Ronald William Howard
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Film credits
4
Books
11
Awards
Ron Howard won the Academy Award for Best Director in 2002 for A Beautiful Mind, one of three Best Picture nominees he directed. He started acting as a child, playing Opie on The Andy Griffith Show, and later starred on Happy Days. He directed his first film, Grand Theft Auto, in 1977. He co-founded Imagine Entertainment with Brian Grazer in 1986.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Ron Howard — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Ron Howard by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Ron Howard — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Jean Speegle Howard and Rance Howard, both actors, had their son Ron on March 1, 1954, in Duncan, Oklahoma. The family moved to Hollywood when he was a child. He attended John Burroughs High School alongside future actress Rene Russo. His father Rance protected him from unfair treatment and taught him discipline during his early acting career. Howard studied at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts.
Howard directed his first film, the comedy Grand Theft Auto, in 1977. He worked with producer Brian Grazer on Night Shift 1982 and Splash 1984, then co-founded Imagine Entertainment with Grazer in 1986. He directed the historical epic Far and Away 1992 starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, and the suspense thriller Ransom 1996 with Mel Gibson. Apollo 13 1995 earned nine Academy Award nominations and won for Best Film Editing and Best Sound. In 2001, A Beautiful Mind won the Best Picture Oscar, and Howard won Best Director. He also directed Frost/Nixon 2008, nominated for five Oscars, and the biographical drama Rush 2013. In 2016 he directed the documentary The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years and the third Dan Brown adaptation, Inferno.
Howard married Cheryl on June 7, 1975. They have four children: Bryce Dallas, Paige, Reed, and Jocelyn Howard. The children’s names come from the locations of their conception: Bryce Dallas in Dallas, Texas; Paige and Jocelyn at the Hotel Carlyle in New York City; and Reed after a road. His daughter Bryce Dallas Howard became an actress and director. Howard has directed his wife Cheryl in eleven films and his brother Clint in sixteen films.
The American Film Institute ranked Apollo 13 at number 12 and A Beautiful Mind at number 93 on its 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time. Howard has directed nine actors to Oscar-nominated performances; Don Ameche and Jennifer Connelly won Oscars for roles in his films. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2013 and has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His production company, Imagine Entertainment, has produced award-winning films and television series.
Browse the complete filmography of Ron Howard — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
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Every award, honor, and recognition received by Ron Howard — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
Ron Howard's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.
A wall of memorable lines from Ron Howard — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
It Was Always My Dream to Be a Director. a Lot of It Had to Do with Controlling My Own Destiny, Because as a Young Actor You Feel at Everyone’s Disposal. but I Wanted to Become a Leader in the Business.
I’ve Always Been Interested in the Depression as This Very Dramatic Pivotal Period in American History. My Dad Grew up on a Farm in Oklahoma and Remembers Playing with His Toy Tractor Under the Table While the Local Farmers Talked with His Grandfather About Forming a Local Militia to Protect the Crops Because They Were Afraid Unemployed People from the Town Would Come in and Grab the Crops.
I’ve Acted with All Types, I’ve Directed All Types. What You Want to Understand as a Director, Is What Actors Have to Offer. They’ll Get at It However They Get at It. If You Can Understand That, You Can Get Your Work Done.
I’m Not a Caterer. I Just Have to Stay with My Creative Convictions. at Some Point, You Have to Just Get Past the Special Interest Groups and Do What You’re There to Do, Which Is Make a Movie.
Little-known facts about Ron Howard — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
According to his daughter Bryce Dallas Howard, all four of Ron Howard’s children are named after the locations where they were conceived: Bryce Dallas in Dallas, Texas; Paige Carlyle and Jocelyn Carlyle at the Hotel Carlyle in New York City; and Reed Cross after a specific road.
Cast both of his parents in Apollo 13 1995. Daughter Bryce Dallas Howard also had a cameo appearance.
When he was a child actor, his father protected him from unfair treatment and was strict when necessary.
Has directed two films on the American Film Institute’s 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time: A Beautiful Mind 2001 at number 93 and Apollo 13 1995 at number 12.
Directed 9 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Don Ameche, Dianne Wiest, Ed Harris, Kathleen Quinlan, Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Giamatti, Frank Langella, and Glenn Close. Ameche and Connelly won Oscars for their performances in one of Howard’s movies.
Has directed his wife Cheryl Howard in eleven films: Grand Theft Auto 1977, Night Shift 1982, Splash 1984, Willow 1988, The Paper 1994, Apollo 13 1995, Ransom 1996, Edtv 1999, A Beautiful Mind 2001, The Da Vinci Code 2006 and Angels & Demons 2009.
Became a grandfather when his daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard, had a baby boy on February 16, 2007.
Appeared in two films selected for the National Film Registry: The Music Man 1962 and American Graffiti 1973. He also directed one film in the registry: Apollo 13 1995.
Started two production companies: Major H Productions 1977–1985 and, in 1985, Imagine Entertainment from a merger of Major H with Brian Grazer’s self-titled production company.
Has directed his younger brother Clint Howard in sixteen films: Grand Theft Auto 1977, Night Shift 1982, Splash 1984, Cocoon 1985, Gung Ho 1986, Parenthood 1989, Backdraft 1991, Far and Away 1992, The Paper 1994, Apollo 13 1995, Edtv 1999, How the Grinch Stole Christmas 2000, The Missing 2003, Cinderella Man 2005, Frost/Nixon 2008 and The Dilemma 2011.
Son of Rance Howard and Jean Speegle Howard.
Has directed his father Rance Howard in fifteen films: Grand Theft Auto 1977, Splash 1984, Cocoon 1985, Gung Ho 1986, Parenthood 1989, Far and Away 1992, The Paper 1994, Apollo 13 1995, How the Grinch Stole Christmas 2000, A Beautiful Mind 2001, The Missing 2003, Cinderella Man 2005, Frost/Nixon 2008, Angels & Demons 2009 and The Dilemma 2011.
For an American Film Institute poll, Howard chose One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest 1975 as his favorite film.
Older brother of Clint Howard.
Attended John Burroughs High School with Rene Russo.
Is apparently a huge fan of cricket. Attended the final Ashes test match between England and Australia on September 12, 2005, while filming The Da Vinci Code 2006, and was spotted mingling with players in the Australian dressing room.
Acted with Kathleen Quinlan in American Graffiti 1973, then directed her in Apollo 13 1995.
Ranked number 7 in VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Kid Stars.
Was awarded the National Medal of Arts from the National Endowment of the Arts in 2003.
Godfather of Max Winkler.
In 1971 was a contestant on The Dating Game 1965 and ended up choosing Bachelorette #2, Nola Green.
In 2007 Forbes magazine estimated his 2006 earnings to be approximately $35 million.
Was interested in directing D-Tox 2002 at one point, but decided to direct How the Grinch Stole Christmas 2000.
In January 2006 he was residing in the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island, SC.
Has directed three films that have been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Apollo 13 1995, A Beautiful Mind 2001 and Frost/Nixon 2008. A Beautiful Mind won in the category. He has also appeared in two Best Picture nominees: The Music Man 1962 and American Graffiti 1973.
Enjoys most sports and photography.
Has played Winthrop Paroo in The Music Man 1962, and the title role in Huckleberry Finn 1975. Both roles were previously played by Eddie Hodges.
Stepson of Los Angeles Times columnist and playwright Judy Howard.
Attended Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School in Burbank, California.
Attended David Starr Jordan Middle School.
Was friends with Jonathan Demme; both directed their first features for producer Roger Corman. Howard later cast many of the same actors as Corman: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, Scott Glenn, Kurt Russell, and Corman himself.
Father-in-law of Seth Gabel.
Had the following rankings on Premiere magazine’s annual Power 100 List: number 22 in 2006, number 27 in 2005, number 30 in 2004, number 26 in 2003, number 29 in 2002.
There is an unsubstantiated rumor that he was considering adapting a British novel, The Devil Created Man In His Own Image, by Philip Steavenson about abuse of others into a film set in the United States.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Ron Howard.
Celebrities similar to Ron Howard — same craft, ranked by reach.
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