Marley Matlin reveals how Henry Winkler helped her after William Hart split
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When Marley Matlin ended her turbulent relationship with William Hart, she leaned over her mentor, Henry Winkler, for support.
The Oscar winner details Hollywood’s rise to stardom in his new documentary, “Marlee Matlin: Not Not Alone.”
According to the film, Matlin turned his eyes to the “Happy Days” star after finishing his relationship with actor William Hart. In the documentary, Matlin claimed that her “Lesser Children of God” co-stars had “abuse habits.” Hart died in 2022 at the age of 71.
Henry Winkler’s daughter shares the truth about growing up as a dad with the “Happy Days” star
The friendship between Marlee Matlin and Henry Winkler is featured in a new documentary, Marlee Matlin: Not Not Alone. The film was featured at the Tribeca Film Festival. (Rover Cinema)
The 59-year-old, deaf, told Fox News Digital through an interpreter that it’s easy to switch to Winkler during difficult times in his life.
“He didn’t make it difficult for me to reach out to him,” Matlin said. “He was always available. It was like an open door. It was an open door to his heart and my heart. And he knew that.”
Marley Matlin believes Henry Winkler is a supportive mentor and friend. (Rover Cinema)
“He knows he’s done it to a lot of people,” she shared. “But I was very, very fortunate to have that close relationship, and I knew that both he and his wife were gold for me. If Henry were in my life, I wouldn’t be here.
William Hart was a co-star in 1986’s “Children’s Children” by Marley Matlin. (Longalella/Longalella Collection by Getty Images)
Hart and Matlin starred in the 1986 film about the deaf romance with an auditory audio teacher. Matlin was 19 years old.
The relationship was troubled, but Matlin was hurt by urging him to check in at Bettyford Center after running out of every bit of cocaine and marijuana he had in his New York City apartment.
However, Matlin realized after rehab their relationship wasn’t the same.
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The Bettyford Centre helped Marley Matlin defeat her addiction. She celebrated 31 years of drinking in 2018. (Rover Cinema)
“I left that house and never returned,” she said in the film.
Winkler encouraged the plain Matlin to visit him and his wife Stacey Weitzmann. At their California home. There they were able to “speak.” Matlin took up his offer.
The actor, who gained fame as “Fonz,” explained that Matlin was knocking on his door.
Watch: “Happy Days” Star Henry Winkler shares his favorite memories from the show
“I just broke up with my boyfriend,” Winkler recalls Matlin telling him in the film. “‘Can I just stay with you on weekends?” “What do you think of it?” ‘Of course. ‘”
“Two years later, she finally moved!” Winkler laughed.
Matlin said Winkler and his family took her “as if I was one of them.”
Marley Matlin lived with Henry Winkler and his family for two years. (Noel Vasquez/Film Magic/Getty Images)
Winkler pointed out that Matlin was not “completely whole at the time.”
“What I told her was, “If you know what you want without ambivalence, if you’re clarifying what you want, everything else will fall on the spot,” he said in the film.
Not only did Matlin begin to heal, she also found true love. In 1993, she married police officer Kevin Grantski at Winkler’s home.
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Marley Matlin married Kevin Grantski in 1993. They share four children. (Barry King/Wire Image/Getty Images)
“You knew,” Winkler said of the romance in the film. “This is different, this is where the house was built.
Winkler first saw 12-year-old Matlin on stage At the Chicago Variety Show. In the documentary, Winkler recalls how Matlin’s mother took him aside and asks if he could warn his daughter to pursue an acting career. Winkler replied, “You got the wrong guy.”
Marley Matlin and Henry Winkler will be attending a ceremony honoring her at the Hollywood Walk of Fame star on May 6, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Noel Vasquez/Film Magic/Getty Images)
Winkler became a friend and mentor to the keen actress of the time. Their friendship lasted for decades.
Henry Winkler, who hugged Marlee Matlin here, always encouraged the actress to pursue her dreams. (Christian Dowling/Getty Images)
“I think anyone with such a mentor will understand and appreciate how important he is to me,” Matlin explained for Fox News Digital.
“He provided me with a place where I felt safe,” she said. “I was able to always rely on the fact that he really believed in me, built up my confidence and trusted me and trusted the fact that he made me look more clearer. I’m very fortunate.
In her documentary, Marley Matlin reflected her life in the main language of American sign language. (Rover Cinema)
“He was probably one of the most famous people in the world,” Matlin glowed. “In my opinion, he was more famous than the president and one of the most beloved people in the world. So have you ever thought he would pay attention to someone like me, a little girl when he met me, a little girl who was deaf when he didn’t know American sign language?”
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Marley Matlin and Henry Winkler will pos for a ceremony honoring her with the Hollywood Walk of Fame star. (Frank Rapper/Corvis via Getty Images)
“He knew nothing about deafness or deaf culture,” Matlin continued. “But what do you know? That wasn’t important to him. Of course, he admitted that I had communicated. He didn’t ignore the fact that I was deaf, but he treated me with love and respect for everyone and everyone.
“When I first saw her at age 12, it was clear how powerful and talented she was. She will always be part of our lives,” Winkler, 79, said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital.
Henry Winkler is the “Fonz” from “Happy Days.” (Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
Matlin is the youngest and first Auditional Impaired Actress Academy Award Winner. Her memoir, “I Scream Later,” was published in 2009. In it, the actress said she was abused as a child and suspected abuse from injuries during their relationship.
Marlee Matlin’s memoir, “I’r Scream Later,” was published decades before the #MeToo movement. (Rover Cinema)
“I didn’t know you could ask for help,” Matlin told Fox News Digital. “While I was screaming for help, I didn’t know that I could go out and ask for help while it was happening… I’m hoping someone would come, but no one would do it while I was screaming.
William was hurt as a newscaster in the 1987 film Broadcast News. The actor passed away in 2022 at the age of 71. (Amercent Films/Getty Images)
Following the book’s publication, Hart issued a statement access “My own memories are that we both apologise and we both did a lot to heal our lives. Of course I apologise for the pain I caused, and I know we both have grown up.
Shoshanna Stern, the director of the documentary, told Fox News Digital via an interpreter that he was deaf but praised Matlin’s courage by speaking before the #MeToo movement.
“Marley Matlin: Not alone again” was directed by leftist Shoshanna Stern. (Rover Cinema)
“Everyone was very questionable,” Stern said. “And asks Marley, “Why didn’t you leave?” “Why did you stay in that relationship?” I felt they just re-erupted her… The question they asked was, “Did you think it happened to you because you’re deaf?” And Marley continues to say, “I didn’t know.” … And people look down at the comments many times and don’t understand what she means and how strong she is. ”
Marley Matlin will flash the intense look in a black and silver rhinestone gown at the 93rd Annual Academy Awards at Union Station on April 25, 2021 in Los Angeles. (Chris Pizzelo-Pool/Getty Images)
“She didn’t know that abuse at the time was abuse,” Stern said. “And that’s what happens to many deaf people around the world.”
Matlin’s work continues along with telling her story.
Marlee Matlin is seen here as a child and today. (Rover Cinema)
“I’ve decided to prove it (my critic is wrong),” Matlin told Fox News Digital About pursuing a career in Hollywood. “It just wanted to roll my sleeves up further to prove to them that I am a deaf woman who loves to act the same way as everyone else. I did nothing to this business.
“But if that happened today, I would have made a lot of noise at the time,” Matlin retorted. “I…I didn’t know how to speak to people who wanted to put me in a negative light…As a result of all those criticisms, I had to grow very quickly.
Marley Matlin won the Oscars’ best actress in 1987. (Longalella/Longalella Collection by Getty Images)
“I was 19 years old (“Lesser God’s Children”), I turned 20 while making the film and had a much older boyfriend. It was my first film and I was calm and it was all coming soon.
“Marley Matlin: Not Alone” premieres on June 20th.