Actor Henry Winkler has praised Irish firefighters after a blaze at his hotel led to him being unexpectedly evacuated from his room.

A selfie shared by the 78-year-old Happy Days star on X, which showed him smiling alongside three firemen from Dublin Fire Brigade, quickly went viral.

Winkler wrote alongside the photo: “Dublin’s finest does a great job when our hotel is evacuated on our first morning!”

He’s best known for playing cool motorcycle rider Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on the hit American sitcom, which was set in the 1950s, but filmed in the 1970s and 1980s.

The Emmy-winner is also known for other comedy roles including playing acting teacher Gene Cousineau in the hitman series Barry and Barry Zuckerkorn in Arrested Development.

The actor was staying at the Shelbourne Hotel when he was evacuated alongside other guests early on Wednesday morning.

He told local journalists he was initially confused about what the early morning disturbance could be.

Passengers and crew injured after turbulence on Qatar Airways flight to Dublin

Portal connecting Dublin and New York ‘reawakens’ under new restrictions after ‘inappropriate behaviour’

Dublin-New York livestream portal to be switched off following ‘inappropriate behaviour’

“When I heard the fire alarm I thought it was the clock radio – I thought somebody had set the alarm before we got there, like another guest.

“And finally, I went into another room and it was still buzzing. So, I called downstairs, and the woman said in a very calm voice ‘Yes, we’re all evacuating, you must evacuate right now’ and I left.”

When asked about thanking the emergency services, Winkler said: “You know what, how wonderful are firemen? Some of my favourite human beings, firemen and firewomen.

“They run in when other people are running out.

“I think they deserve to [have their hands] shook.”

Read more from Sky News:
Britain’s Got Talent finalists face uncertain future
Coronation Street star, 47, told she has arthritis
Songwriter behind Elvis hit Suspicious Minds dies

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Dublin Fire Brigade said the evacuation “helped enormously”.

The five-star hotel on St Stephen’s Green saw six fire engines, including a turntable ladder and emergency tender, attend the scene. Guests were allowed to return later the same day.

Related posts:

Arrests after police raid home stadium of Spanish football giants Barcelona Britons scramble to leave Portugal as UK flights doubled on last day before new quarantine rules come into force UK urged to boycott Beijing Olympics over Uighur Muslim ‘persecution’ UN ‘saddened and disturbed’ by death of 84-year-old Indian activist in custody Drought in East Africa puts millions at risk of severe hunger Meet the people doing anything and everything they can for Ukraine’s victims Pregnant woman pictured being evacuated from bombed Mariupol hospital dies with baby Europe recognises scale of illegal migration problem – but there is little sign of a big step forward ‘It’s not for us to decide:’ US official refuses to be drawn on Biden’s plea to Putin on Ukraine pullout Russian aircraft intercepted by RAF and German air force in first of its kind NATO mission Shock as ‘world class’ rally driver, 33, killed in crash ‘Dozens’ of migrants killed in shipwreck off Italian coast