Picture this alternative universe: instead of Henry Winkler’s cool, leather-jacketed Arthur Fonzarelli snapping his fingers to turn on jukeboxes and jumping sharks on Happy Days, we might have had Micky Dolenz—the lovably goofy drummer from The Monkees—trying to convince us he was the toughest greaser in Milwaukee. It’s a casting choice that could have completely altered television history, and according to Dolenz himself, it almost happened.
At 80 years old, Micky Dolenz has reached that wonderful stage of life where he can look back at career near-misses with humor, perspective, and zero regrets. His recent revelation to People magazine about almost landing the iconic Fonzie role offers a fascinating glimpse into how differently things might have turned out—and why sometimes the best thing that can happen to an actor is not getting the part they thought they wanted.
Breaking Free from the Monkee Cage
By 1973, Dolenz was in a familiar Hollywood predicament: trying to escape the very success that made him famous. The Monkees had wrapped up its run in 1968, leaving him and his bandmates to figure out how to transition from manufactured pop stars to serious actors. For Dolenz, this meant deliberately seeking roles that would shatter his image as the spacey, floppy-haired drummer who provided comic relief in the prefab four’s television adventures.
The Fonzie audition represented exactly the kind of role that could have redefined his career—a tough, cool character who was the complete opposite of his Monkees persona. It’s easy to understand the appeal: after years of being the group’s resident goofball, the chance to play television’s ultimate cool guy must have felt like the perfect antidote to typecasting.
But Dolenz’s struggle with being pigeonholed started much earlier than The Monkees. His entertainment career began when he was just 11 years old, starring as Corky in the adventure series Circus Boy. Even then, he experienced the entertainment industry’s tendency to reduce actors to their most famous roles. “After Circus Boy, I went to a few auditions as a 12-year-old, and the minute I walked in, they’d say, ‘Circus Boy’!” he recalled.
This early experience with typecasting was something of a family tradition. His father, George Dolenz, had gotten stuck playing “swashbuckling romantic leads in sword-fighting movies” like The Purple Mask and Sign of the Pagan. Watching his father’s career get boxed into a single archetype likely made Micky more determined to avoid the same fate, even as he found himself fighting the same battles a generation later.
The Audition That Changed Everything
The story of how the Fonzie role ultimately went to Henry Winkler has all the elements of a classic Hollywood tale. According to Dolenz, Winkler was sitting in the waiting room when he saw the Monkees star arrive and thought, “Oh s–t, I’ll never get this — Micky Dolenz is here!” It’s a moment that perfectly captures the anxiety and competition inherent in the audition process, where even established performers can feel intimidated by the presence of someone with more name recognition.
What makes this story particularly charming is how both men can laugh about it now. The near-miss that could have been a source of lasting what-if regret has instead become the foundation of a genuine friendship. “He’s a good friend and a brilliant talent,” Dolenz says of Winkler, demonstrating the kind of grace and perspective that comes with age and success.
The irony, of course, is that while Dolenz had more immediate name recognition from The Monkees, Winkler brought something else to the table: authentic stage training from Yale School of Drama and a growing resume that included roles in indie films like The Lords of Flatbush and Crazy Joe. More importantly, as Dolenz himself acknowledges, Winkler had “that New York, New Jersey thing down” that was essential to making the Fonzie character believable.
The Grace of Recognizing Better Choices
What’s most refreshing about Dolenz’s reflection on this near-miss is his complete lack of bitterness or second-guessing. “Oh my God, he’s just so good,” he says of Winkler. “I was definitely not as good as he was. Come on — he was The Fonz! He had that New York, New Jersey thing down. I’m from Southern California. It wasn’t gonna happen!”
This kind of honest self-assessment is rare in Hollywood, where ego and regret often dominate conversations about roles that got away. Dolenz’s ability to recognize that Winkler was simply better suited for the part speaks to both his maturity and his understanding of what makes casting work. The Fonzie character needed someone who could embody a specific kind of East Coast toughness mixed with unexpected vulnerability—qualities that Winkler possessed naturally and Dolenz, by his own admission, would have had to manufacture.
The casting decision also highlights something important about the entertainment industry: sometimes the most famous person isn’t the right person for the job. While Dolenz brought name recognition and proven television experience, Winkler brought authenticity to a character who needed to feel real despite being larger than life.
The Long View of Career Satisfaction
Looking back now, it’s clear that not getting the Fonzie role may have been the best thing that could have happened to Dolenz’s career. While he struggled initially with typecasting after The Monkees ended, he eventually found his niche in voice work, appearing on dozens of animated shows throughout the 1970s and beyond. This pivot allowed him to use his distinctive voice and comedic timing in ways that played to his natural strengths rather than fighting against his established persona.
His post-Monkees career also included directing and producing work, giving him a broader understanding of the entertainment industry beyond just performing. This diversification probably provided more long-term career satisfaction than being known primarily for one iconic character, no matter how beloved that character became.
The Friendship That Emerged
Perhaps the most heartwarming aspect of this story is how a competitive audition situation evolved into a lasting friendship between Dolenz and Winkler. In an industry often characterized by rivalries and resentments, their mutual respect and genuine affection for each other stands out as something special.
Winkler, who has built a reputation as one of the nicest people in show business, clearly made an impression on Dolenz that went beyond professional courtesy. Their ability to laugh together about that long-ago audition suggests a comfort level and camaraderie that might not have existed if either man harbored regrets about how things turned out.
Still Making Music, Still Telling Stories
At 80, Dolenz isn’t slowing down. His upcoming Songs & Stories tour, launching August 11 at the Ocean City Music Pier in New Jersey, promises to blend his musical hits with tales about fellow Los Angeles legends like Joni Mitchell, David Crosby, and Jim Morrison. It’s the perfect format for someone who has lived through some of the most interesting periods in American entertainment history and has the perspective to put it all in context.
The tour concept also reflects something important about Dolenz’s career evolution: he’s embraced his role as a storyteller and keeper of entertainment history. Rather than running from his Monkees past, he’s learned to use it as a platform for sharing broader stories about the music and television industry during its most transformative decades.
The What-If That Worked Out Perfectly
In the end, Micky Dolenz’s near-miss with the Fonzie role serves as a perfect example of how things sometimes work out exactly as they should, even when they don’t work out as we planned. Henry Winkler got a career-defining role that he was perfectly suited for, while Dolenz eventually found his own path that allowed him to use his unique talents in ways that probably brought him more personal satisfaction than playing a tough guy ever could have.
The story also reminds us that in Hollywood—and in life—sometimes the best outcome isn’t getting what you think you want, but rather finding what actually fits. Dolenz’s ability to recognize this, embrace it, and even celebrate his friend’s success in the role he didn’t get is a masterclass in grace, perspective, and the kind of wisdom that only comes with time.
As he prepares for his summer tour, sharing songs and stories with audiences across the country, Micky Dolenz embodies something that might be even cooler than the Fonzie character: the satisfaction of a life lived authentically, with humor, friendship, and very few regrets.