Dozens lined the Milwaukee River to see the life-size bronze Happy Days character, including Henry Winkler, the actor who played him in the hit 1970s television show.

Winkler stroked his hair and smiled as he inspected the statue of Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli.

The statue shows the Fonz smiling and giving his signature two thumbs up.

Most of the cast were on hand, along with the show's creator, director and producer Garry Marshall and actors Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams from the spin-off Laverne & Shirley.

Milwaukee joins at least six other US cities that have erected statues of classic television or movie characters.

The television show was set in Milwaukee but filmed in California.