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Ron Howard

Directing 72 years old Duncan, Oklahoma, USA ★ 2.8
Born: March 1, 1954

Biography

Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American filmmaker and actor. Howard 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), which received widespread acclaim and became one of the most profitable films in history. The following year, Howard became a household name for playing Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days, a role he would play from 1974 through 1984. Howard continued appearing in films during this time, such as the western film The Shootist (1976) and the comedy film Grand Theft Auto (1977), which also marked his directorial debut.

In 1984, Howard left Happy Days to focus on directing, producing and occasionally writing variety films and television series. His films include the science-fiction/fantasy Cocoon (1985), the fantasy Willow (1988), the thriller Backdraft (1991), the historical docudrama Apollo 13 (1995), the Christmas comedy How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), the biographical drama A Beautiful Mind (2001), the biographical sports drama Cinderella Man (2005), the thriller The Da Vinci Code (2006), the historical drama Frost/Nixon (2008), Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), and the documentary Pavarotti (2019). For A Beautiful Mind, Howard won the Academy Award for Best Director and Academy Award for Best Picture. He was nominated again for the same awards for Frost/Nixon.

In 2003, Howard 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.

External Links

🎬 IMDb 📘 Facebook 🐦 Twitter

Known For

Far and Away
Far and Away Director 1992
The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code Director 2006
Eden
Eden Director 2025
Rush
Rush Director 2013
A Beautiful Mind
A Beautiful Mind Director 2001

Jimmy's Seen (4)

Predator
Predator Opie Taylor 1987
Die Hard
Die Hard Self 1988
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Solo: A Star Wars Story Director 2018
The Spy Who Dumped Me
The Spy Who Dumped Me Executive Producer 2018

Filmography

Acting Credits (188)

John Candy: I Like Me
John Candy: I Like Me Self - Director, Splash (archive footage) 2025
The Studio
The Studio Ron Howard 2025
Enterprise or Love: The Story of Far and Away
Enterprise or Love: The Story of Far and Away Self 2024
Music by John Williams
Music by John Williams Self - Filmmaker 2024
Greatest Geek Year Ever! 1982
Greatest Geek Year Ever! 1982 Self 2023
100 Years of Warner Bros.
100 Years of Warner Bros. Self 2023
Tom Hanks: The Nomad
Tom Hanks: The Nomad Self (archive footage) 2023
John Wayne: Cowboys & Demons
John Wayne: Cowboys & Demons Self 2023
Willow: Behind the Magic
Willow: Behind the Magic Self - Director, Willow, 1988 / Executive Producer, Willow, 2022 2023
'Tis the Season: The Holidays on Screen
'Tis the Season: The Holidays on Screen Self 2022
Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel
Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel Self 2022
LIGHT & MAGIC
LIGHT & MAGIC Self - Academy Award Winning Filmmaker 2022
LIGHT & MAGIC
LIGHT & MAGIC Self 2022
LIGHT & MAGIC
LIGHT & MAGIC Self - Director, Cocoon 2022
LIGHT & MAGIC
LIGHT & MAGIC Self - Director, Willow 2022
Only Murders in the Building
Only Murders in the Building Ron Howard 2021
Fuck Coin
Fuck Coin Self 2021
Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema
Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema Self 2021
How To with John Wilson
How To with John Wilson Self (archive footage) (uncredited) 2020
The Happy Days of Garry Marshall
The Happy Days of Garry Marshall Self 2020
Reunited Apart
Reunited Apart Self 2020
The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration
The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration Wilcox Boy (archive footage) 2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
The Kelly Clarkson Show Self 2019
Dads
Dads Self 2019
Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10
Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10 Self 2019
Kasdan on Kasdan
Kasdan on Kasdan Self 2018
Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies
Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies Self 2017
Tom Hanks: A League of His Own
Tom Hanks: A League of His Own Self 2016
This Is Us
This Is Us Ron Howard (uncredited) 2016
Chelsea
Chelsea Self 2016
Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie
Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie Himself 2016
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Self - Guest 2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 2015
The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple Stanley 2015
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Late Night with Seth Meyers Self 2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Self 2014
Off Camera with Sam Jones
Off Camera with Sam Jones Self 2014
The Arrested Development Documentary Project
The Arrested Development Documentary Project Self 2013
Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck
Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck Self 2013
From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking
From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking Self - Director 2013
Radioman
Radioman Self 2012
Corman's World
Corman's World Self - Filmmaker 2011
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored Richie Cunningham (archive footage) 2011
Sheldon Leonard's Wonderful Life
Sheldon Leonard's Wonderful Life Self 2011
Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible
Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible Self 2010
Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story
Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story Self 2010
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Self - Guest 2009
Ron Howard: 50 Years in Film
Ron Howard: 50 Years in Film Self 2008
Cannes: All Access
Cannes: All Access Self 2007
The Graham Norton Show
The Graham Norton Show Self 2007
The Colbert Report
The Colbert Report 2005
George Lucas: Creating an Empire
George Lucas: Creating an Empire Self 2005
Tell Them Who You Are
Tell Them Who You Are Self 2004
Kulturplatz
Kulturplatz Self 2004
Making a 'Splash'
Making a 'Splash' Self - Director 2004
Weezer: Video Capture Device - Treasures from the Vault 1991-2002
Weezer: Video Capture Device - Treasures from the Vault 1991-2002 Richie Cunningham ("Buddy Holly") (archive footage) 2004
Arrested Development
Arrested Development Narrator 2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show Self 2003
Real Time with Bill Maher
Real Time with Bill Maher Self 2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Self - Guest 2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Self 2003
Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages
Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages Self 2002
Top Gear
Top Gear Self 2002
Inside a Beautiful Mind
Inside a Beautiful Mind Self 2002
A Beautiful Mind
A Beautiful Mind Man at Governor's Ball (uncredited) 2001
Osmosis Jones
Osmosis Jones Tom Colonic (voice) 2001
The Shootist: The Legend Lives On
The Shootist: The Legend Lives On Self (archive footage) (uncredited) 2001
The Independent
The Independent Ron Howard 2000
Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation
Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation Self 2000
Welcome to Hollywood
Welcome to Hollywood Ron Howard 2000
From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic
From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic Self 1999
Where Are They Now?
Where Are They Now? Self 1999
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn Self - Guest 1999
Television: The First Fifty Years
Television: The First Fifty Years Self / Opie Taylor / Ritchie Cunningham (archive footage) 1999
The Making of 'American Graffiti'
The Making of 'American Graffiti' Self 1998
The View
The View Self 1997
The View
The View Self - Guest 1997
Frank Capra's American Dream
Frank Capra's American Dream Self 1997
Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero
Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero Self 1997
Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery
Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery Self 1997
E! True Hollywood Story
E! True Hollywood Story 1996
The Daily Show
The Daily Show Self 1996
Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13
Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13 Self 1996
Blacklist: Hollywood on Trial
Blacklist: Hollywood on Trial Herbert Biberman 1996
MADtv
MADtv Self 1995
Inside the Actors Studio
Inside the Actors Studio Self 1994
Frasier
Frasier Stephen (voice) 1993
Hollywood on Hollywood
Hollywood on Hollywood Host 1993
The Magical World of Chuck Jones
The Magical World of Chuck Jones Self 1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 1992
The Simpsons
The Simpsons Ron Howard (voice) 1989
First Works
First Works Self 1989
Channel 99
Channel 99 1988
Willow: The Making of an Adventure
Willow: The Making of an Adventure Self - Director 1988
Return to Mayberry
Return to Mayberry Opie Taylor 1986
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers Self (archive footage) 1985
Night Shift
Night Shift Annoying Sax Player (uncredited) 1982
Fire on the Mountain
Fire on the Mountain Lee Mackie 1981
Bitter Harvest
Bitter Harvest Ned De Vries 1981
The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang
The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang Richie Cunningham 1980
Act of Love
Act of Love Leon Cybulkowski 1980
More American Graffiti
More American Graffiti Steve Bolander 1979
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street Richie Cunningham (archive footage) 1979
Sitcom: The Adventures of Garry Marshall
Sitcom: The Adventures of Garry Marshall Self 1979
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney Self - Host 1978
Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel
Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel Self 1978
Huckleberry Finn
Huckleberry Finn Huckleberry Finn 1978
Grand Theft Auto
Grand Theft Auto Sam Freeman 1977
I'm a Fool
I'm a Fool Andy 1977
A Special: Olivia Newton-John
A Special: Olivia Newton-John 1976
Battle of the Network Stars
Battle of the Network Stars 1976
The Captain and Tennille
The Captain and Tennille Self - Guest 1976
The Shootist
The Shootist Gillom Rogers 1976
Eat My Dust
Eat My Dust Hoover Niebold 1976
Laverne & Shirley
Laverne & Shirley 1976
Donny & Marie
Donny & Marie Self 1976
The First Nudie Musical
The First Nudie Musical Auditioning Actor 1976
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live Self - Host 1975
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live Contestant #2 (uncredited) 1975
People's Choice Awards
People's Choice Awards Self - Winner 1975
Dinah!
Dinah! Self 1974
Locusts
Locusts Donny Fletcher 1974
The Spikes Gang
The Spikes Gang Les 1974
The Migrants
The Migrants Lyle Barlow 1974
Happy Days
Happy Days 1974
Happy Days
Happy Days Richie Cunningham 1974
Happy Mother's Day, Love George
Happy Mother's Day, Love George Johnny 1973
American Graffiti
American Graffiti Steve Bolander 1973
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
The American Film Institute Salute to ... Self 1973
M*A*S*H
M*A*S*H Wendell 1972
The Waltons
The Waltons 1972
Great Performances
Great Performances Self 1971
The Smith Family
The Smith Family Bob Smith 1971
The Wild Country
The Wild Country Virgil Tanner 1970
The Headmaster
The Headmaster 1970
Smoke
Smoke Chris (as Ronny Howard) 1970
Love, American Style
Love, American Style Richie Cunningham 1969
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Cory Merlino 1969
Lancer
Lancer 1968
Mayberry R.F.D.
Mayberry R.F.D. Opie Taylor 1968
Land of the Giants
Land of the Giants Jodar 1968
A Boy Called Nuthin’
A Boy Called Nuthin’ Richie 'Nuthin'' Caldwell 1967
Gentle Ben
Gentle Ben Jerry 1967
Gentle Ben
Gentle Ben Jody Cutler 1967
Judd for the Defense
Judd for the Defense 1967
The Monroes
The Monroes 1966
Village of the Giants
Village of the Giants Genius 1965
The F.B.I.
The F.B.I. Jess Orkin 1965
I Spy
I Spy Alan Loden 1965
The Big Valley
The Big Valley Tommy 1965
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Opie Taylor 1964
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone Luke 1964
The Great Adventure
The Great Adventure Daniel Waterhouse 1963
The Danny Kaye Show
The Danny Kaye Show Self 1963
The Fugitive
The Fugitive Gus 1963
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
The Courtship of Eddie's Father Eddie Corbett 1963
The Music Man
The Music Man Winthrop Paroo 1962
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show Self 1961
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show Self - Co-Host 1961
Five Minutes to Live
Five Minutes to Live Bobby Wilson 1961
The New Breed
The New Breed Tommy Simms 1961
Dr. Kildare
Dr. Kildare Jerry Prentice 1961
Route 66
Route 66 1960
The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show Opie Taylor 1960
Pete and Gladys
Pete and Gladys 1960
Dennis the Menace
Dennis the Menace 1959
Five Fingers
Five Fingers 1959
Dennis the Menace
Dennis the Menace Stewart 1959
Johnny Ringo
Johnny Ringo Ricky Parrott 1959
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone Wilcox Boy 1959
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis 1959
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Little Boy Eating Candy Bar 1959
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Little Boy with Ray Gun 1959
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
The DuPont Show with June Allyson Wim 1959
Bonanza
Bonanza Ted Hoag 1959
The Journey
The Journey Billy Rhinelander 1959
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke Jamie 1955
The Wonderful World of Disney
The Wonderful World of Disney Chris 1954
Lassie
Lassie 1954
The Danny Thomas Show
The Danny Thomas Show Opie Taylor 1953
The Oscars
The Oscars Self 1953
General Electric Theater
General Electric Theater Barnaby Baxter 1953
General Electric Theater
General Electric Theater Randy 1953
The Red Skelton Show
The Red Skelton Show Joey 1951
The Bob Hope Show
The Bob Hope Show Self 1950
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards Self - Presenter 1944
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards Self - Nominee 1944
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards Self - Accepting Award for Best Motion Picture Drama / Nominee 1944

Directing Credits (46)

Writing Credits (5)

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