Winkler said he had wanted to be an actor from the time he was a young child. His first job on television was as an extra on a game show in New York. He received $10 for the role. After working in theater and getting fired from a play in Washington, Winkler returned to New York City and supported himself by appearing in television commercials, one year doing more than 30. He was able to support himself with the commercial work so he could do theater for free at Manhattan Theater Club. He also appeared in 1973 in season four of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" in the episode "The Dinner Party" as Rhoda's date, Steve Waldman, and in episodes of "The Bob Newhart Show" and "Rhoda".