Ron Howard

Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of ''The Twilight Zone''. He gained national attention for playing young Opie Taylor, the son of Sheriff Andy Taylor (played by Andy Griffith) in the sitcom ''The Andy Griffith Show'' from 1960 through 1968. During this time, he also appeared in the musical film ''The Music Man'' (1962), a critical and commercial success. He was credited as Ronny Howard in his film and television appearances from 1959 to 1973. Howard was cast in one of the lead roles in the coming-of-age film ''American Graffiti'' (1973), and became a household name for playing Richie Cunningham in the sitcom ''Happy Days'', a role he would play from 1974 to 1980.Stated on ''Inside the Actors Studio'', 1999

In 1980, Howard left ''Happy Days'' to focus on directing, producing and sometimes writing a variety of films and television series. His films included the comedies '' Night Shift'' (1982), '' Splash'' (1984), and '' Cocoon'' (1985) as well as the fantasy '' Willow'' (1988), the thriller ''Backdraft'' (1991), and the newspaper comedy-drama film '' The Paper'' (1994). In 1995, Howard gained widespread praise and recognition in the historical docudrama '' Apollo 13'' (1995). He continued directing such films as the biographical drama '' A Beautiful Mind'' (2001), the biographical sports drama '' Cinderella Man'' (2005), the historical drama '' Frost/Nixon'' (2008), the biographical sports drama '' Rush'' (2013), and the historical adventure film '' In the Heart of the Sea'' (2015). Howard is also known for directing the children's fantasy film ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas'' (2000) as well as the Robert Langdon film series, ''The Da Vinci Code'' (2006), '' Angels & Demons'' (2009), ''Inferno'' (2016), and '' Solo: A Star Wars Story'' (2018). He has also directed the documentary films '' The Beatles: Eight Days a Week'' (2016) and '' Pavarotti'' (2019).

Howard received the Academy Award for Best Director and Academy Award for Best Picture for ''A Beautiful Mind'' and was nominated again for the same awards for ''Frost/Nixon''. In 2003, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2013. Howard has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions in the television and motion pictures industries.

Early life

Ron Howard was born on March 1, 1954, in Duncan, Oklahoma, the elder son of Jean Speegle, an actress, and Rance Howard, a director, writer, and actor. He has German, English, Scottish, Irish, and Dutch ancestry. His father was born with the surname "Beckenholdt" and took the stage name "Howard" in 1948 for his acting career. Rance Howard was serving three years in the United States Air Force at the time of Ron's birth. 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'' was later filmed. They lived in Hollywood for at least three years, before moving to Burbank.

Howard was tutored at Desilu Studios in his younger years but continued his schooling at Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary and David Star Jordan Junior High when not working in television, eventually graduating from John Burroughs High School. He later attended the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts but did not graduate.

Howard has said he knew from a young age he might want to go into directing, thanks to his early experience as an actor.

Acting career

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 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''.

The Andy Griffith 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. Recalling his experiences as a child actor on set, he commented

Additional 1960s and early 1970s roles

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 and Jones.

He appeared as Barry Stewart on '' The Eleventh Hour'' in 1965; on ''I Spy'' in the 1966 episode "Little Boy Lost"; as Henry Fonda's son in an ABC series, '' The Smith Family'', in 1968; as Jodah in "Land of the Giants" in 1969; as a boy whose father was shot on ''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.

Howard played Steve Bolander in George Lucas' coming-of-age film ''American Graffiti'' in 1973, which was the inspiration for the television series ''Happy Days'' starring Howard.

In 1974, Howard guest-starred as Seth Turner, the best friend of Jason Walton (Jon Walmsley), in ''The Waltons'' episode, "The Gift". Featured in the cast as Dr. McIvers is Ron Howard's father Rance Howard.

In 1976, Howard starred alongside John Wayne and Lauren Bacall in Don Siegel's ''The Shootist'', the story of a Western gunfighter dying of cancer. The movie was Wayne's last although it's not true that he had cancer during the shooting of the picture; Wayne died three years later.

''Happy Days''

A role in an installment of series '' Love, American Style'', titled "Love and the Television Set", 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 Winkler. Howard left ''Happy Days'' to become a film director just before the start of its eighth season in 1980, but returned for guest appearances in later seasons.

Directing career

1970s–1980s

Before leaving ''Happy Days'' in 1980, Howard made his directing debut with the 1977 low-budget comedy/action film ''Grand Theft Auto'', based on a script he co-wrote with his father, Rance. This came after cutting a deal with Roger Corman, wherein Corman let Howard direct a film in exchange for Howard starring in '' Eat My Dust!'', with Christopher Norris. Howard went on to direct several TV movies for NBC between 1978 and 1982, including the 1980 TV movie, '' Skyward'', starring Bette Davis. His big directorial break came in 1982, with '' Night Shift'', featuring Michael Keaton, Shelley Long, and Howard's ''Happy Days'' co-star Henry Winkler.

Following ''Night Shift'', Howard directed a number of major films, including the fantasy romantic comedy '' Splash'' (1984) starring Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, Eugene Levy, and John Candy. The film was a box office and critical success. He also directed the science fiction comedy drama '' Cocoon'' (1985) starring Don Ameche, Hume Cronyn, Wilford Brimley, and Brian Dennehy. This film was also a critical and financial hit. In 1988, he directed the dark fantasy drama film '' Willow'' starring Val Kilmer and Warwick Davis. Howard's final work as a director for the 1980s was the family comedy film '' Parenthood'' (1989) starring an ensemble cast that includes Steve Martin, Tom Hulce, Rick Moranis, Martha Plimpton, Joaquin Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, and Dianne Wiest. The film opened at in its opening weekend, earning $10million. It eventually grossed over $100million domestically and $126million worldwide. The film was a critical hit and received two Academy Award nominations.

1990s

Howard continued directing through the 1990s, including the American drama ''Backdraft'' revolving around firefighters. The film starred Kurt Russell, Donald Sutherland, and Robert De Niro. Film critics Gene Siskel of the ''Chicago Tribune'' and Roger Ebert of the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' gave the film a positive review.

In 1992, he directed the western film epic ''Far and Away'' starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics the film was a financial success earning 137 million against its budget of 60 million. In 1994, Howard directed the newspaper comedy drama '' The Paper'' with an ensemble starring Michael Keaton, Glenn Close, Marisa Tomei, Jason Alexander, Jason Robards, and Robert Duvall. The film received rave reviews with many praising Keaton's leading performance.

Howard's direction for the 1995 docudrama film '' Apollo 13'' received praise from critics. The film stars Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton as the three astronauts members of the Apollo 13 flight crew, with supporting performances from Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, and Kathleen Quinlan. The film was a massive financial success earning $335 million off a budget of $52 million. The film received widespread critical acclaim with Roger Ebert of the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' praised the film in his review saying: "A powerful story, one of the year's best films, told with great clarity and remarkable technical detail, and acted without pumped-up histrionics." The film went on to receive nine Academy Award nominations including Best Picture.

2000s

In 2000, he directed the live action children's fantasy film, ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas'' based on the Dr. Seuss

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases