Random guest interviewed after Dublin hotel fire turns out to be 70s TV legend-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

Viewers have been shocked to discover that a random guest interviewed following a hotel fire in Dublin was none other than a 70s TV legend.

Happy Days star Henry Winkler was staying at Shelbourne Hotel when he was evacuated alongside other guests on Wednesday.

The 78-year-old American actor, known for playing Arthur ‘Fonzie’ Fonzarelli on the US sitcom, posted a picture alongside three fireman from Dublin Fire Brigade following emergency services attending the incident.

He wrote: ‘Thank you Dublin’s fire department … our hotel was evacuated on our first morning !!!’

The Emmy-winner, also known for other comedy roles including playing acting teacher Gene Cousineau in hitman series Barry and Barry Zuckerkorn in Arrested Development, said he initially thought the fire alert was an alarm clock.

‘When I heard the fire alarm I thought it was the clock radio – I thought somebody had set the alarm before we got there, like another guest,’ he told journalists.

Henry Winkler starred as The Fonz on Happy Days (Picture: Paramount/Everett/Shutterstock)

‘And finally I went into another room and it was still buzzing. So I called downstairs and the woman said in a very calm voice “Yes, we’re all evacuating, you must evacuate right now” and I left.’

When asked about thanking the emergency services, Winkler added: ‘You know what, how wonderful are firemen? Some of my favourite human beings, firemen and firewomen.

‘They run in when other people are running out. I think they deserve to (have their hands) shook.’

The actor praised the firefighters who came to the rescue (Picture: Twitter/ @ElMcM)

The hotel in Dublin was evacuated on Wednesday (Picture: Twitter/ @ElMcM)

The five-star hotel on St Stephen’s Green saw six fire engines, including a turntable ladder and emergency tender, attended the scene, with guests were allowed to return the same day.

Viewers were stunned to see The Fonz on their screens, with many praising the sheer luck of the journalist who stumbled upon him.

‘Assignment editor: Go to the scene and get victim impact. Reporter: I present you, The Fonz,’ @DHJakeGriffin wrote on X.

‘Imagine going to put out a fire in Ireland, yeehaw, yawn, par for the course, and The Fonz pops up like,’ @Wordslingeuse added.

Henry was a guest at the hotel, and shocked journalists and viewers (Picture: RTE News)

It was a lucky coincidence they were interviewing a 70s legend (Picture: RTE News)

‘Henry Winkler out here making hotel fires look like the most fun thing in the world,’ @BSEAondeck said.

@MaloneBarry said: ‘Just the sheer luck of being a journalist on scene at a fire and randomly finding Henry Winkler there to interview.’

@niamh_journo echoed: ‘Imagine being the reporter sent to cover the fire and seeing Henry freaking Winkler.’

This isn’t the first time the Hollywood icon has been interviewed for a random news segment, after he was asked about the Heathrow expansion back in 2013.

He originally thought it was the clock radio alarm (Picture: RTE News)

This isn’t the first time he’s been vox-popped for a random story (Picture: BBC)

The BBC’s deputy political editor confirmed that the vox-popper, shopping bag in hand, was Winkler, as he was asked for his opinion on the expansion of Heathrow Airport on the BBC News at Six.

‘Richmond is a lovely place, I watch the planes go every day; I hear nothing,’ Winkler replied.

When asked if he was ‘relaxed’, he happily said: ‘I am!’

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