While Tom Hanks was tearfully accepting his Cecil B. DeMille Award for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment during Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards, the camera briefly panned to Henry Winkler, who sported a decidedly less-than-thrilled expression on his mug.
Out of the phalanx of celebs crammed into the Beverly Hilton, it’s interesting that the director chose to spotlight the “Happy Days” star. Or perhaps it was a mischievous option, as it turns out that two of the nicest guys in Hollywood have been feuding for over three decades.
Winkler was the original director on the kiddie flick “Turner and Hooch” starring Hanks, but was unceremoniously fired after only 13 days on the job.
Last year while Winkler, 74, was a guest on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” he was asked by a caller about their reputed tiff. At first, Winkler pretended not to understand the question, but then admitted the beef was real.
“I was directing that movie for 13 days and then I was called into (producer) Jeff Katzenberg’s office and he said, ‘You have everything with you? Go home.’”
The Disney flick, which is about a rigid police officer who is forced to partner up with a slobbering French mastiff in order to help solve a murder case, was eventually completed by British-Canadian director Roger Spottiswoode.
Although Winkler didn’t have fond memories of working with Hanks, 63, he did enjoy spending some time, albeit brief, with another performer on set — the dog.
“I got along great, great with that dog,” he exclaimed on “WWHL.” “Love that dog.”
Winkler has been winning raves lately for his turn in the critically acclaimed HBO comedy “Barry,” in which he plays Gene Couisneau, a gloriously preening acting coach who is a mentor to hitman-turned-thespian Barry (Bill Hader). He even won his first Emmy in 2018, when he joked that he penned his acceptance speech “43 years ago.”