For 10 1/2 years he personified cool for millions of American viewers. From his leather jacket to his thumbs-up approval, The Fonz of "Happy Days" exuded confidence and bravado, becoming a hero for youngsters to imitate.

		Tickets are $25 for the speaker's program at the 2004 Leaders for Literacy Luncheon. Contact Dave Tinker at dtinker@gplc.org or 412-661-7323.

But Henry Winkler, the man behind the TV icon, felt anything but cool while growing up. He struggled with the challenges of learning throughout his school days, trying his best to adapt.

"What I did was I became really good friends with people who could spell. I became really good friends with the dictionary, although it was difficult for me because in my brain I couldn't even sound out the stuff. ... Reading out loud was hard, and I compensated by joking. I was the class clown," he said during a telephone interview from his home in Los Angeles.

Winkler, now 59, was 31 when he finally discovered he had dyslexia. He defines it this way: "You spend a third of your time trying to figure out school and a third trying to figure out why you can't figure it out and a third trying to cover your humiliation and shame. One out of five kids has some sort of learning challenge, and it's only now that teachers are open to that."

And Winkler remains open to discussing his challenges to audiences across the country. He'll be in Pittsburgh on Wednesday as the keynote speaker at the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council's 2004 Leaders for Literacy Luncheon at noon at the Omni William Penn Hotel.

The actor/director/writer/producer also is revisiting his growing-up years in a children's book series, "Hank Zipzer: The Mostly True Confessions of the World's Best Underachiever," co-written with Lin Oliver.

"What never ceases to amaze me is that I was in the fourth grade and I couldn't read, and now in three weeks our seventh novel comes out in the Hank Zipzer series. I'm just overwhelmed," Winkler said.

The adventures of fourth-grader Hank are a little exaggerated, but they contain a lot of Winkler's own experiences. "The emotion is very real, and the emotion is something that I am in touch with today all these years later."

The next installment, "Help! Someone Get Me Out of Fourth Grade," touches on the young Winkler's terror at the thought of flunking. "I was always in fear that I was going to be left behind. I was always told that I was stupid," the author said. Hank has the same fear when he gets a notice about a teacher-parent conference.

"He figures if his parents are out of town, they can't go and they can't hear he'll be left back. ... So he wins a contest and sends his parents to a rock 'n' roll concert in Philadelphia."

The response to the books has been positive, Winkler said. "The letters I'm getting back from parents say they are reading [the books] to first- and second-graders, and they are laughing. Teachers are using them up to the seventh grade for those who are having trouble reading."

Writing Hank's stories and making personal appearances aren't the only demands on Winkler's time. He's still very much involved in the television and movie industry. He gives voice to Norville on the animated PBS series "Clifford's Puppy Days." Last Sunday was a sort of Henry Winkler night across the channels. He guested as himself on an episode of Fox's "King of the Hill" and was executive producer for CBS's "Dallas Reunion: The Return to Southfork" special. He also reprised his recurring role as Barry Zuckercorn, the Bluth family lawyer, on "Arrested Development" in a story arc that continues tonight at 8:30 on Fox. The show's executive producer is Ron Howard, Winkler's co-star from "Happy Days."

Winkler and Howard will meet up again for a "Happy Days" 30th anniversary special -- Winkler is an executive producer -- set to air on ABC in February. Included in the two-hour special will be home movies that Winkler took of the cast and crew, from table readings to baseball games overseas with U.S. troops and basketball games at the director's house. "I really captured the backstage life of 'Happy Days,' " he said.

The program also will contain its share of bloopers and reminiscing among the original cast members. "We even found the two Chucks!" Winkler said of the two actors who played the older Cunningham brother, who disappeared without explanation after the show's first season.

Despite other roles and 21 years of producing TV series, including such shows as "MacGyver," "Sightings" and "Hollywood Squares," Winkler will forever be remembered as "Happy Days' " Fonzie, the tough guy with a soft heart. Is he bothered by that?

"First of all, it is [my most memorable role.] And if it is and I don't like it, what am I going to do? It's not going away. Second of all, look at all the wonderful things I got to do with that foundation. Third of all, I had a spectacular time, and I was able to put a roof over our heads and take care of my family."

The role also opened up opportunities such as directing, and Winkler is glad he's taken those chances as they came up throughout his career.

"That is for me the road to travel. The door of opportunity opens and you prepare yourself and you don't hesitate with your fear and insecurity. And you put it all in your suitcase and just walk through the door. The anticipatory fear is worse than the actual doing of something."

Facing down his fears has put Winkler where he is today. "If I can do it, then anyone can do it. ... If you don't take your eye off the prize it is very possible to live your dream."