Ron Howard

For other people with similar names, see Ronald Howard (disambiguation).
Ron Howard

Howard in 2011
Born Ronald William Howard
(1954-03-01) March 1, 1954
Duncan, Oklahoma, U.S.
Alma mater University of Southern California
Occupation Actor, filmmaker
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 actor and filmmaker. Howard is 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.

Howard first came to prominence playing young Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years and later playing teenager Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for seven years.[1] He appeared in the musical film The Music Man (1962), The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963), the coming of age film American Graffiti (1973), the western The Shootist, (1974) Bonanza season 14 episode 4,(1972) and the comedy Grand Theft Auto (1977), which he also directed.

In 1980, Howard 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) (earning him the Academy Award for Best Director), and the thriller The Da Vinci Code (2006).

In 2002, Howard narrated the Fox comedy series, Arrested Development, on which he would also serve as producer 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 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, a writer, and an actor.[4] He has German, English, Scottish, Irish, and Dutch ancestry.[5][6][7][8][9][10] His father was born with the surname "Beckenholdt", and had taken the stage name "Howard" by 1948, for his acting career.[11][12] Rance Howard was serving three years in the United States Air Force at the time of Ron's birth.[13][14] 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.[15][16]

Howard has said he knew from a young age he might want to go into directing thanks to his early experience as an actor.[17]

Career

Early acting roles and The Andy Griffith Show

Andy Griffith and Howard in a publicity photo for The Andy Griffith Show (1961)

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.

With Cara Williams in Pete and Gladys in 1960

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 1968 as Jodah, in "Land of the Giants", in 1969 as a boy whose 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.[18]

Film roles and Happy Days

Richie (Ron Howard) takes a turn on Fonzie's motorcycle in a scene from 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",[19] 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

Howard at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival

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.[20]

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 in June 2008 during the filming of Angels & Demons in Rome

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.[21]

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 and Brian Grazer at a Tribeca Film Festival panel on A Beautiful Mind

Howard married Cheryl Alley on June 7, 1975.[22] 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.

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
Happy Mother's Day, Love George Johnny
1974 The Spikes Gang Les Richter
1976 The First Nudie Musical Auditioning actor Uncredited
Eat My Dust! Hoover Niebold
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
Welcome to Hollywood Himself
2000 The Independent Himself
How the Grinch Stole Christmas Whoville Townsperson Uncredited
2001 Osmosis Jones Tom Colonic Voice
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
Deed of Derring-Do Short; credited as Ronny Howard
Cards, Cads, Guns, Gore and Death Short; credited as Ronny Howard
1977 Grand Theft Auto Also writer; directed and credited as Sam Freeman
1982 Night Shift
1984 Splash
1985 Cocoon
1986 Gung Ho Also executive producer
1988 Willow
1989 Parenthood Also story writer
1991 Backdraft
1992 Far and Away Also story writer and 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
Made in America Also producer
2015 In the Heart of the Sea Also producer
2016 The Beatles: Eight Days a Week Also producer
Inferno Also producer

As a producer

Year Film Notes
1980 Leo and Loree Executive producer
1987 No Man's Land Executive producer
1988 Vibes Executive producer
Clean and Sober
1989 The 'Burbs
1991 The Doors Uncredited
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! Executive producer
2011 Restless
Cowboys & Aliens
When You Find Me Executive producer; short film
2012 Katy Perry: Part of Me Executive producer
2014 The Good Lie
2015 Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle Executive producer
2017 The Dark Tower
American Made

Television

As an actor

Year Title Role Notes
1959 Johnny Ringo Ricky Parrot 1 episode: "The Accused"
Five Fingers 1 episode: "Station Break"
The Twilight Zone Wilcox Boy 1 episode: "Walking Distance"
The DuPont Show with June Allyson Wim Wegless 1 episode: "Child Lost"
Dennis the Menace Stewart 6 episodes
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Dan Adams/Georgie/Little Boy with Ray Gun 4 episodes
General Electric Theater Barnaby Baxter/Randy 2 episodes:
Hennesey with Jackie Cooper Walker "The Baby Sitter"
1960 The Danny Thomas Show Opie Taylor 1 episode: "Danny Meets Andy Griffith"
Cheyenne Timmy 1 episode: "Counterfeit Gun"; uncredited
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"
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"
Dr. Kildare Jerry Prentice 1 episode: "A Candle in the Window"
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"
I Spy Alan Loden 1 episode: "Little Boy Lost"
1967 The Monroes Timothy Prescott 1 episode: "Teaching the Tiger to Purr"
Gentle Ben Jody Cutler 1 episode: "Green-Eyed Bear"
1968 Mayberry R.F.D. Opie Taylor 1 episode: "Andy and Helen Get Married"
The Archie Show Archie Andrews Early Pilot Cartoon
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, also writer
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

Awards and nominations

Academy Awards

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
1977 Best Supporting Actor The Shootist Nominated
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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 1999
  2. ↑ Lifetime Honors – National Medal of Arts
  3. ↑ "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.
  4. ↑ "Ron Howard Biography (1954–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon...and Beyond". google.com.
  6. ↑ hhsdrama.com/documents/BioRonHoward.pdf
  7. ↑ http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/Ron-Howard/biography/
  8. ↑ "Ron Howard". celebrina.com.
  9. ↑ "Clint Howard". fringepedia.net.
  10. ↑ "Pals Of The Saddle- Ron Howard [Archive] – JWMB – The Original John Wayne Message Board!". dukewayne.com.
  11. ↑ "Actress keeps name of her famous family". The Vindicator. Scripps Howard. August 3, 2004. p. B7. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  12. ↑ Gray, Beverly (2003). Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon—and Beyond. Thomas Nelson. p. 6. ISBN 1-55853-970-0.
  13. ↑ Gray, pp. 7–8.
  14. ↑ Estrin, Eric (Feb 22, 2010). "Ron Howard's 'Breakthrough'?: Ronald Reagan". The Wrap. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Notable Alumni". cinema-usc.edu. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  16. ↑ Devine, Mary (1998). International Dictionary of University Histories. Taylor & Francis. p. 621. ISBN 1-884964-23-0.
  17. ↑ "Ron Howard: On Filmmaking". Bafta Guru. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  18. ↑ MSN Entertainment The Waltons: The Gift
  19. ↑ fmsteinberg (21 September 2009). ""Love, American Style" Love and the Happy Days/Love and the Newscasters (TV Episode 1972)". IMDb.
  20. ↑ "London Film Festival". Spoonfed.co.uk. September 24, 2008. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  21. ↑ Nellie Andreeva. "Showtime & Imagine Team For Aztec Drama Directed By Ron Howard & Penned By Jose Rivera". Deadline.
  22. ↑ Gray, p. 58

Bibliography

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/22/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.