Henry Winkler news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Henry Winkler said he was fired as director of 1989's 'Turner & Hooch' 13 days in.
He now says he handled it badly and is open to repairing things with.
Background
Winkler was hired by studio executive Jeffrey Katzenberg to direct the 1989 comedy 'Turner & Hooch,' starring Tom Hanks as a police officer partnered with a dog. He was fired 13 days into production over what reports describe as creative differences and replaced by Roger Spottiswoode. Winkler has said he got along better with the dog, Hooch, than with Hanks, and the two actors' rift has been long-running lore in Hollywood. He revisited the episode in a new interview on 'In Depth With Graham Bensinger.'
How it unfolded
- 1989Winkler is hired to direct 'Turner & Hooch' but is fired 13 days into production and replaced by Roger Spottiswoode.
- 1993Winkler says, 'I got along better with Hooch [the dog] than I did with Turner [Hanks].'
- Sep 9, 2026Winkler discusses the firing and his relationship with Hanks in an interview on 'In Depth With Graham Bensinger.'
- Sep 10, 2026Coverage reports Winkler is open to repairing the relationship; E! News says Hanks' rep has not responded to a request for comment.
Who’s saying what
- Winkler
- He says he was doing what he thought was his job, that he was devastated by the firing, and that he doesn't handle it well.
- Caution
- E! News notes Hanks has never publicly commented on the rift, and his representative did not respond to a request for comment.
- Party
- Mutual friend Ron Howard has confirmed the pair did not see eye to eye while making 'Turner & Hooch.'
Still unverified
The reported 'feud' itself is described as long-running lore and an alleged falling out; Hanks has not publicly commented, and his representative did not respond to E! News' request for comment. The exact cause of the firing is reported as 'creative differences.'