How did Henry Winkler help "save" Marlee Matlin during her abusive relationship?

Actress and activist Marlee Matlin has reportedly opened up about Henry Winkler's support during a critical time in her life. In an exclusive for Page Six, Matlin revealed that after seeking help for her substance addiction at the Betty Ford Centre, she had nowhere to go. She told the news outlet that a weekend refuge turned into a "two-year residence" with Winkler and his family.

Marlee elaborated on her experience, noting that she was treated like any other family member. She was reportedly encouraged to share meals with the family and "clean" her room like Winkler and his wife, Stacey's children, Max, Jed, and Zoe. Matlin told Page Six that she calls Henry Winkler her "second dad." She added,

“I mean, who gets to say that about Henry Winkler? [He’s] probably one of the most famous American icons ever.”

A look at Henry Winkler and Marlee Matlin's enduring relationship

Henry Winkler and Marlee Matlin's relationship goes way back to when Matlin was 12 and met the former while performing at the Chicago Centre on Deafness. She told Page Six that they stayed in "touch" ever since. She described him as one of the "most famous people" and noted,

“Who would have thought he’d take the time to give attention to a little deaf girl like me, especially when he didn’t even know American Sign Language?”

Marlee disclosed that she started dating actor William Hurt during the filming of Children of a Lesser God. While she became the first deaf person to receive the accolade, her win was tainted by her abusive relationship with Hurt. She told Page Six that at the time, she didn't know the "language" to describe what she was going through.

In another interview, Matlin had opened up about her fears of accepting her first Oscar. She described her relationship with Hurt as a "habit of abuse." In a tumultuous time, Marlee turned to her long-time friend and "mentor", Winkler. Through an interpreter, she told Fox News Digital,

“He didn’t make it hard for me to reach out. He was always available. It was like an open door to his heart and to mine. And he knew that.”

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Henry Winkler's support towards Matlin became a turning point in the latter's life. From helping her with residence during a difficult time to standing next to her on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, Henry Winkler has supported Matlin through and through.

In other news, Matlin's new documentary, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, is set to release on June 20. The Oscar Winner hopes that the documentary can evoke "empathy" and compassion for the deaf community and a "greater understanding" of why they shouldn't be excluded.

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