Henry Winkler has "no idea" if Ron Howard thinks about working with him again.

More than four decades after the pair formed one of television's best-loved partnerships on Happy Days, the 80-year-old actor, forever associated with leather-jacketed Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on the sitcom, spoke about his 72-year-old former co-star at the Television Academy's Televerse Festival in Los Angeles, held on Saturday (15.08.26.)

Henry and Ron starred together as Fonzie and Richie Cunningham on Happy Days before Ron left the hugely successful sitcom in 1980 to concentrate on directing, and they later reunited professionally for the 1982 comedy Night Shift.

Asked by People whether he would like another collaboration with Ron, the publication said Henry made clear the idea regularly crosses his mind.

But Henry also said: "I have no idea if (Ron) does."

The actor joked after making the film Night Shift together, they "can't do anything better".

Henry added of the affection that continues to surround the movie: "It is so touching. It is a great compliment."

Henry became an international star as Fonzie after joining Happy Days, which followed the Cunningham family and their friends in 1950s and 1960s Milwaukee.

Ron played clean-cut teenager Richie alongside Henry, with the pair's on-screen friendship becoming central to the ABC sitcom.

Henry remained with Happy Days until it ended in 1984, while Ron left four years earlier to pursue the directing career that would eventually produce films including Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Frost/Nixon and The Da Vinci Code.

Henry previously recalled the moment Ron telephoned him to announce his departure from the sitcom.

He told People: "There was a phone booth right by the front door of stage 19. They said, 'Oh, the phone is for you, Henry'."

Henry said his immediate reaction to losing his friend and acting partner was dramatic.

He recalled: "My first thought was, 'I'm going to die now'. My great acting partner on this show, my good friend is no longer going to be here. My life is over."

Henry added: "And that was in the first two seconds."

He then encouraged Ron to pursue the career they had already discussed extensively.

Henry said: "Ron, we've talked about this since the beginning. All you want to do is be a director. It's in your DNA. Go and be the best you can be, and I cannot wait to see what you do."

The pair's friendship has endured long beyond Happy Days. Appearing on the Rich Eisen Show in June, Henry described an unusual connection between himself and Ron despite their different backgrounds.

Henry said: "We were like touched by the universe. There was a string between us."

He added: "I didn't have to tell him what I was going to do. He didn't tell me what he was going to do. We just were in the same space at the same moment, it's rare."

Henry's appearance at Televerse came as he hosted a live acting workshop at the three-day television festival at the JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE.

The Emmy winner and Television Academy Hall of Fame inductee used the session to discuss performance, creating characters and connecting with audiences.

His career since Fonzie has included Arrested Development, Royal Pains and Barry, with Henry winning his first Primetime Emmy for playing acting teacher Gene Cousineau in Barry.

The Television Academy lists his earlier Emmy recognition for Happy Days, including a lead actor nomination for his performance as Fonzie.

Henry has also recently insisted he has no intention of retiring, saying earlier this year he considers the prospect of stopping work "deadly".

Ron, meanwhile, could revisit another major film from his directing career. Universal and Imagine Entertainment are developing a sequel to How the Grinch Stole Christmas, with Ron and Jim Carrey reported to be in talks to return more than 25 years after making the original film.