Did actor Henry Winkler, best known as "The Fonz" on the 1970s TV sitcom "Happy Days," die in October 2020 after a secret battle with Guillain-Barré syndrome? No, that's not true: Winkler has survived numerous fake death reports, including this one. It was published by a website that claims to have been "voted best satire site on the planet," but if this claim is intended to be funny, the voting might have been fixed. Winkler, who is funny, is still alive.
The claim originated in an article published by RINGSSSSS.com on October 25, 2020 titled "Henry 'The Fonz' Winkler, Dies At Age 74 After Secret Battle With Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)" (archived here), which opened:
Los Angeles, CA- Early Sunday morning Henry Franklin Winkler passed away from pneumonia exacerbated by his diagnosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). Winkler rose to fame as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on the hit TV show Happy Days in the 70's and 80's. Winkler had steadily been working in Hollywood up until his death. He was a respected actor and a joy to work worth, according to insiders. There is no known cause of GBS (Guillain-Barré Syndrome), but there have been links to digestive track infections days or weeks prior to the onset of GBS. Winkler had been to see Dr. Gregory House the week prior to his passing for abdominal pain and was told to relax and lay off "spicy foods".
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Henry "The Fonz" Winkler, Dies At Age 74 After Secret Battle With Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).
Los Angeles, CA- Early Sunday morning Henry Franklin Winkler Lead passed away from pneumonia exacerbated by his diagnosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). Winkler rose to fame as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on the hit TV show Happy Days in the 70's and 80's. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Winkler had steadily been working in Hollywood up until...
Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves, is rarely fatal, according to the Mayo Clinic:
There's no known cure for Guillain-Barre syndrome, but several treatments can ease symptoms and reduce the duration of the illness. Although most people recover from Guillain-Barre syndrome, the mortality rate is 4% to 7%. Between 60-80% of people are able to walk at six months. Patients may experience lingering effects from it, such as weakness, numbness or fatigue.
Lead Stories has debunked previous fake death reports about Winkler, the latest titled Fake News: Henry Winkler NOT Dead at 77 - NOT A Huge Trump Supporter and Lifelong Gun Lover