After four seasons, the Emmy winner bids farewell to the insufferable acting teacher Gene Cousineau.
Henry Winkleris ready to say goodbye to Gene Cousineau.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Take me back to when you first read the scripts for season 4.
Henry Winkler in season 4 of ‘Barry’.Merrick Morton/HBO
What was your emotional reaction?
HENRY WINKLER:You know, it’s so interesting.
This is what I learned: You have an idea of where you think the story will go.
You do your work, you do your rehearsals and everything, and it’s all great.
And then, you get to set.
It’s a big vision.
What’s it like to collaborate with him as a director?
I’ll tell you exactly: Bill is generous.
And if you do something funny, he’ll start laughing.
You’ve got to remind him: “Hey, you’re not in your chair at video village!
You’re in the scene!”
You know what else he does?
He mouths the words with you because he knows them so well.
[Laughs]
But Bill, he is a wonder.
It’s not hyperbole to say that it is a joy.
For you, what is it about this show that’s felt so rewarding?
Everything starts with the writing.
Everything starts with the people at the top.
I have worked on some wonderful shows.
I am one incredibly lucky dude.
But there is something aboutBarry.
If it ain’t on the page, it ain’t on the stage.
That’s their secret sauce.
I don’t know how to describe it.
I’m just lucky enough to have it on my meal.
What’s it like to say goodbye to this character and that special sauce?
On the one hand, my rational adult self understands that this is the end.
The other part of me is so sad!
And my heart flew out of my body.
That was something I wanted to ask about.
Your last day on set was the very last day of production?
And I talked to the crew and I thanked them because they are the other half of the circle.
There are the actors, and then there is the crew.
Without them, without their support, you wouldn’t be filmed or lit on set or dressed.
Or you wouldn’t eat.
It’s the same with the audience.
If they don’t come and join that circle with me, we are off the air.
What was your reaction when you first read those scripts?
I went back and read it again.
[Laughs] There were whole scenes that unfortunately were cut, but I built houses on a kibbutz.
Who thinks of that?
“Yeah, let’s send him to a kibbutz in Israel!
He’ll go build houses!”
What did you find interesting about that arc?
There are two things: One is that we go out the door we came in.
I never really get wet.
But then, my wing breaks and I fall off the stone back into the water.
And I’m not sure if I have drowned or not.
[Laughs]
That was my question!
Who would you cast as Henry Winkler in the movie of your life?
I like that too.
I met him twice.
He’s delightful, and he’s wonderful on the screen, in a good movie or not.
you could’t ask for more than that.
I have become a better actor.
I’m getting closer to the actor I dreamt about being when I was doing the Fonz.
you could’t even put a sheet of paper between the two.
There is something so magnificent about that.
And I have been working to take a stab at get there.
