- Bryce Dallas Howard is opening up about her close relationship with godfather Henry Winkler, saying he is “the most loving human being”
- Winkler starred with Bryce’s father Ron Howard in Happy Days in the ’70s and ’80s.
- The actress has said Winkler and wife Stacey Weitzman helped her feel “safe” when she started in Hollywood
Bryce Dallas Howard is thankful for one very famous godparent.
During PEOPLE’s new “Loves of My Life” interview, the Pets director and actress, 44, says she’s a “very lucky woman” for all the “great men” in her life. That includes dad Ron Howard, husband Seth Gabel and her husband’s best friend Josh Gad.
She also gives a special spotlight to her godfather, Henry Winkler, 79, who starred alongside Ron, 71, in Happy Days in the ’70s and ’80s. Winkler’s wife Stacey Weitzman is Bryce’s godmother.
“There is something about Henry Winkler that is very, very, very magical. He is just the most loving human being and he is so present and he cares so deeply,” Bryce said of the Emmy-winning actor.
“He’s also really funny and charming and charismatic and wonderful,” Bryce said with a smile, adding, “He’s like a father to me. He really, really is.”
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Bryce joined her dad Ron and godfather Henry to speak about the lifelong bond their families share on the March 19 episode of Zoe Winkler’s podcast What in the Winkler?!
“Henry and Stacey have always been the most incredible godparents, very supportive,” the actress said, noting that the two are “everything wonderful that my parents are, and everything wonderful that my parents aren’t.”
Henry also discussed a pep talk he once gave Bryce when she had just met her husband Gabel while they were both acting students at New York University in the 2000s.
“You said, ‘I know this guy, and I don’t know how to get him to pay attention to me. How do I get him to pay attention to me?’ ” Henry recalled. “I said, ‘Bryce, all you have to do is breathe. You’re beautiful. You’re talented. You’re strong.’ “
Bryce was raised with her siblings — Paige, Jocelyn and Reed — in Connecticut, because her parents wanted to keep their children away from Hollywood “business.” When the actress did go to Los Angeles for work, she said the main draw to the city was her godparents more than the industry itself.
“It was just so extraordinary for me getting to have another set of parents, have another set of siblings that I so related to, felt so safe with in Hollywood, the place my parents left,” Bryce said.
Pets is now streaming on Disney+, and Bryce’s next film Deep Cover is on Prime Video June 12.
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