BIOGRAPHY
RON HOWARD
Ron Howard Actor | Producer | Director
Date of Birth 1 March 1954, Duncan, Oklahoma, USA
Birth Name Ronald William Howard
Height 5' 9" (1.75 m)
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard is one of this generation's most popular directors. From the critically acclaimed dramas A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13 to the hit comedies Parenthood and Splash, he has created some of Hollywood's most memorable films.
Howard directed and produced "Cinderella Man" starring Oscar winner Russell Crowe, with whom he previously collaborated on "A Beautiful Mind", for which Howard earned an Oscar for Best Director and which also won awards for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress. The film garnered four Golden Globes as well, including the award for Best Motion Picture Drama. Additionally, Howard won Best Director of the Year from the Directors Guild of America. Howard and producer Brian Grazer received the first annual Awareness Award from the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign for their work on the film.
Howard's skill as a director has long been recognized. In 1995, he received his first Best Director of the Year award from the DGA for "Apollo 13". The true-life drama also garnered nine Academy Award nominations, winning Oscars for Best Film Editing and Best Sound. It also received Best Ensemble Cast and Best Supporting Actor awards from the Screen Actor's Guild. Many of Howard's past films have received nods from the Academy, including the popular hits "Backdraft", "Parenthood" and "Cocoon", the last of which took home two Oscars. Howard was honored by the Museum of Moving Images in December 2005, and by the American Cinema Editors in February 2006. Howard and his creative partner Brian Grazer, were honored by the Producers Guild of America with the Milestone Award in January 2009, NYU's Tisch School of Cinematic Arts with the Big Apple Award in November 2009 and by the Simon Wiesenthal Center with their Humanitarian Award in May 2010. In June 2010, Howard was honored by the Chicago Film Festival with their Gold Hugo - Career Achievement Award. In March 2013, Howard was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. In December 2015, Howard was honored with a star in the Motion Pictures category, making him one of the very few to have been recognized with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Recently, Howard directed "Inferno", the third installment of Dan Brown's Robert Langdon franchise and "8 Days A Week-The Touring Years", a documentary about the rock legends The Beatles. He is also producing second season of "Breakthrough", "Mars", and is directing the first episode of The Genius Series based on the life of Einstein, all for NatGeo.
Howard's recent films include the critically acclaimed drama "Rush", staring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brüel, written by Peter Morgan; and "Made In America", a music documentary he directed staring Jay Z for Showtime.
Howard also produced and directed the film adaptation of Peter Morgan's critically acclaimed play "Frost / Nixon". The film, which was released in December 2009, was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, and was also nominated for The Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures by the PGA.
Howard's portfolio includes some of the most popular films of the past 20 years. In 1991, Howard created the acclaimed drama "Backdraft", starring Robert De Niro, Kurt Russell and William Baldwin. He followed it with the historical epic "Far and Away", starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Howard directed Mel Gibson, Rene Russo, Gary Sinise and Delroy Lindo in the 1996 suspense thriller "Ransom". Howard worked with Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise and Kathleen Quinlan on "Apollo 13", which was re-released recently in the IMAX format.
Howard's other films include "In The Heart of the Sea", based on the true story that inspired Moby Dick; his adaptation of Dan Brown's best-selling novels "Angels & Demons", and "The Da Vinci Code" staring Oscar winner Tom Hanks; the blockbuster holiday favorite "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" starring Jim Carrey; "Parenthood" starring Steve Martin; the fantasy epic "Willow"; "Night Shift" starring Henry Winkler, Michael Keaton and Shelley Long; and the suspenseful western, "The Missing", staring Oscar winners Cate Blachett and Tommy Lee Jones.
Howard has also served as an executive producer on a number of award-winning films and television shows, such as the HBO miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon", Fox's Emmy Award winner for Best Comedy, "Arrested Development", a series which he also narrated, Netflix's release of new episodes of "Arrested Development", and NBC's "Parenthood".
Howard made his directorial debut in 1978 with the comedy "Grand Theft Auto". He began his career in film as an actor. He first appeared in "The Journey" and "The Music Man", then as Opie on the long-running television series "The Andy Griffith Show". Howard later starred in the popular series "Happy Days" and drew favorable reviews for his performances in "American Graffiti" and "The Shootist".
Howard and long-time producing partner Brian Grazer first collaborated on the hit comedies "Night Shift" and "Splash". The pair co-founded Imagine Entertainment in 1986 to create independently produced feature films.
Spouse (1)
Cheryl Howard (7 June 1975 - present) (4 children)
Frequently casts father Rance Howard and brother Clint Howard in supporting roles.
Frequently uses music by James Horner and songs by Randy Newman.
Frequently casts Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise, Russell Crowe and Michael Keaton.
Works in multiple genres - comedy (Splash (1984), Gung Ho (1986)), drama (Apollo 13 (1995), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Frost/Nixon (2008)), thriller (The Da Vinci Code (2006), Angels & Demons (2009)), fantasy (Willow (1988), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)) and Western (The Missing (2003)).
Red hair and gapped front teeth
Accorded "final cut" on all his feature films
In 1971, was a contestant on The Dating Game (1965) and ended up choosing Bachelorette #2, Nola Green.
Son of actor/director Rance Howard and actress Jean Speegle Howard.
Older brother of Clint Howard.
Attended Burroughs High School with actress Rene Russo.
Daughters: Bryce Dallas Howard (born 1981), Jocelyn Carlyle (twin, born 1985), Paige Howard (twin, born 1985). Son: Reed Cross (born 1987).
All of Howard's four children are named after the places 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, according to Bryce Dallas Howard.
Acted with Kathleen Quinlan in American Graffiti (1973), then directed her in Apollo 13 (1995).
Cast both of his parents in Apollo 13 (1995). Daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard, also had a cameo appearance.
Had the following rankings on Premiere magazine's annual Power 100 List - #22 in 2006, #27 in 2005, #30 in 2004, #26 in 2003, #29 in 2002.
Directed eight different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Don Ameche, Dianne Wiest, Ed Harris, Kathleen Quinlan, Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Giamatti and Frank Langella. Ameche and Connelly won Oscars for their performances in one of Howard's movies.
Ranked #7 in VH1's of the "100 Greatest Kid Stars".
Is apparently a huge fan of cricket. Attended the final Ashes test match between England vs. Australia on September 12, 2005 whilst filming The Da Vinci Code (2006), and was spotted mingling with players in the Australian dressing room.
When he was a child actor, his father was very involved in his career, protecting him from unfair treatment, and being strict with him (when necessary).
He was awarded the National Medal of Arts from the National Endowment of the Arts in 2003.
Has directed two films on the American Film Institute's 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time. They are A Beautiful Mind (2001) at #93 and Apollo 13 (1995) at #12.
Father-in-law of Seth Gabel.
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.
Has English, German, Irish, Scottish, and remote Dutch, ancestry.
Became a grandfather when his daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard, had a baby boy on February 16, 2007.
Was interested in directing Eye See You (2002) at one point, but decided to direct How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000).
Stepson of Los Angeles Times columnist and playwright Judy Howard.
In 2007, Forbes magazine estimated his 2006 earnings to be approximately $35 million.
Henry Winkler is the godfather of Howard's daughter Bryce Dallas Howard.
Best known on television for his starring roles as Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show (1960) and as Richie Cunningham on Happy Days (1974).
Started two production companies - Major H Productions (which ran until 1985) and then, in 1985, Imagine Films Entertainment.
Has cast three fellow cast members of the American Graffiti movies in films he later directed. Kathleen Quinlan appeared in Apollo 13 (1995), Delroy Lindo appeared in Ransom (1996), and Scott Glenn appeared in Backdraft (1991).
As of July 2012, after the death of Andy Griffith on July 3, 2012, Don Knotts on February 24, 2006, and George Lindsey (Goober) on May 12, 2012, Ron Howard is the youngest regular cast member, and one of only three regular or recurring (over 20 episodes portraying the same character) surviving cast members of The Andy Griffith Show (1960), along with surviving cast members Jim Nabors (Gomer), and Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou).
Profiled in "American Classic Screen Interviews" (Scarecrow Press) (2010).
With the death of his longtime friend and mentor Andy Griffith on July 3, 2012, he's the only original and youngest surviving cast member of The Andy Griffith Show (1960).
Acting mentors were Andy Griffith, Shirley Jones and Tom Bosley.
Shares the same birthday with Catherine Bach (March 1, 1954).
Has played the same character (Richie Cunningham) on four different series: Love, American Style (1969), Happy Days (1974), Laverne & Shirley (1976) and The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang (1980).
Currently resides in the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. [January 2006]
During a Mayberry reunion program, the late Don Knotts jokingly said of Ron, "We call him Mr. Howard now".
For an American Film Institute poll, Howard chose One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) as his favorite film.
He was awarded 2 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 6931 Hollywood Boulevard; and for Television at 6838 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
He 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).
He 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).
He 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).
Credits Andy Griffith and Tom Bosley as his favorite acting mentors.
While he is a liberal Democrat, his younger brother Clint Howard is a conservative Republican.
Born on the same day as Catherine Bach.