For "Happy Days", director/producer Garry Marshall originally had in mind a completely opposite physical presence. Marshall sought to cast a hunky, blond, Italian model-type male in the role of Fonzie, intended as a stupid foil to the real star, Ron Howard, and originally envisioned Micky Dolenz for the role. However, when Winkler interpreted the role in auditions, Marshall (realizing that the 5'6" Winkler could more easily interact with the other characters at eye level than the 6'0" Dolenz) immediately snapped him up. According to Winkler, "The Fonz was everybody I wasn't. He was everybody I wanted to be."