oil drum.' He used a 'Swiss cheese to cheddar' metaphor to describe his ongoing personal growth journey.
Host Drew Barrymore , 51 , echoed his sentiments, highlighting the value of breakthroughs even after years of therapy.
Winkler has enjoyed more than 50 years of success in Hollywood, including his Emmy-winning role in Barry .
Hollywood actor and director Henry Winkler has revealed that he felt 'very confused' in the years before he began therapy, describing the experience as a turning point that fundamentally reshaped his inner life. The 81-year-old star, who has now been in therapy for a decade, made the candid admission during a recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show.
What Winkler Said About His Early Therapy Sessions
Speaking with host Drew Barrymore, Winkler recalled the disorientation he felt when he first walked into a therapist's office in his 60s. 'I was very confused. I was in my 60s, and I had a birthday. I went and the first thing that the therapist asked me was, ‘Oh wait a minute, where are you?’ And I had no idea what the woman was saying to me,' he said.
He elaborated further, describing how disconnected he felt from his own sense of self at the time. 'I didn’t know how to find (myself). I didn’t know where to look. I didn’t even know there was,' he explained. Using a striking metaphor, Winkler added, 'the top of my head was clamped shut like an oil can, like an oil drum. Slowly but surely I’m able now to peel it back so that I can let in the universe as opposed to being scared of being right in the universe.'
Drew Barrymore's Response and the Swiss Cheese Analogy
Drew Barrymore, 51, empathised with Winkler's reflections, noting the value of metaphor in processing personal growth. 'I really appreciate the metaphors that you were using because we go through therapy for years or we go through life for years and we can still have these big giant breakthroughs,' she said.
Winkler responded with characteristic warmth and humour, offering yet another vivid analogy to describe his ongoing journey. 'I love them when it happens. I see myself as a chunk of Swiss cheese, so I’m walking around and there are a lot of holes I could fall in, and I’m working to become a chunk of cheddar,' he said.
A Career Spanning More Than Five Decades
Winkler, best known internationally for his role as Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli on the long-running US sitcom Happy Days and more recently for his Emmy-winning turn in Barry, has previously attributed much of his professional longevity to luck. He has enjoyed more than 50 years of sustained success in the entertainment industry, making his openness about mental health struggles all the more notable given his public stature.
Why This Conversation Matters
Winkler's candid account adds to a growing wave of prominent figures in Hollywood speaking openly about therapy and mental health. His willingness to discuss confusion, self-discovery, and the slow process of emotional growth offers a counterpoint to the polished public image typically associated with decades-long celebrity careers. The conversation on The Drew Barrymore Show is likely to resonate with audiences navigating similar questions of identity and self-awareness at various stages of life.
Point of View
It normalises the experience for audiences who may feel they should 'have it together' by a certain age. What is notable here is the specificity: not a rehearsed mental-health talking point, but a genuine, metaphor-rich account of disorientation. The 'Swiss cheese to cheddar' framing is the kind of honest, imperfect language that therapy advocates rarely use publicly, and it is precisely what makes it land. The mainstream coverage of celebrity mental health tends to focus on crisis or recovery arcs; Winkler's account is more nuanced — an ongoing, incomplete process, which is closer to most people's reality.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Henry Winkler reveal about his therapy journey on The Drew Barrymore Show?
Henry Winkler revealed that he felt 'very confused' before starting therapy in his 60s and had no idea how to locate his sense of self. He said a decade of therapy has since transformed his outlook, describing the process as slowly 'peeling back' a clamped-shut mind to let in the world.
How long has Henry Winkler been in therapy?
Winkler has been in therapy for a decade, according to his own account on the show. He began the process in his 60s and has said it has fundamentally changed how he sees himself and the world.
What was the Swiss cheese metaphor Henry Winkler used?
Winkler described himself as 'a chunk of Swiss cheese' — someone walking around with many holes he could fall into — and said he is working toward becoming 'a chunk of cheddar,' representing a more solid, whole sense of self.
How did Drew Barrymore respond to Henry Winkler's therapy reflections?
Drew Barrymore, 51, empathised with Winkler's account and praised his use of metaphor, saying that people can still experience 'big giant breakthroughs' even after years of therapy or life experience.
Who is Henry Winkler and why is he significant?
Henry Winkler is an 81-year-old Hollywood actor and director with more than 50 years in the industry. He is best known for playing Fonzie in Happy Days and for his Emmy-winning performance in the HBO series Barry.
