Ron Howard
| Ron Howard | |
|---|---|
 Howard in 2011 | |
| Born |
Ronald William Howard March 1, 1954 Duncan, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
| Occupation | Actor, director, producer |
| Years active | 1959–present |
| Spouse(s) | Cheryl Alley (m. 1975) |
| Children | 4; including Bryce Dallas Howard and Paige Howard |
| Parent(s) |
Rance Howard Jean Speegle Howard |
| Relatives | Clint Howard (brother) |
Ronald William "Ron" Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American film director, producer, and actor, best known for playing two high-profile roles in television sitcoms in his childhood and early adulthood, and for directing a number of successful feature films later in his career.
He first came to prominence playing young Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later teenager Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years.[1] Meanwhile, he appeared in the musical film The Music Man (1962), the coming of age film American Graffiti (1973), the western The Shootist (1976), and the comedy Grand Theft Auto (1977), which he also directed.
In 1980, he left Happy Days to focus on directing. His films include the science-fiction/fantasy film Cocoon (1985), the historical docudrama Apollo 13 (1995), the biographical drama A Beautiful Mind (2001) (which earned him the Academy Award for Best Director), and the thriller The Da Vinci Code (2006). In 2002, Howard conceived the Fox/Netflix comedy series Arrested Development, on which he would also serve as producer and narrator, and play a semi-fictionalized version of himself.
In 2003, Howard was awarded the National Medal of Arts.[2] Asteroid 12561 Howard is named after him. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2013. Howard also has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions in the television and motion pictures industries.[3]
Early life
Howard was born in Duncan, Oklahoma, the son of Jean Speegle Howard, an actress, and Rance Howard, a director, writer, and actor.[4] He has German, English, Scottish, Irish and Dutch ancestry.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11] His father was born with the surname "Beckenholdt", and had taken the stage name "Howard" by 1948, for his acting career.[12][13] Rance Howard was serving three years in the United States Air Force at the time of Ron's birth.[14][15] The family moved to Hollywood in 1958, the year before the birth of his younger brother, Clint Howard. They rented a house on the block south of the Desilu Studios, where The Andy Griffith Show would later be filmed. They lived in Hollywood for at least three years, before moving to Burbank.
Howard was tutored at Desilu Studios in his younger years, and graduated from John Burroughs High School. He later attended the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts but did not graduate.[16][17]
Howard has said he knew from a young age he might want to go into directing thanks to his early experience as an actor.[18]
Career
Early acting roles and The Andy Griffith Show
In 1959, Howard had his first credited film role, in The Journey. He appeared in June Allyson's CBS anthology series The DuPont Show with June Allyson in the episode "Child Lost"; in the The Twilight Zone episode "Walking Distance"; a few episodes of the first season of the sitcom Dennis the Menace, as Stewart, one of Dennis's friends; and several first and second season episodes of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. Howard played "Timmy" (uncredited) in "Counterfeit Gun", Season 4, Episode 2 (1960) of the TV series, "The Cheyenne Show."
In 1960, Howard was cast as Opie Taylor in The Andy Griffith Show. Credited as "Ronny Howard", he portrayed the son of the title character (played by Andy Griffith) for all eight seasons of the show. He and Griffith remained close until Griffith's death nearly 45 years later.
In the 1962 film version of The Music Man, Howard played Winthrop Paroo, the child with the lisp; the film starred Robert Preston and Shirley Jones. He also starred in the 1963 film The Courtship of Eddie's Father, with Glenn Ford.
He appeared as Barry Stewart on The Eleventh Hour, in the episode "Is Mr. Martian Coming Back?" in 1965; on I Spy, in the episode "Little Boy Lost", in 1966; as Henry Fonda's son in an ABC series, The Smith Family, in 1969 as a boy who's father was shot on the TV show "Daniel Boone", in 1971–72; and as an underage Marine on M*A*S*H in the episode "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet", in 1973. In the 1970s, he appeared in at least one episode of The Bold Ones, as a teenage tennis player with an illness.
Howard appeared on the 1969 Disneyland Records album The Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion. It featured the story of two teenagers, Mike (Howard) and Karen (Robie Lester), who get trapped inside the Haunted Mansion. Thurl Ravenscroft plays the Narrator, Pete Reneday plays the Ghost Host, and Eleanor Audley plays Madame Leota. Some of the effects and ideas that were planned but never permanently made it to the attraction are mentioned here: the Raven speaks in the Stretching Room, and the Hatbox Ghost is mentioned during the Attic scene. It was reissued in 1998 as a cassette tape titled A Spooky Night in Disney's Haunted Mansion and on CD in 2009.
In 1974 Howard guest starred as Seth Turner, the best friend of Jason Walton (Jon Walmsley), in The Waltons, "The Gift". In the episode, Seth wants to learn to play an instrument in his father's band, but it looks as if he will not have the time; he has been diagnosed with leukemia. The concept of death — and the unfairness of it all — is an extremely difficult one for Jason to accept, and it is up to Grandpa to help the boy through this crisis. Featured in the cast as Dr. McIvers is Ron Howard's father Rance Howard.[19]
Film roles and Happy Days
Howard played Steve Bolander in George Lucas's coming-of-age film American Graffiti in 1973.[1] A role in an installment of series Love, American Style, titled "Love and the Television Set",[20] led to his being cast as Richie Cunningham in the TV series Happy Days (for syndication, the segment was re-titled "Love and the Happy Days"). Beginning in 1974, he played the likeable "buttoned-down" boy, in contrast to Henry Winkler's "greaser" Arthur "Fonzie"/"The Fonz" Fonzarelli. On the Happy Days set, he developed an on- and off-screen chemistry with series leads Winkler and Tom Bosley. The three remained friends until Bosley's death in October 2010.
In 1976, Howard played Gillom Rogers in the movie The Shootist, with John Wayne. Howard's last significant on-screen role was a reprisal of his famous role as Opie Taylor in the 1986 TV movie Return to Mayberry, an Andy Griffith Show reunion reuniting him with Griffith, Don Knotts, and most of the cast. He also appeared in two Happy Days TV reunions: 1992's The Happy Days Reunion Special, a retrospective hosted by Winkler that aired on ABC; and 2005's The Happy Days 30th Anniversary Reunion, where he was reunited with most of the surviving cast.
Directing
Before leaving Happy Days in 1980, Howard made his directing debut with the 1977 low-budget comedy/action film Grand Theft Auto.[1] This came after cutting a deal with Roger Corman, wherein Corman would let Howard direct a film in exchange for Howard starring in Eat My Dust!, with Christopher Norris.[1] Howard went on to direct several TV movies.[1] His big theatrical break came in 1982, with Night Shift, featuring Michael Keaton, Shelley Long, and Henry Winkler.[1]
He has since directed a number of high-visibility films, including Splash, Cocoon, Willow, Parenthood, Backdraft, Apollo 13, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Beautiful Mind (for which he won the Academy Award for Best Director), Cinderella Man, The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, Rush, and In the Heart of the Sea.
Howard showcased the world premiere of his film Frost/Nixon at the 2008 London Film Festival in October 2008.[21]
Howard was the recipient of the Austin Film Festival's 2009 Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award. Michael Keaton presented him with the Award.
Imagine Entertainment
Howard is the co-chairman, with Brian Grazer, of Imagine Entertainment, a film and television production company. Imagine has produced several films including Friday Night Lights, 8 Mile, and Inside Deep Throat, as well as the television series 24, Felicity, and Arrested Development. Howard also narrated Arrested Development.
In July 2012 it was announced Imagine had put in development Conquest for Showtime. A period drama based on the 16th century conquest of the Aztecs by Spanish Conquistadors. To be directed by Howard, the series was originally planned as a feature film before it being decided that the project was more suited to television.[22]
As part of Imagine Entertainment, he appeared in a 1997 print ad for Milk – Where's your mustache?, in which he wore a cap for Imagine Entertainment and sported a milk mustache. Earlier versions show a younger Ronny Howard on the other side.
In 2009, He appeared in Jamie Foxx music video "Blame It."
Personal life
Howard married Cheryl Alley on June 7, 1975.[23] They have four children: daughters Bryce Dallas Howard (b. 1981), twins Jocelyn Carlyle and Paige Howard (b. 1985), and son Reed Cross (b. 1987).
Howard, a Democrat, supported Barack Obama in both his successful campaigns for President of the United States.[24][25]
Filmography
Film
As an actor
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Frontier Woman | Bit Part | Uncredited |
| 1959 | The Journey | Billy Rhinelander | |
| 1961 | Five Minutes to Live | Bobby | AKA Door to Door Maniac, credited as Ronnie Howard |
| 1962 | The Music Man | Winthrop Paroo | |
| 1963 | The Courtship of Eddie's Father | Eddie | |
| 1965 | Village of the Giants | Genius | |
| 1970 | The Wild Country | Virgil Tanner | |
| 1973 | American Graffiti | Steve Bolander | |
| 1973 | Happy Mother's Day, Love George | Johnny | |
| 1974 | The Spikes Gang | Les Richter | |
| 1976 | The First Nudie Musical | Auditioning actor | Uncredited |
| 1976 | Eat My Dust! | Hoover Niebold | |
| 1976 | The Shootist | Gillom Rogers | |
| 1977 | Grand Theft Auto | Sam Freeman | |
| 1979 | More American Graffiti | Steve Bolander | |
| 1982 | Night Shift | Annoying Sax Player/Boy Making out with Girlfriend | Uncredited |
| 1992 | The Magical World of Chuck Jones | Himself | Documentary |
| 1998 | One Vision | Himself | Documentary |
| 1998 | Welcome to Hollywood | Himself | |
| 2000 | The Independent | Himself | |
| 2000 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Whoville Townsperson | Uncredited |
| 2001 | Osmosis Jones | Tom Colonic | Voice |
| 2001 | A Beautiful Mind | Man at Governor's Ball | Uncredited |
| 2004 | Tell Them Who You Are | Himself | Documentary |
| 2007 | In the Shadow of the Moon | Himself | Documentary |
| 2011 | The Death and Return of Superman | Max's Son | Short |
| 2013 | From Up on Poppy Hill | Philosophy Club's president | Voice |
| 2016 | Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie | Himself | |
As a director
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Old Paint | Short; credited as Ronny Howard |
| 1969 | Deed of Derring-Do | Short; credited as Ronny Howard |
| 1969 | Cards, Cads, Guns, Gore and Death | Short; credited as Ronny Howard |
| 1977 | Grand Theft Auto | Directed and credited as Sam Freeman |
| 1978 | Cotton Candy (TV) | |
| 1982 | Night Shift | |
| 1984 | Splash | |
| 1985 | Cocoon | |
| 1986 | Gung Ho | Also executive producer |
| 1988 | Willow | |
| 1989 | Parenthood | |
| 1991 | Backdraft | |
| 1992 | Far and Away | Also producer |
| 1994 | The Paper | |
| 1995 | Apollo 13 | |
| 1996 | Ransom | |
| 1999 | EDtv | Also producer |
| 2000 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Also producer |
| 2001 | A Beautiful Mind | Also producer |
| 2003 | The Missing | Also producer |
| 2005 | Cinderella Man | Also producer |
| 2006 | The Da Vinci Code | Also producer |
| 2008 | Frost/Nixon | Also producer |
| 2009 | Angels & Demons | Also producer |
| 2011 | The Dilemma | Also producer |
| 2013 | Rush | Also producer |
| 2013 | Made in America | Also producer |
| 2015 | In the Heart of the Sea | Also producer |
| 2016 | Inferno |
As a producer
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Leo and Loree | Executive producer |
| 1987 | No Man's Land | Executive producer |
| 1988 | Vibes | Executive Producer |
| 1988 | Clean and Sober | |
| 1989 | The 'Burbs | |
| 1991 | The Doors | Uncredited |
| 1991 | Closet Land | Executive producer |
| 1996 | The Chamber | |
| 1997 | Inventing the Abbotts | |
| 1999 | Beyond the Mat | Documentary |
| 2004 | Alamo | |
| 2005 | Inside Deep Throat | Uncredited |
| 2006 | Curious George | |
| 2008 | Changeling | |
| 2010 | Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey! | |
| 2011 | Restless | |
| 2011 | Cowboys & Aliens | |
| 2011 | When You Find Me | Executive producer; short film |
| 2012 | Katy Perry: Part of Me | Executive producer |
| 2014 | The Good Lie | Producer |
| 2015 | Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle | Executive producer |
Television
As an actor
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Johnny Ringo | Ricky Parrot | 1 episode: "The Accused" |
| 1959 | Five Fingers | 1 episode: "Station Break" | |
| 1959 | The Twilight Zone | Wilcox Boy | 1 episode: "Walking Distance" |
| 1959 | The DuPont Show with June Allyson | Wim Wegless | 1 episode: "Child Lost" |
| 1959 | Dennis the Menace | Stewart | 6 episodes |
| 1959 | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis | Dan Adams/Georgie/Little Boy with Ray Gun | 4 episodes |
| 1959 | General Electric Theater | Barnaby Baxter/Randy | 2 episodes: |
| 1959 | Hennesey with Jackie Cooper | Walker | "The Baby Sitter" |
| 1960 | The Danny Thomas Show | Opie Taylor | 1 episode: "Danny Meets Andy Griffith" |
| 1960 | Cheyenne | Timmy | 1 episode: "Counterfeit Gun"; uncredited |
| 1960 | Pete and Gladys | Tommy | 1 episode: "The Goat Story" |
| 1960–1968 | The Andy Griffith Show | Opie Taylor | 209 episodes |
| 1962 | Route 66 | Chet Duncan | 1 episode: "Poor Little Kangaroo Rat" |
| 1962 | The New Breed | Tommy Simms | 1 episode: "So Dark the Night" |
| 1963 | The Eleventh Hour | Barry Stewart | 1 episode: "Is Mr. Martian Coming Back?" |
| 1964 | The Great Adventure | Daniel Waterhouse | 1 episode: "Plague" |
| 1964 | Dr. Kildare | Jerry Prentice | 1 episode: "A Candle in the Window" |
| 1964 | The Fugitive | Gus | 1 episode: "Cry Uncle" |
| 1965 | The Big Valley | Tommy | 1 episode: "Night of the Wolf" |
| 1966 | Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. | Opie Taylor | 1 episode: "Opie Joins the Marines" |
| 1966 | I Spy | Alan Loden | 1 episode: "Little Boy Lost" |
| 1967 | The Monroes | Timothy Prescott | 1 episode: "Teaching the Tiger to Purr" |
| 1967 | Gentle Ben | Jody Cutler | 1 episode: "Green-Eyed Bear" |
| 1968 | Mayberry R.F.D. | Opie Taylor | 1 episode: "Andy and Helen Get Married" |
| 1968 | The Archie Show | Archie Andrews | Early Pilot Cartoon |
| 1968 | Lancer | Turk Caudle/Willy | 2 episodes: "Jelly", "The Measure of a Man" |
| 1969 | Judd for the Defense | Phil Beeton | 1 episode: "Between the Dark and the Daylight" |
| 1969 | Daniel Boone | Luke | 1 episode: "A Man Before His Time" |
| 1969 | Gunsmoke | Jamie | 1 episode: "Charlie Noon" |
| 1969 | Land of the Giants | Jodar | 1 episode: "Genus At Work" |
| 1970 | Smoke | Chris | TV Movie |
| 1970 | The Headmaster | Tony Landis | 1 episode: "Will the Real Mother of Tony Landis Please Stand Up?" |
| 1970 | Lassie | Gary | 1 episode: "Gary Here Comes Glory!" Part 1 & 2 |
| 1971 | The Smith Family | Bob Smith | 39 episodes |
| 1972 | Love, American Style | Richard 'Richie' Cunningham | 1 episode: "Love and the Happy Days" |
| 1972 | The Bold Ones: The New Doctors | Cory Merlino | 1 episode: "Discovery at Fourteen" |
| 1972 | Bonanza | Ted Hoag | 1 episode: "The Initiation" |
| 1973 | M*A*S*H | Private Walter/ Wendell Peterson | 1 episode: "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet" |
| 1974 | The Waltons | Seth Turner | 1 episode: "The Gift" |
| 1974–1984 | Happy Days | Richard 'Richie' Cunningham | 171 episodes |
| 1974 | Locusts | Donny Fletcher | TV Movie |
| 1974 | The Migrants | Lyle Barlow | TV Movie |
| 1975 | Huckleberry Finn | Huckleberry Finn | TV Movie |
| 1976 | Laverne & Shirley | Richie Cunningham | 2 episodes: "Excuse Me, May I Cut In?", "Shotgun Wedding: Part 2" |
| 1976 | I'm a Fool | Andy | TV Movie |
| 1980 | The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang | Richie Cunningham (voice) | 1 episode: "King for a Day" |
| 1980 | Act of Love | Leon Cybulkowski | TV Movie |
| 1981 | Bitter Harvest | Ned De Vries | TV Movie |
| 1981 | Fire on the Mountain | Lee Mackie | TV Movie |
| 1983 | When Your Lover Leaves | TV Movie; uncredited; also executive producer | |
| 1986 | Return to Mayberry | Opie Taylor | TV Movie |
| 1988 | Channel 99 | Himself | TV Movie |
| 1998 | The Simpsons | Himself (voice) | 1 episode: "When You Dish Upon a Star" |
| 1999 | The Simpsons | Himself (voice) | 1 episode: "Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder" |
| 1999 | Frasier | Stephen (voice) | 1 episode: "Good Samaritan" |
| 2003–2006; 2013 | Arrested Development | Narrator Semi-fictional version of himself |
68 episodes; also executive producer |
As a director
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Cotton Candy | TV Movie |
| 1980 | Skyward | TV Movie; also executive producer |
| 1981 | Through the Magic Pyramid | TV Movie; also executive producer |
| 1983 | Littleshots | TV Movie; also executive producer |
As a producer
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Skyward Christmas | Executive producer; TV Movie |
| 1983 | When Your Lover Leaves | Executive producer; TV Movie |
| 1984–1985 | Maximum Security | Executive producer; |
| 1985 | No Greater Gift | Executive producer; TV special |
| 1985 | Into Thin Air | Executive producer; TV Movie |
| 1986 | The Lone-Star Kid | Executive producer; TV Movie |
| 1987 | Take Five | Executive producer; TV Movie |
| 1988 | Poison | Executive producer; TV Movie |
| 1999 | Mullholland Drive | Executive producer; TV Movie |
| 1990–1991 | Parenthood | Executive producer |
| 1998 | From the Earth to the Moon | Producer, TV miniseries |
| 1998–2000 | Sports Night | Executive producer |
| 1998–2002 | Felicity | Executive producer |
| 1999–2001 | The PJs | Executive producer |
| 1999 | Student Affairs | TV Movie |
| 2000 | Wonderland | |
| 2000 | Silicon Follies | Executive producer; TV Movie |
| 2001 | The Beast | Executive producer |
| 2003 | The Snobs | Executive producer |
| 2006–present | Curious George | Executive producer |
| 2010–2015 | Parenthood | Executive producer |
| 2012 | The Great Escape | Executive producer |
| 2003–2006; 2013 | Arrested Development | Executive producer |
| 2014 | Unsung Heroes | Executive producer; TV documentary |
| 2015- | Breakthrough (TV Series) | |
Awards and Nomination
Academy Award
| Year | Category | Film | Result | Lost to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Best Picture | A Beautiful Mind | Won | Shared with Brian Grazer |
| 2001 | Best Director | A Beautiful Mind | Won | N/A |
| 2008 | Best Director | Frost/Nixon | Nominated | Danny Boyle For Slumdog Millionaire |
| 2008 | Best Picture | Frost/Nixon | Nominated | Christian Colson For Slumdog Millionaire |
British Academy Film Awards
| Year | Category | Film | Result | Lost to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Best Film | A Beautiful Mind | Nominated | Peter Jackson For The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring |
| 2001 | Best Director | A Beautiful Mind | Nominated | Peter Jackson, Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh and Tim Sanders For The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring |
| 2008 | Best Director | Frost/Nixon | Nominated | Danny Boyle For Slumdog Millionaire |
| 2008 | Best Film | Frost/Nixon | Nominated | Christian Colson For Slumdog Millionaire |
Golden Globe Awards
| Year | Category | Film | Result | Lost to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Best Picture - Drama | A Beautiful Mind | Won | Shared with Brian Grazer |
| 2001 | Best Director | A Beautiful Mind | Nominated | Robert Altman For Gosford Park |
| 2008 | Best Director | Frost/Nixon | Nominated | Danny Boyle For Slumdog Millionaire |
| 2008 | Best Picture - Drama | Frost/Nixon | Nominated | Christian Colson For Slumdog Millionaire |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 1999
- ↑ Lifetime Honors – National Medal of Arts
- ↑ "Ron Howard receives rare 2nd star on Hollywood Walk of Fame". Los Angeles Daily News. City News Service. December 11, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
- ↑ "Ron Howard Biography (1954–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
- ↑ "Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon...and Beyond". google.com.
- ↑ hhsdrama.com/documents/BioRonHoward.pdf
- ↑ http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/Ron-Howard/biography/
- ↑ "Ron Howard". celebrina.com.
- ↑ "Clint Howard". fringepedia.net.
- ↑ "Pals Of The Saddle- Ron Howard [Archive] – JWMB – The Original John Wayne Message Board!". dukewayne.com.
- ↑ http://ethnicelebs.com/ron-howard
- ↑ "Actress keeps name of her famous family". The Vindicator. Scripps Howard. August 3, 2004. p. B7. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
- ↑ Gray, Beverly (2003). Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon—and Beyond. Thomas Nelson. p. 6. ISBN 1-55853-970-0.
- ↑ Gray, pp. 7–8.
- ↑ Estrin, Eric (Feb 22, 2010). "Ron Howard's 'Breakthrough'?: Ronald Reagan". The Wrap. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
- ↑ "Notable Alumni". cinema-usc.edu. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
- ↑ Devine, Mary (1998). International Dictionary of University Histories. Taylor & Francis. p. 621. ISBN 1-884964-23-0.
- ↑ "Ron Howard: On Filmmaking". Bafta Guru. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
- ↑ MSN Entertainment The Waltons: The Gift
- ↑ fmsteinberg (21 September 2009). ""Love, American Style" Love and the Happy Days/Love and the Newscasters (TV Episode 1972)". IMDb.
- ↑ "London Film Festival". Spoonfed.co.uk. September 24, 2008. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
- ↑ Nellie Andreeva. "Showtime & Imagine Team For Aztec Drama Directed By Ron Howard & Penned By Jose Rivera". Deadline.
- ↑ Gray, p. 58
- ↑
- ↑
External links
- Ron Howard at the Internet Movie Database
- Ron Howard at AllMovie
- 2002 Commencement Address (USC School of Cinema-Television)
- Ron Howard: Imagining the Wonders of Willow – Article at StarWars.com
- Ron Howard interview video at the Archive of American Television
- Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture – Howard, Ron
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