No actor is quite as skilled at making good shows and movies better than Henry Winkler. Though the actor has transitioned from his days defining cool as the Fonz, Winkler has become an ever-endearing part of the comedy world thanks to his perfectly timed roles on shows like Arrested Development and Parks and Recreation. That’s partially why it’s so exciting to see Winkler move from the comedic sidelines back into the spotlight thanks to HBO’s Barry.

Not only is Barry unlike anything Winkler has ever done, it’s unlike any other comedy on television. Created by Alec Berg (Silicon Valley) and Bill Hader, Barry tells the story of an emotionally numb assassin who learns to embrace both hope and humanity again through an acting class. Winkler stars as Gene Cousineau, Barry’s (Hader) strict but passionate acting coach who has some demons of his own.

Decider had the chance to talk to Winkler about his expansive acting career, what it was like working on some of the most beloved comedies on modern television — and a tease about when we might expect to see more Arrested Development.

Barry’s script was like “reading cashmere instead of the cotton blend”

The second Winkler read the script for Barry, he fell in love with the project. But securing the role of Gene came with a lot of anxiety for the star.

“I was like, ‘Just tell me this. Is Dustin Hoffman on the list? Because if Dustin Hoffman is on the list I’m not going in. Because he’s going to get it and that will be that,’” he said. Winkler was in luck; Hoffman wasn’t on the show’s very short list.

Winkler’s son, Max Winkler (Flower), was actually the one who directed the Fonz for his first and second auditions, though he didn’t let anything his father did slide. But all of that hard work and anxiety-filled waiting paid off.

“Out of the corner of my eye I see I’ve made Bill Hader laugh,” Winkler said of his first audition.

His second audition contained an even rarer reaction. “I heard a lot about Alec Berg. He’s tough,” he said. “This guy doesn’t give you anything. And out of the corner of my eye, I think I saw him smile.”

There’s one piece of acting advice Winkler has used for almost 50 years

Winkler has a deep appreciation for his past acting instructors, which translates to how he portrays Barry‘s Gene Cousineau. But there’s one piece of acting advice he’s received that stands above the rest.

That came to Winkler from actor and founder of the Actors Studio Robert Lewis. “He said to me that acting was concentration, relaxation, and listening. And you put all of those three things together, and that will give you an unbelievable foundation,” he said.

Winkler said that he normally doesn’t give his co-stars direct acting advice, but he will point out when they’ve done something different from take to take. “I have taught four classes in my life,” he said. All were master classes at Northwestern University and Emerson College. “I loved it. I really enjoyed the experience,” he said.

His weirdest acting lessons helped him work with Robin Williams

“I had a teacher who studied in Poland with absurd theater, and we did all of these exercises that were nuts,” Winkler said. These lessons involved acting in slow motion and several techniques you wouldn’t think would translate well to a professional acting career. But Henry Winkler isn’t most people.

“I used those exercises all the years later when I did Happy Days with Robin Williams as Mork,” he said.

When he first met Michael Cera, Winkler knew he would be a star

When Arrested Development first premiered Michael Cera was 15 and Alia Shawkat was 14. They were both completely unknown, but in the years since, both have transformed into complicated, interesting, and successful actors. When asked what it’s been like to see his two young co-stars evolve over the years, Winkler discussed the first time he met Cera.

“I shook his hand, and I’m telling you as my name in Henry I thought to myself, ‘Oh my gosh, this is a person to reckon with. This kid is so powerful,'” Winkler said.

He also called Shawkat “a lovely, lovely person. “Very individual, really cuts her own avenue through the world.”

Winkler isn’t surprised by either actors’ success. He compared meeting them both to seeing someone at a party who immediately leaves an impression. “Individually when I met those two human beings, you knew there was something palpable,” he said.

Also, we may now know when to expect Arrested Development Season 5

“That will be on midsummer,” Winkler said when Decider brought up the show. “We just shot it before Christmas.”

It’s important to note that actors are often left out of the loop when it comes to premiere dates, so it’s possible Winkler could be incorrect. Also, there’s the possibility that Winkler’s mid-summer comment was right when he said it, but Netflix could always choose to move the premiere date. When asked about when the new season would premiere, a Netflix representative told Decider that they could confirm Season 5 “is coming soon.”

Working on the set of Parks and Recreation was like working with Robin Williams

Winkler also spilled on what it was like to work with another memorable sitcom duo — Ben Schwartz and Jenny Slate on Parks and Recreation. In the comedy, Winkler plays the father of Schwartz and Slate’s obnoxious and spoiled Jean Ralphio and Mona Lisa. “I had one scene, and then it just kind of grew. And then I delivered everybody’s baby,” he joked.

“I had to just be quiet and hold it together [while working with them],” Winkler said. “The only other time that that happened was with Robin Williams. I thought, ‘Get out of his way. You’re in the presence of greatness. Just shut up and try not to crack up.’”

Winkler knows what Sia looks like

Winkler has a passion for current music and loves artists like Bruno, Adele, and the Swedish fold duo First Aid Kit. But there’s one musician he has a special connection to — Sia.

After tweeting about the mysterious singer, Winkler became Twitter friends with her agent. That’s how he met the woman behind the wig. “I’m in a grocery store in my neighborhood in California. Now, I’ve only seen her with the wig, with the covering. A woman walked up to me and said ‘I’m Sia,’” Winkler said. “And I said, ‘I have to hug you. I don’t know what to say. I’m speechless.’”

Barry will feature Henry Winkler singing for the first time

“I talked ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ in 1975, and in 2018 I actually, I think I sing, and I’ve not actually done that before,” the star teased.

Even though he admitted singing for television was scary, Winkler is still incredibly happy to be part of this HBO show. “When you saw Hamilton for the first time, you can’t oversell it. You can’t tell people enough what they’re going to see because what they’re going to see is bigger than your language,” he said. “That’s my experience on Barry.”

New episodes of Barry premiere on HBO Sundays at 10:30 p.m.

Stream Barry on HBO