Ron Howard - wikipedia Ron Howard For other people with similar names, see Ronald Howard ( disambiguation ). Ron Howard Howard in 2011 Ronald William Howard ( 1954 - 03 - 01 ) March 1, 1954 ( age 64 ) Duncan, Oklahoma, U.S. Alma mater University of Southern California Occupation Actor, filmmaker Years active 1956 -- present Spouse ( s ) Cheryl Alley ( m. 1975 ) Children Four ; including Bryce Dallas Howard and Paige Howard Parent ( s ) Rance Howard Jean Speegle Howard Relatives Clint Howard ( brother ) Ronald William 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 youth and 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. He appeared in the musical film The Music Man ( 1962 ), the comedy film The Courtship of Eddie 's Father ( 1963 ), the coming of age film American Graffiti ( 1973 ), the western film The Shootist ( 1976 ), and the comedy film 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 ) ( earning him the Directors Guild of America award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures ), the biographical drama A Beautiful Mind ( 2001 ) ( earning him the Academy Award for Best Director and Academy Award for Best Picture ), the thriller The Da Vinci Code ( 2006 ), the historical drama Frost / Nixon ( 2008 ) ( nominated for Best Director and Best Picture Academy Awards ) and Solo : A Star Wars Story ( 2018 ). In 2002, Howard narrated the Fox comedy series Arrested Development, on which he also served as producer and played a semi-fictionalized version of himself. In 2003, Howard was awarded the National Medal of Arts. 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. Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2.1 Early acting roles and The Andy Griffith Show 2.2 Film roles and Happy Days 2.3 Directing 2.4 Imagine Entertainment 3 Personal life 4 Filmography 4.1 Film 4.2 Television 4.2. 1 As an actor 4.2. 2 As a director 4.2. 3 As a producer 5 Awards and nominations 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External links Early life Howard was born in Duncan, Oklahoma, in 1954, the elder son of Jean Speegle Howard, 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 had taken the stage name `` Howard '' by 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, and graduated 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. 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 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. On his 9th birthday, in 1963, he got an 8mm movie camera, with tripod, lights and film, a gift that was given by both Griffith and producer Aaron Ruben ( who shared the same birthday with Howard, and was 4 decades Howard 's senior ). He and Griffith remained close, until Griffith 's death nearly 45 years later, on July 3, 2012. Upon his death, Howard released a statement from Entertainment Weekly : `` I was five years old. And I was preoccupied with the prop that was in my hand, because it was a toy turtle. But I had to pretend it was a real turtle that the audience just was n't seeing, and it was dead, so I was supposed to be crying and very emotional, and I remember him looking at that little turtle and talking to me about how it was kind of funny to have to pretend that was dead. So I recall just a very relaxed first impression. '' He also added of the memories he had on the show with his TV father : `` He was fantastic, '' Howard said. `` There was a fantastic equilibrium between his love of laughter and jokes and funny stories and songs and all that, and then he could turn on a dime and be the utmost professional.... If people who met him were to be surprised ( to learn something about him ) it would be this sort of simple commitment to excellence. This straightforward work ethic that he adhered to in a very unpretentious way with great humility and very few words. '' The last thing that Howard said about his TV father 's legacy, his work on everything : `` He loved people, '' Howard said. `` He loved their foibles, their quirks, and he celebrated that on the show, and he appreciated it about people in life. '' Then, 4 years after his TV father 's death, he said in a 2016 interview with US Magazine when Griffith would allow the then 7 - year - old boy to embark on his own writing, `` I felt elated, '' Howard recalled : `` Andy Griffith said, ' What are you grinnin ' at, young'un ? ' I said, ' That 's the first idea of mine they 've taken. ' He said, ' It 's the first that was any damn good. Now let 's rehearse ! ' '' 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. 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. 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 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 reprise 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. 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. His big theatrical break came in 1982, with Night Shift, featuring Michael Keaton, Shelley Long, and Henry Winkler. 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, In the Heart of the Sea and Inferno. Howard showcased the world premiere of his film Frost / Nixon at the 2008 London Film Festival in October 2008. Howard was the recipient of the Austin Film Festival 's 2009 Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award. Michael Keaton presented him with the Award. On June 22, 2017 it was announced that Howard would take over directing duties on the then - untitled Han Solo film, a film based on Star Wars character Han Solo in his younger years. The film is due for release on May 25, 2018. Howard replaced directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller who were let go from their position two days earlier, reportedly due to their refusal to compromise with Lucasfilm over the direction of the film and going off script, trying to make the film more of a comedy. The film was nearly completed with three and a half weeks left before it wrapped and another five weeks of reshoots scheduled. Howard posted on Twitter his response to taking over directing duties on the film saying `` I 'm beyond grateful to add my voice to the Star Wars Universe after being a fan since 5 / 25 / 77. I hope to honor the great work already done & help deliver on the promise of a Han Solo film. '' In November 2017, Howard announced that he would be teaching his first directing class. Imagine Entertainment Howard in June 2008 during the filming of Angels & Demons 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 which Howard also narrated. 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. 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 the Jamie Foxx music video `` Blame It ''. Personal life Howard and Brian Grazer at a Tribeca Film Festival panel on A Beautiful Mind Howard married writer Cheryl Alley ( b. 1953 ) on June 7, 1975. They have four children : daughters Bryce Dallas Howard ( b. 1981 ), twins Jocelyn Carlyle and Paige Howard ( b. 1985 ), and son Reed Cross ( b. 1987 ). Filmography Film Year Title Credited as Role Notes Actor Director Writer Producer 1956 Frontier Woman Yes No No No Bit Part Uncredited 1959 The Journey Yes No No No Billy Rhinelander 1961 Five Minutes to Live Yes No No No Bobby Credited as Ronnie Howard 1962 The Music Man Yes No No No Winthrop Paroo 1963 The Courtship of Eddie 's Father Yes No No No Eddie 1965 Village of the Giants Yes No No No Genius 1969 Old Paint No Yes No No Short films ; credited as Ronny Howard Deed of Derring - Do No Yes No No Cards, Cads, Guns, Gore and Death No Yes No No 1970 The Wild Country Yes No No No Virgil Tanner 1973 American Graffiti Yes No No No Steve Bolander Happy Mother 's Day, Love George Yes No No No Johnny The Spikes Gang Yes No No No Les Richter 1976 The First Nudie Musical Yes No No No Auditioning actor Uncredited Eat My Dust ! Yes No No No Hoover Niebold The Shootist Yes No No No Gillom Rogers 1977 Grand Theft Auto Yes Yes Yes No Sam Freeman 1978 Cotton Candy No Yes Yes No Co-writer with Clint Howard 1979 More American Graffiti Yes No No No Steve Bolander 1980 Leo and Loree No No No Executive 1982 Night Shift Yes Yes No No Annoying Sax Player / Boy Making out with Girlfriend Uncredited cameos 1984 Splash No Yes No No 1985 Cocoon No Yes No No 1986 Gung Ho No Yes No Executive No Man 's Land No No No Executive 1988 Willow No Yes No No Vibes No No No Executive Clean and Sober No No No Yes The ' Burbs No No No Executive Parenthood No Yes Yes No 1991 The Doors No No No Executive Uncredited Closet Land No No No Executive Backdraft No Yes No No Far and Away No Yes Yes Yes The Magical World of Chuck Jones Yes Yes No No Himself Documentary The Paper No Yes No No 1995 Apollo 13 No Yes No No The Chamber No No No Yes Ransom No Yes No No Inventing the Abbotts No No No Yes 1998 One Vision Yes No No No Himself Documentary Welcome to Hollywood Yes No No No Himself 1999 EDtv No Yes No Yes Beyond the Mat No No No Yes Documentary 2000 The Independent Yes No No No Himself Dr. Seuss ' How the Grinch Stole Christmas Yes Yes No Yes Whoville Townsperson Uncredited 2001 Osmosis Jones Yes No No No Tom Colonic Voice role A Beautiful Mind Yes Yes No Yes Man at Governor 's Ball Uncredited 2003 The Missing No Yes No Yes The Alamo No No No Yes Tell Them Who You Are Yes No No No Himself Documentary 2005 Inside Deep Throat No No No Yes Uncredited ; Documentary Cinderella Man Yes Yes No Yes Man at Governor 's Ball Uncredited cameo 2006 Curious George No No No Yes The Da Vinci Code No Yes No Yes 2007 In the Shadow of the Moon Yes No No No Himself Documentary 2008 Frost / Nixon No Yes No Yes 2009 Angels & Demons No Yes No Yes Curious George 2 : Follow That Monkey ! No No No Executive 2011 The Dilemma No Yes No Yes The Death and Return of Superman Yes No No No Max 's Son Short Restless No No No Yes Cowboys & Aliens No No No Yes When You Find Me No No No Yes Short film 2012 Katy Perry : Part of Me No No No Yes Documentary 2013 From Up on Poppy Hill Yes No No No Philosophy Club 's president Voice role Rush No Yes No Yes Made in America No Yes No Yes 2014 The Good Lie No No No Yes 2015 Curious George 3 : Back to the Jungle No No No Executive In the Heart of the Sea No Yes No Yes 2016 Donald Trump 's The Art of the Deal : The Movie Yes No No No Himself The Beatles : Eight Days a Week No Yes No Yes Documentary Inferno No Yes No Yes 2017 The Dark Tower No No No Yes American Made No No No Yes Uncredited 2018 Solo : A Star Wars Story No Yes No No Co-director ; replaced directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller Post-production 2019 Thriller No No No Yes TBA The Perfect Wife No Yes No Yes Television As an actor Year Title Role Notes 1959 Johnny Ringo Ricky Parrot Episode : `` The Accused '' Five Fingers Episode : `` Station Break '' The Twilight Zone Wilcox Boy Episode : `` Walking Distance '' The DuPont Show with June Allyson Wim Wegless 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 Episode : `` The Baby Sitter '' 1960 The Danny Thomas Show Opie Taylor Episode : `` Danny Meets Andy Griffith '' Cheyenne Timmy Episode : `` Counterfeit Gun '' ; uncredited Pete and Gladys Tommy Episode : `` The Goat Story '' 1960 -- 1968 The Andy Griffith Show Opie Taylor 209 episodes 1962 Route 66 Chet Duncan Episode : `` Poor Little Kangaroo Rat '' The New Breed Tommy Simms Episode : `` So Dark the Night '' 1963 The Eleventh Hour Barry Stewart Episode : `` Is Mr. Martian Coming Back ? '' 1964 The Great Adventure Daniel Waterhouse Episode : `` Plague '' Dr. Kildare Jerry Prentice Episode : `` A Candle in the Window '' The Fugitive Gus Episode : `` Cry Uncle '' 1965 The Big Valley Tommy Episode : `` Night of the Wolf '' 1966 Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Opie Taylor Episode : `` Opie Joins the Marines '' I Spy Alan Loden Episode : `` Little Boy Lost '' 1967 The Monroes Timothy Prescott Episode : `` Teaching the Tiger to Purr '' Gentle Ben Jody Cutler Episode : `` Green - Eyed Bear '' 1968 Mayberry R.F.D. Opie Taylor Episode : `` Andy and Helen Get Married '' The Archie Show Archie Andrews Early Pilot Cartoon Lancer Turk Caudle / Willy 2 episodes 1969 Judd for the Defense Phil Beeton Episode : `` Between the Dark and the Daylight '' 1969 Daniel Boone Luke Episode : `` A Man Before His Time '' 1969 Gunsmoke Jamie Episode : `` Charlie Noon '' 1969 Land of the Giants Jodar Episode : `` Genius At Work '' 1970 Smoke Chris TV Movie 1970 The Headmaster Tony Landis Episode : `` Will the Real Mother of Tony Landis Please Stand Up ? '' 1970 Lassie Gary Episode : `` Gary Here Comes Glory ! '' Part 1 & 2 1971 The Smith Family Bob Smith 39 episodes 1972 Love, American Style Richard ' Richie ' Cunningham Episode : `` Love and the Happy Days '' 1972 The Bold Ones : The New Doctors Cory Merlino Episode : `` Discovery at Fourteen '' 1972 Bonanza Ted Hoag Episode : `` The Initiation '' 1973 M * A * S * H Private Walter / Wendell Peterson Episode : `` Sometimes You Hear the Bullet '' The Waltons Seth Turner Episode : `` The Gift '' 1974 -- 1984 Happy Days Richard ' Richie ' Cunningham 171 episodes Locusts Donny Fletcher TV Movie The Migrants Lyle Barlow TV Movie Huckleberry Finn Huckleberry Finn TV Movie 1976 Laverne & Shirley Richie Cunningham 2 episodes 1976 I 'm a Fool Andy TV Movie 1980 The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang Richie Cunningham ( voice ) 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 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 - 1999 The Simpsons Himself ( voice ) 2 episodes 1999 Frasier Stephen ( voice ) Episode : `` Good Samaritan '' 2003 -- 2006 ; 2013 Arrested Development Narrator Semi-fictional version of himself 68 episodes ; also executive producer 2016 The Odd Couple Stanley Episode : `` Taffy Days '' 2017 This is Us Himself Episode : `` What Now ? '' 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 Littleshots TV Movie ; also executive producer 2017 Genius Pilot episode ; also executive producer As a producer Year Film Role 1981 Skyward Christmas Executive producer ; TV movie 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 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, 2018 Arrested Development Executive producer 2014 Unsung Heroes Executive producer ; TV documentary 2015 -- Breakthrough 2016 - `` Mars '' Executive producer 2017 The Dark Tower Awards and nominations Main article : List of awards and nominations received by Ron Howard References ^ Jump up to : Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 1999 Jump up ^ Lifetime Honors -- National Medal of Arts Archived 2012 - 08 - 05 at Archive.is Jump up ^ Carlson, Erin ( 23 January 2013 ). `` Les Moonves, Dick Wolf and Ron Howard Among TV ' Hall of Fame ' Inductees ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 August 2017. Jump up ^ `` 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. Jump up ^ `` Ron Howard Biography ( 1954 -- ) ''. Filmreference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Ron Howard : From Mayberry to the Moon... and Beyond ''. google.com. Jump up ^ `` Ron Howard Biography ''. Monsters and Critics. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2017. Jump up ^ `` Ron Howard ''. celebrina.com. Jump up ^ `` Clint Howard ''. fringepedia.net. Archived from the original on 2014 - 08 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Pals Of The Saddle - Ron Howard ( Archive ) -- JWMB -- The Original John Wayne Message Board ! ''. dukewayne.com. Jump up ^ `` Actress keeps name of her famous family ''. The Vindicator. Scripps Howard. August 3, 2004. p. B7. Retrieved September 18, 2012. Jump up ^ Gray, Beverly ( 2003 ). Ron Howard : From Mayberry to the Moon -- and Beyond. Thomas Nelson. p. 6. ISBN 1 - 55853 - 970 - 0. Jump up ^ Gray, pp. 7 -- 8. Jump up ^ Estrin, Eric ( Feb 22, 2010 ). `` Ron Howard 's ' Breakthrough ' ? : Ronald Reagan ''. The Wrap. Retrieved May 6, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Notable Alumni ''. cinema-usc.edu. Retrieved September 18, 2012. Jump up ^ Devine, Mary ( 1998 ). International Dictionary of University Histories. Taylor & Francis. p. 621. ISBN 1 - 884964 - 23 - 0. Jump up ^ `` Ron Howard : On Filmmaking ''. Bafta Guru. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2015. Jump up ^ Howard, Ron ( July 3, 2012 ). `` Andy Griffith : Ron Howard shares memories ''. EW.com. Retrieved March 10, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Why Ron Howard Thought Tom Hanks Had ' No Chance in Hell ' of Landing a Role in ' Splash ' ''. US.com. November 14, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2018. Jump up ^ MSN Entertainment The Waltons : The Gift Jump up ^ fmsteinberg ( 21 September 2009 ). `` '' Love, American Style '' Love and the Happy Days / Love and the Newscasters ( TV Episode 1972 ) ``. IMDb. Jump up ^ `` London Film Festival ''. Spoonfed.co.uk. September 24, 2008. Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved March 5, 2010. Jump up ^ Breznican, Anthony ( June 22, 2017 ). `` How the Han Solo film broke apart -- with Ron Howard picking up the pieces ''. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 22, 2017. Jump up ^ Burlingame, Russ ( June 22, 2017 ). `` Ron Howard Comments on Taking Over The Han Solo Movie ''. Comicbook.com. Retrieved June 22, 2017. Jump up ^ Dry, Jude ( 2017 - 11 - 16 ). `` Ron Howard Will Teach You Directing, In Case There 's a ' Star Wars ' in Your Future -- Watch ''. IndieWire. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 16. Jump up ^ Nellie Andreeva. `` Showtime & Imagine Team For Aztec Drama Directed By Ron Howard & Penned By Jose Rivera ''. Deadline. Jump up ^ `` Cheryl Howard Crew - The Official Site ''. cherylhowardcrew.com. Jump up ^ Cheryl Howard Crew : To the Pier, Intrepidly, New York Times, 24 April 2005 Jump up ^ Gray, Beverly ( 10 March 2003 ). `` Ron Howard : From Mayberry to the Moon... and Beyond ''. Thomas Nelson Inc -- via Google Books. Jump up ^ Fleming Jr, Mike. `` ' The Perfect Wife ' Book Deal Another Perfect Fit For Imagine ''. Deadline. Retrieved 25 February 2017. Bibliography Holmstrom, John. The Moving Picture Boy : An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995. Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 304 - 305. External links Ron Howard on IMDb Ron Howard at the TCM Movie Database Ron Howard at AllMovie 2002 Commencement Address ( USC School of Cinema - Television ) Ron Howard : Imagining the Wonders of Willow -- Article at StarWars.com Ron Howard interview video at the Archive of American Television Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture -- Howard, Ron Appearances on C - SPAN Films directed by Ron Howard Grand Theft Auto ( 1977 ) Cotton Candy ( 1978 ) Skyward ( 1980 ) Night Shift ( 1982 ) Splash ( 1984 ) Cocoon ( 1985 ) Gung Ho ( 1986 ) Willow ( 1988 ) Parenthood ( 1989 ) Backdraft ( 1991 ) Far and Away ( 1992 ) The Paper ( 1994 ) Apollo 13 ( 1995 ) Ransom ( 1996 ) EDtv ( 1999 ) How the Grinch Stole Christmas ( 2000 ) A Beautiful Mind ( 2001 ) The Missing ( 2003 ) Cinderella Man ( 2005 ) The Da Vinci Code ( 2006 ) Frost / Nixon ( 2008 ) Angels & Demons ( 2009 ) The Dilemma ( 2011 ) Rush ( 2013 ) Made in America ( 2013 ) In the Heart of the Sea ( 2015 ) The Beatles : Eight Days a Week ( 2016 ) Inferno ( 2016 ) Solo : A Star Wars Story ( 2018 ) Awards for Ron Howard Academy Award for Best Director 1927 -- 1950 Frank Borzage ( 1927 ) Lewis Milestone ( 1928 ) Frank Lloyd ( 1929 ) Lewis Milestone ( 1930 ) Norman Taurog ( 1931 ) Frank Borzage ( 1932 ) Frank Lloyd ( 1933 ) Frank Capra ( 1934 ) John Ford ( 1935 ) Frank Capra ( 1936 ) Leo McCarey ( 1937 ) Frank Capra ( 1938 ) Victor Fleming ( 1939 ) John Ford ( 1940 ) John Ford ( 1941 ) William Wyler ( 1942 ) Michael Curtiz ( 1943 ) Leo McCarey ( 1944 ) Billy Wilder ( 1945 ) William Wyler ( 1946 ) Elia Kazan ( 1947 ) John Huston ( 1948 ) Joseph L. Mankiewicz ( 1949 ) Joseph L. Mankiewicz ( 1950 ) 1951 -- 1975 George Stevens ( 1951 ) John Ford ( 1952 ) Fred Zinnemann ( 1953 ) Elia Kazan ( 1954 ) Delbert Mann ( 1955 ) George Stevens ( 1956 ) David Lean ( 1957 ) Vincente Minnelli ( 1958 ) William Wyler ( 1959 ) Billy Wilder ( 1960 ) Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise ( 1961 ) David Lean ( 1962 ) Tony Richardson ( 1963 ) George Cukor ( 1964 ) Robert Wise ( 1965 ) Fred Zinnemann ( 1966 ) Mike Nichols ( 1967 ) Carol Reed ( 1968 ) John Schlesinger ( 1969 ) Franklin J. Schaffner ( 1970 ) William Friedkin ( 1971 ) Bob Fosse ( 1972 ) George Roy Hill ( 1973 ) Francis Ford Coppola ( 1974 ) Miloš Forman ( 1975 ) 1976 -- 2000 John G. Avildsen ( 1976 ) Woody Allen ( 1977 ) Michael Cimino ( 1978 ) Robert Benton ( 1979 ) Robert Redford ( 1980 ) Warren Beatty ( 1981 ) Richard Attenborough ( 1982 ) James L. Brooks ( 1983 ) Miloš Forman ( 1984 ) Sydney Pollack ( 1985 ) Oliver Stone ( 1986 ) Bernardo Bertolucci ( 1987 ) Barry Levinson ( 1988 ) Oliver Stone ( 1989 ) Kevin Costner ( 1990 ) Jonathan Demme ( 1991 ) Clint Eastwood ( 1992 ) Steven Spielberg ( 1993 ) Robert Zemeckis ( 1994 ) Mel Gibson ( 1995 ) Anthony Minghella ( 1996 ) James Cameron ( 1997 ) Steven Spielberg ( 1998 ) Sam Mendes ( 1999 ) Steven Soderbergh ( 2000 ) 2001 -- present Ron Howard ( 2001 ) Roman Polanski ( 2002 ) Peter Jackson ( 2003 ) Clint Eastwood ( 2004 ) Ang Lee ( 2005 ) Martin Scorsese ( 2006 ) Joel Coen and Ethan Coen ( 2007 ) Danny Boyle ( 2008 ) Kathryn Bigelow ( 2009 ) Tom Hooper ( 2010 ) Michel Hazanavicius ( 2011 ) Ang Lee ( 2012 ) Alfonso Cuarón ( 2013 ) Alejandro G. Iñárritu ( 2014 ) Alejandro G. Iñárritu ( 2015 ) Damien Chazelle ( 2016 ) Guillermo del Toro ( 2017 ) Critics ' Choice Movie Award for Best Director Mel Gibson ( 1995 ) Anthony Minghella ( 1996 ) James Cameron ( 1997 ) Steven Spielberg ( 1998 ) Sam Mendes ( 1999 ) Steven Soderbergh ( 2000 ) Ron Howard / Baz Luhrmann ( 2001 ) Steven Spielberg ( 2002 ) Peter Jackson ( 2003 ) Martin Scorsese ( 2004 ) Ang Lee ( 2005 ) Martin Scorsese ( 2006 ) Joel Coen and Ethan Coen ( 2007 ) Danny Boyle ( 2008 ) Kathryn Bigelow ( 2009 ) David Fincher ( 2010 ) Michel Hazanavicius ( 2011 ) Ben Affleck ( 2012 ) Alfonso Cuarón ( 2013 ) Richard Linklater ( 2014 ) George Miller ( 2015 ) Damien Chazelle ( 2016 ) Guillermo del Toro ( 2017 ) Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing -- Feature Film 1948 -- 1975 Joseph L. Mankiewicz ( 1948 ) Robert Rossen ( 1949 ) Joseph L. Mankiewicz ( 1950 ) George Stevens ( 1951 ) John Ford ( 1952 ) Fred Zinnemann ( 1953 ) Elia Kazan ( 1954 ) Delbert Mann ( 1955 ) George Stevens ( 1956 ) David Lean ( 1957 ) Vincente Minnelli ( 1958 ) William Wyler ( 1959 ) Billy Wilder ( 1960 ) Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise ( 1961 ) David Lean ( 1962 ) Tony Richardson ( 1963 ) George Cukor ( 1964 ) Robert Wise ( 1965 ) Fred Zinnemann ( 1966 ) Mike Nichols ( 1967 ) Anthony Harvey ( 1968 ) John Schlesinger ( 1969 ) Franklin J. Schaffner ( 1970 ) William Friedkin ( 1971 ) Francis Ford Coppola ( 1972 ) George Roy Hill ( 1973 ) Francis Ford Coppola ( 1974 ) Miloš Forman ( 1975 ) 1976 -- 2000 John G. Avildsen ( 1976 ) Woody Allen ( 1977 ) Michael Cimino ( 1978 ) Robert Benton ( 1979 ) Robert Redford ( 1980 ) Warren Beatty ( 1981 ) Richard Attenborough ( 1982 ) James L. Brooks ( 1983 ) Miloš Forman ( 1984 ) Steven Spielberg ( 1985 ) Oliver Stone ( 1986 ) Bernardo Bertolucci ( 1987 ) Barry Levinson ( 1988 ) Oliver Stone ( 1989 ) Kevin Costner ( 1990 ) Jonathan Demme ( 1991 ) Clint Eastwood ( 1992 ) Steven Spielberg ( 1993 ) Robert Zemeckis ( 1994 ) Ron Howard ( 1995 ) Anthony Minghella ( 1996 ) James Cameron ( 1997 ) Steven Spielberg ( 1998 ) Sam Mendes ( 1999 ) Ang Lee ( 2000 ) 2001 -- present Ron Howard ( 2001 ) Rob Marshall ( 2002 ) Peter Jackson ( 2003 ) Clint Eastwood ( 2004 ) Ang Lee ( 2005 ) Martin Scorsese ( 2006 ) Joel Coen and Ethan Coen ( 2007 ) Danny Boyle ( 2008 ) Kathryn Bigelow ( 2009 ) Tom Hooper ( 2010 ) Michel Hazanavicius ( 2011 ) Ben Affleck ( 2012 ) Alfonso Cuarón ( 2013 ) Alejandro G. Iñárritu ( 2014 ) Alejandro G. Iñárritu ( 2015 ) Damien Chazelle ( 2016 ) Guillermo del Toro ( 2017 ) Golden Globe Award for Best Actor -- Television Series Musical or Comedy 1970 -- 2000 Flip Wilson ( 1970 ) Carroll O'Connor ( 1971 ) Redd Foxx ( 1972 ) Jack Klugman ( 1973 ) Alan Alda ( 1974 ) Alan Alda ( 1975 ) Henry Winkler ( 1976 ) Ron Howard / Henry Winkler ( 1977 ) Robin Williams ( 1978 ) Alan Alda ( 1979 ) Alan Alda ( 1980 ) Alan Alda ( 1981 ) Alan Alda ( 1982 ) John Ritter ( 1983 ) Bill Cosby ( 1984 ) Bill Cosby ( 1985 ) Bruce Willis ( 1986 ) Dabney Coleman ( 1987 ) Michael J. Fox / Judd Hirsch / Richard Mulligan ( 1988 ) Ted Danson ( 1989 ) Ted Danson ( 1990 ) Burt Reynolds ( 1991 ) John Goodman ( 1992 ) Jerry Seinfeld ( 1993 ) Tim Allen ( 1994 ) Kelsey Grammer ( 1995 ) John Lithgow ( 1996 ) Michael J. Fox ( 1997 ) Michael J. Fox ( 1998 ) Michael J. Fox ( 1999 ) Kelsey Grammer ( 2000 ) 2001 -- present Charlie Sheen ( 2001 ) Tony Shalhoub ( 2002 ) Ricky Gervais ( 2003 ) Jason Bateman ( 2004 ) Steve Carell ( 2005 ) Alec Baldwin ( 2006 ) David Duchovny ( 2007 ) Alec Baldwin ( 2008 ) Alec Baldwin ( 2009 ) Jim Parsons ( 2010 ) Matt LeBlanc ( 2011 ) Don Cheadle ( 2012 ) Andy Samberg ( 2013 ) Jeffrey Tambor ( 2014 ) Gael García Bernal ( 2015 ) Donald Glover ( 2016 ) Aziz Ansari ( 2017 ) Saturn Award for Best Director Mel Brooks ( 1974 / 75 ) Dan Curtis ( 1976 ) George Lucas / Steven Spielberg ( 1977 ) Philip Kaufman ( 1978 ) Ridley Scott ( 1979 ) Irvin Kershner ( 1980 ) Steven Spielberg ( 1981 ) Nicholas Meyer ( 1982 ) John Badham ( 1983 ) Joe Dante ( 1984 ) Ron Howard ( 1985 ) James Cameron ( 1986 ) Paul Verhoeven ( 1987 ) Robert Zemeckis ( 1988 ) James Cameron ( 1989 / 90 ) James Cameron ( 1991 ) Francis Ford Coppola ( 1992 ) Steven Spielberg ( 1993 ) James Cameron ( 1994 ) Kathryn Bigelow ( 1995 ) Roland Emmerich ( 1996 ) John Woo ( 1997 ) Michael Bay ( 1998 ) Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski ( 1999 ) Bryan Singer ( 2000 ) Peter Jackson ( 2001 ) Steven Spielberg ( 2002 ) Peter Jackson ( 2003 ) Sam Raimi ( 2004 ) Peter Jackson ( 2005 ) Bryan Singer ( 2006 ) Zack Snyder ( 2007 ) Jon Favreau ( 2008 ) James Cameron ( 2009 ) Christopher Nolan ( 2010 ) J.J. Abrams ( 2011 ) Joss Whedon ( 2012 ) Alfonso Cuarón ( 2013 ) James Gunn ( 2014 ) Ridley Scott ( 2015 ) Gareth Edwards ( 2016 ) Television Hall of Fame Class of 2013 Philo Farnsworth Ron Howard Al Michaels Leslie Moonves Bob Schieffer Dick Wolf VIAF : 79169932 LCCN : n92004956 ISNI : 0000 0001 2141 1413 GND : 119265478 SELIBR : 280645 SUDOC : 056853610 BNF : cb13948573g ( data ) MusicBrainz : aa70ea39 - 4bf1 - 4901 - a75f - f2541b77c0e3 NKC : js20051003004 BNE : XX1109583 SNAC : w65x6nzc Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Howard&oldid=835569625 '' Categories : 1954 births Living people 20th - century American male actors American film directors American male child actors American male film actors American male television actors American male voice actors American people of English descent American people of Dutch descent American people of German descent American people of Irish descent American people of Scottish descent American television producers Best Directing Academy Award winners Best Musical or Comedy Actor Golden Globe ( television ) winners Daytime Emmy Award winners Directors Guild of America Award winners Emmy Award winners Empire Inspiration Award winners English - language film directors Film directors from California Film directors from Oklahoma Grammy Award winners Howard acting family Male actors from Burbank, California Male actors from Greenwich, Connecticut Male actors from Oklahoma Male actors of German descent Oklahoma Democrats People from Duncan, Oklahoma People from the Greater Los Angeles Area Producers who won the Best Picture Academy Award United States National Medal of Arts recipients USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni Hidden categories : Webarchive template archiveis links Articles with hCards Turner Classic Movies person ID same as Wikidata All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from December 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links Articles using Template : EmmyTVLegends name Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with SELIBR identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers Wikipedia articles with SNAC - ID identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Aragonés Asturianu تۆرکجه বাংলা Беларуская Български Català Čeština Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Հայերեն Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית ქართული Latina Latviešu Magyar Malagasy მარგალური Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Plattdüütsch Polski Português Română Русский Scots Shqip Simple English Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska தமிழ் ไทย Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt Winaray 中文 43 more Edit links This page was last edited on 9 April 2018, at 14 : 06. 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Question: who played opie on the andy griffith show
Answer: Howard