Jordan Karlesson
If you know what the term “MILF” means, it’s safe to say you can figure out what “DILF” stands for, right? Well, not if you’re Henry Winkler.
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In all fairness, the Fonz is 76 years old. Do we really expect him to keep up with trendy jargon, especially in the age of social media?
Of course not.
Access Hollywood’s Kit Hoover and Mario Lopez talked with Henry Winkler before the Emmy Awards on September 12, according to NBCUniversal. On the red carpet, they reportedly presented him with a photo calling him a “DILF,” or “dad I’d like to f—.”
“Henry Winkler: underrated DILF’?” the actor remarked.
“Yes, that’s a compliment, sir,” Lopez responded.
“Wait a minute, is that, like, an elf?” replied Winkler, a father of three and husband of 40 years.
“No, that is, like, a ‘dad I’d like to …’” Lopez said, filling in the pop-culture icon.
An astonished look came across Winkler’s face.
“No!” said the actor, clearly surprised.
“Yes, yes it is,” Lopez insisted.
Then Henry Winkler, always aware of the cameras, looked into one and said, “I’m going to keep this one.”
The exchange quickly wound up online — courtesy, of course, of Twitter. An accompanying caption read, “I need everyone else to know that this Henry Winkler moment happened last night.”
Henry Winkler, The New DILF
Winkler attended the Emmys after picking up one of the trophies, for best supporting actor in a comedy TV series, in 2018. He won it for Barry, the black comedy that stars Saturday Night Live alumn, Bill Hader.
Henry Winkler’s unforgettable role as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli earned him Emmy nominations for best lead actor on a comedy show each year from 1976 to 1978. He earned five Emmy other nods as well.
Even though Henry Winkler didn’t immediately know what “DILF” meant, he is practically synonymous with American pop culture. In fact, the phrase “jumping the shark” is credited to the Fonz, who famously took a corny jump on water skis on Happy Days.
The phrase refers to a TV show — or anything else, really — sticking around well past its due date. That term clearly doesn’t apply yet to Barry, which HBO renewed for a fourth season in May.
While up for seven Primetime Emmy Awards earlier this month, Barry didn’t win any, unfortunately.
