Editing Fonzie (section)

== Character traits and development ==
[[File:Happy Days Fonzie Superstar 1976.JPG|right|thumb|225px|The Fonz becomes a singing superstar. Pictured are [[Cindy Williams]] as Shirley Feeney, Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham, Henry Winkler as Fonzie, and [[Penny Marshall]] as Laverne DeFazio.]]
[[File:Happy days at arnolds 1975.JPG|thumb|right|Potsie ([[Anson Williams]]), Richie (Ron Howard), Fonzie (Henry Winkler) and Ralph Malph ([[Donny Most]]) at Arnold's drive-in]]
[[File:Happy Days Fonzie and Mrs C 1977.JPG|left|thumb|225px|Marion ([[Marion Ross]]) feels life has passed her by; her children are growing up and she feels like she is not needed. Mrs. C turns to Fonzie (Henry Winkler), whose apartment is above the Cunningham's garage, for a sympathetic ear.]]
[[File:Happy Days Arnold's Wedding 1976.jpg|thumb|Arnold's wedding from ''Happy Days''. Arnold, the original owner of Arnold's drive-in ([[Pat Morita]]), asks Fonzie to be his best man at his traditional Japanese wedding ceremony.]]

Arthur Fonzarelli was born to an [[Italian-American]] family. He and his mother were abandoned by his father when Arthur was three, and Arthur holds few memories of him, but deep resentment toward him for the abandonment. In the season 6 episode "Christmas Time", a sailor delivers a Christmas present ostensibly from his father (played by [[Eddie Fontaine]]). Fonzie is resentful, but at the end of the episode he opens his father's letter explaining why he left and reads it. He also learns that the sailor was his father, who admits in the letter that he doubted he would have the courage to reveal the truth to his son. Fonzie only relents when [[Howard Cunningham (Happy Days)|Howard Cunningham]] agrees with Fonzie that his father was irresponsible and in the wrong. In a later episode, Fonzie unexpectedly meets a woman he believes is his mother in a diner. She convinces him she is not, but in the end, she looks at a picture of Fonzie she had in her possession. In the final season, Fonzie meets his half-brother 'Arte' Fonzarelli, who informs him that their father has by then died. Fonzie has mixed emotions upon hearing this, as this left so many questions about his past unanswered, but Fonzie bonded with Arte, who helped him cope.

Grandma Nussbaum appears to have been a primary caregiver to Fonzie since the age of six. When he (instead of Grandma Nussbaum) moves into the Cunninghams' [[garage apartment]]—a plot development that helped precipitate his increased presence in the series—he turns his old apartment over to his grandmother. Grandma Nussbaum (and she alone) calls Fonzie "Skippy". She is also the grandmother of Fonzie's cousin [[Chachi Arcola]] (played by [[Scott Baio]]).

Fonzie's devotion to her foreshadows his ongoing devotion to mother figures throughout the show, particularly to Marion Cunningham, whom Fonzie affectionately calls "Mrs. C."  Though at first looked down on and mistrusted (a result of his past and being a high school dropout), he eventually became accepted by the Cunninghams (his friend Richie's family), even more so after he rented an attic room over their garage. Even Richie's father, Howard ("Mr. C." to Fonzie and the most resistant to him living with them), a pillar of the community, came to regard Fonzie with affection and said "Ayyyy" when Fonzie moved into the garage. 

Fonzie shares a very close relationship with his younger cousin Chachi, and his nephew Spike. Fonzie was able to be the older brother figure that Chachi needed in his life. In having Chachi come to live and work with him, Fonzie grows too, becoming an overall better, more responsible and caring person. Fonzie serves as Chachi's best man when he marries Joanie. In the long shot at the end of Chachi and Joanie's wedding, Fonzie is the first person who comes to congratulate his younger cousin. He and Chachi embrace for several seconds. They share another hug at the end of Mr. C's toast. These are just a couple examples of Fonzie and Chachi's relationship. The last couple of seasons show how close Fonzie and Chachi really grew to be.

Fonzie also encourages Spike to follow his dreams, regardless of how they may be perceived by others.  Spike confesses to Fonzie his ambitions to own a "flower store", but is reluctant to make it known out of fear that it will ruin his self-perceived image of cool.  Using himself as an example, Fonzie tells Spike to not let others dictate his path in life, to follow his own instincts and take responsibility for his own happiness.