How Henry Winkler Helped Ron Howard’s Daughter Meet Her Husband
Henry Winkler and wife Stacey Winkler are “incredible” godparents to Bryce Dallas Howard, daughter of Henry’s Happy Days costar Ron Howard. In fact, as Bryce explained on Stacey’s podcast, Henry even gave her romantic advice after she met Seth Gabel, her future husband, at New York University.
“Henry and Stacey have always been the most incredible godparents, very supportive,” Bryce said in a recent episode of What in the Winkler?!, which Stacy hosts with her and Henry’s daughter, Zoe.
Bryce mentioned on the podcast that she grew up admiring the Winkler family and their “great style,” while the Howard family “suffered a little bit in the department.”
And then Henry chimed in, saying, “I will say that Bryce, whatever she thought she lacked was powerful because I took her to lunch in 2000, and you were at school with Seth. And 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?’”
The Fonz actor’s advice, it turns out, was simple: “I said, ‘Bryce, all you have to do is breathe. You’re beautiful, you’re talented, you’re strong.’”
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Bryce recalled she broke into hives the first time she saw Gabel, an actor known for his roles on Fringe and Salem.
“I was with one of my best friends at the time, who later married Seth and I,” she said. “He looked at me, and he was like, ‘Whoa, what just happened to you?’ Because he saw me like just burst into red hives. And I pointed at Seth, and I was like, ‘Look at that boy. Look at that boy.’ And I went home, and I wrote in my journal, ‘I met the man I’m gonna marry.’”
The Jurassic World star was right — and Henry was, too. Bryce did indeed catch Gabel’s eye, and they did indeed marry, tying the knot in 2006. They later welcomed two kids, Theodore and Beatrice, so Henry has two great-godchildren, of sorts!
Glamour Goddesses
May 2025
Marilyn Monroe’s iconic wind-aided dress. Audrey Hepburn’s little black gown. Jean Harlow’s form-fitting costumes. Celebrate the lushest Hollywood looks among the stars.
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