Henry Winkler Reflects on Unhappy Days With Tom Hanks

Henry Winkler is still unpacking the long-rumored frost between him and Tom Hanks—and he's not quite ready to label it. Speaking on In Depth With Graham Bensinger, the 80-year-old actor recalled being removed as director of the 1989 film Turner & Hooch after just under two weeks on the job. Winkler said he'd ignored a gut feeling that he wasn't right for the gig, then may have overcompensated: feeling insecure, he gave what he thought was strong direction to Hanks and the dog co-stars, which "apparently…pissed them off." Studio executive Jeffrey Katzenberg told him the performance he wanted wasn't "in the dailies," and Winkler says he went to set, collected his things, and drove home "devastated." Roger Spottiswood replaced Winkler in the director's chair, notes E! Online.

Winkler noted Hanks had earlier guested on Happy Days, yet permission wasn't granted to use a short clip of that appearance in a later retrospective. Asked how he now sees his relationship with Hanks, now 70, Winkler answered, "I am still working on my perspective," but said he believes it could "repair itself." He still keeps a plastic model plane Hanks built for him during Turner & Hooch meetings and has previously insisted, "I don't have a feud with Tom Hanks."