# Rance Howard

Rance Howard (born Harold Engle Beckenholdt; November 17, 1928 – November 25, 2017) was an American actor who starred in film and on television. He was the father of actor and filmmaker Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard, and grandfather of actresses Bryce Dallas Howard and Paige Howard.
Howard appeared in films such as Cool Hand Luke (1967), Chinatown (1974), Splash (1984), Ed Wood (1994), Apollo 13 (1995), Independence Day (1996), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Cinderella Man (2005), Frost/Nixon (2008), Nebraska, and Max Rose (both 2013). He received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program for co-producing the television film The Time Crystal (1981).

## Early life

Howard was born Harold Engle Beckenholdt in Newkirk, Kay County, Oklahoma, the son of Ethel Cleo (née Tomlin) and Engel Beckenholdt, a farmer. He changed his name to "Rance Howard" when he became an actor. Howard graduated from Shidler High School in 1946 and studied at the University of Oklahoma.
While in the Air Force, Howard directed plays in Special Services, a unit that provided entertainment for service members.

## Career

His professional acting career began in 1948 when he went to New York City, auditioned, and landed a job in a children's touring company. The role that got him noticed nationally for television and film was playing the part of Lindstrom in the touring company of the play Mister Roberts with Henry Fonda in 1950, portraying the character for about a year-and-a-half in major cities across the U.S.
Both Rance and elder son Ron, who was two at the time, made their feature-film debuts together in the 1956 Western Frontier Woman. Later in the 1950s, Rance's roles included his TV debut in the series Kraft Theatre, on which he appeared three times in 1956–57.
After son Ron went on to play Opie in The Andy Griffith Show in the early 1960s, Rance had guest parts in five episodes of the show. Howard was known best for his role on television in 25 episodes of the 1960s TV series Gentle Ben starring his younger son, Clint. Howard played Henry Boomhauer, a backwoodsman who befriended the family. Another well-known TV role was on Babylon 5, in which he had a recurring role as David Sheridan, the father of Babylon 5 captain John Sheridan. He also starred in the short-lived 2000 TV series Driving Me Crazy. His television guest appearances include Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Kung Fu, The Waltons, CBS Schoolbreak Special 1986 episode "The Drug Knot", Angel, Married... with Children, 7th Heaven, Cold Case, That's So Raven, and two appearances on Seinfeld (as different characters). On The Waltons, Howard portrayed Dr. McIver in five different episodes, one of which included Ron.
Howard appeared in over 100 films, including the movies The Music Man (1962) (in an uncredited bit part playing "Oscar Jackson"), Cool Hand Luke (1967), Chinatown (1974), and many other films. Howard acted in many of his son Ron's films including Splash (1984), Cocoon (1985), Apollo 13 (1995), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Cinderella Man (2005) and Frost/Nixon (2008). He also appeared as Dottie and Kit's father in A League of Their Own (1992), as well as in the films Ed Wood (1994), Independence Day (1996) and Max Rose (2013). In 2013, he played Woody Grant's brother in Nebraska. He often took parts as a priest or minister, county sheriff, or western marshal, and made numerous appearances in films by Joe Dante.
His final film role, completed in September 2017, is also the largest in his career. He plays the role of Carl Robbins in the Michael Worth road-trip drama, Apple Seed, playing on film for the first time the father of his real-life son Clint.

## Personal life

Howard married actress Jean Speegle Howard in Winchester, Kentucky, in 1949. They remained married until her death in September 2000. Their sons are actor and filmmaker Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard, their granddaughters are actresses Bryce Dallas Howard and Paige Howard. Ron was born while his father served three years in the United States Air Force.
In 2001, Howard married Judy Howard. Judy Howard died in January 2017 in Burbank, 10 months before Howard's death.
Howard died on the morning of November 25, 2017, in Los Angeles, California from heart failure spurred on by a West Nile virus infection.

## Filmography

* Sources:

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1956 | Frontier Woman | Prewitt | |
| 1962 | The Music Man | Oscar Jackson | Uncredited |
| 1963 | The Courtship of Eddie's Father | Camp Counselor | Uncredited |
| 1965 | Village of the Giants | Deputy | Son Ron also starred |
| 1965 | The Desert Raven | Reggie | |
| 1966 | An Eye for an Eye | Harry | |
| 1967 | Gentle Giant | Tater Coughlin | |
| 1967 | Cool Hand Luke | Sheriff | Uncredited |
| 1969 | Old Paint | Cowboy | Short film |
| 1970 | The Wild Country | Cleve | Uncredited |
| 1972 | Bloody Trail | Jake | |
| 1973 | Salty | — | |
| 1974 | Where the Lilies Bloom | Roy Luther | |
| 1974 | Chinatown | Irate Farmer | |
| 1976 | Eat My Dust! | Clark | |
| 1977 | The Legend of Frank Woods | Howard Blacker | |
| 1977 | Heroes | Veteran's Hospital Orderly | |
| 1977 | Grand Theft Auto | Ned Slinker | Also director |
| 1977 | Another Man, Another Chance | Wagonmaster | |
| 1978 | The Amazing Mr. No Legs | Lou's Sidekick | |
| 1979 | Mr. No Legs | Mr. No Legs' sidekick | |
| 1981 | Smokey Bites the Dust | Coach | |
| 1983 | Love Letters | Joseph Chesley | |
| 1983 | Forever and Beyond | Technician | |
| 1984 | The Lonely Guy | Minister | |
| 1984 | Splash | McCollough | Also director |
| 1985 | Cocoon | St. Petersburg Detective | Also director |
| 1985 | Creator | Mr. Spencer | |
| 1986 | Gung Ho | Mayor Conrad Zwart | Also director |
| 1987 | Innerspace | Supermarket Customer #1 | |
| 1988 | Dark Before Dawn | Logan | |
| 1988 | Merchants of Death | Robert Morrison | |
| 1989 | Trust Me | Vern | |
| 1989 | The 'Burbs | Detective #2 | |
| 1989 | Listen to Me | Tucker's Father | |
| 1989 | Parenthood | Dean at College | Also director |
| 1989 | Limit Up | Chuck Feeney | |
| 1991 | 9 1/2 Ninjas! | Ninja Negotiator | |
| 1992 | I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore | Elderly Man | |
| 1992 | Far and Away | Tomlin | Also director Son Ron |
| 1992 | Universal Soldier | John Devreux | |
| 1992 | Wishman | Det. Sturgis | |
| 1992 | Ticks | Sheriff Parker | |
| 1993 | Fearless | Bald Cabby | |
| 1993 | Ed and His Dead Mother | Rev. Praxton | |
| 1993 | Snapdragon | Priest | |
| 1994 | Forced to Kill | Rance | |
| 1994 | The Paper | Alicia's Doctor | Also director |
| 1994 | The Cowboy Way | Old Gentleman | |
| 1994 | Terminal Velocity | Chuck (pilot) | |
| 1994 | Ed Wood | Old Man McCoy | |
| 1994 | Little Giants | Priest | |
| 1994 | Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter | Todd Brandell | |
| 1995 | Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest | Eddie Calhoun | |
| 1995 | Savate | Farmer | |
| 1995 | Apollo 13 | Reverend | Also director |
| 1996 | Sgt. Bilko | Mr. Robbins | |
| 1996 | Tiger Heart | Mr. Johnson | |
| 1996 | Where Truth Lies | Judge Bloom | |
| 1996 | Independence Day | Chaplain | |
| 1996 | Mars Attacks! | Texan Investor | |
| 1996 | Ghosts of Mississippi | Ralph Hargrove | |
| 1997 | Busted | Mayor Davies | |
| 1997 | Traveller | Farmer | |
| 1997 | Money Talks | Reverend | |
| 1997 | The Lay of the Land | Dr. Brown | |
| 1997 | Sparkle and Charm | Mr. Houghton | |
| 1998 | The Sender | Max | |
| 1998 | Chairman of the Board | Rev. Hatley | |
| 1998 | Land of the Free | Hotel Manager | |
| 1998 | Small Soldiers | Husband | |
| 1998 | The Night Caller | Hank | |
| 1998 | Evasive Action | Train Engineer | Uncredited |
| 1998 | Psycho | Mr. Lowery | |
| 1999 | Happy, Texas | Ely | |
| 1999 | Malevolence | Dr. Burns | |
| 1999 | Abilene | Arliss | |
| 2000 | Love & Sex | Earl | |
| 2000 | Ping! | Old Man | |
| 2000 | Big Wind on Campus | Grandpa Morton | |
| 2000 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Elderly Timekeeper | Also director Son Ron |
| 2001 | Joe Dirt | Bomb Squad Cop | |
| 2001 | A Crack in the Floor | Floyd Fryed | |
| 2001 | Rat Race | Feed the Earth Spokesman | |
| 2001 | A Beautiful Mind | White-Haired Patient | Also director Son Ron |
| 2002 | D-Tox | Geezer | |
| 2002 | Legend of the Phantom Rider | Doc Fisher | |
| 2002 | Jumping for Joy | — | |
| 2002 | Leaving the Land | Uncle Solomon | |
| 2003 | The Long Ride Home | Old man | |
| 2003 | Ghost Rock | Cash | |
| 2003 | The Missing | Telegraph Operator | Also director Son Ron |
| 2004 | Death and Texas | Circuit Court Judge | |
| 2004 | Toolbox Murders | Chas Rooker | |
| 2004 | The Alamo | Governor Smith | |
| 2004 | Eulogy | Lance Sommers | |
| 2004 | Back by Midnight | Priest | |
| 2005 | Cinderella Man | Announcer Al Fazin | Also director Son Ron |
| 2005 | Killing Cupid | Zeke | |
| 2005 | Miracle at Sage Creek | Doctor Babcock | |
| 2006 | Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story | James Kennedy | |
| 2007 | Georgia Rule | Dog Bite Man | |
| 2007 | Be My Baby | Zippy the Messenger | |
| 2007 | Ghost Town | Sheriff Tom Parker | |
| 2007 | Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story | Preacher | |
| 2008 | Grizzly Park | Ranger Howard | |
| 2008 | Drillbit Taylor | Older Man | |
| 2008 | Keith | Old Man | Uncredited |
| 2008 | Audie & the Wolf | Dr. Maleosis | |
| 2008 | Frost/Nixon | Ollie | Also director Son Ron |
| 2009 | Play the Game | Mervin Lavine | |
| 2009 | Angels & Demons | Cardinal Beck | Also director Son Ron |
| 2009 | Within | Deli Owner | |
| 2009 | Boppin' at the Glue Factory | Walker Bill | |
| 2010 | Valentine's Day | Bistro Gardens Diner | |
| 2010 | Bloodworth | Ira | |
| 2010 | Yohan: The Child Wanderer | Old Knut | |
| 2010 | Once Fallen | Harry | |
| 2010 | Jonah Hex | Telegrapher | |
| 2010 | The Genesis Code | Dr. Tolley | |
| 2010 | The Trial | Judge Danielson | |
| 2011 | The Dilemma | Burt | Also director Son Ron |
| 2011 | Night Club | Chuck | |
| 2011 | InSight | Cemetery Presider | |
| 2011 | Spooky Buddies | Mr. Joseph Johnson | Direct-to-video |
| 2011 | Rosewood Lane | Fred Crumb | |
| 2011 | Redemption: For Robbing the Dead | Doctor | |
| 2011 | Let Go | Dimples | |
| 2012 | Easy Rider: The Ride Back | Andrew Jackson Bennett | |
| 2013 | Max Rose | Walter Prewitt | |
| 2013 | Nebraska | Uncle Ray | |
| 2013 | The Lone Ranger | Engineer | |
| 2013 | Richard Rossi 5th Anniversary of Sister Aimee | James Kennedy | |
| 2013 | Gone Dark | Charles | |
| 2015 | Junction | The Clerk | |
| 2016 | 40 Nights | Devil as an Old Man | |
| 2016 | Kalebegiak | José Mari | |
| 2017 | Chasing the Star | Devil as an Old Man | |
| 2017 | Broken Memories | Jasper | |
| 2018 | Sister Aimee 10th Anniversary | James Kennedy | Posthumous release |
| 2019 | The Christ Slayer | Devil as an Old Man | Posthumous release |
| 2019 | Apple Seed | Carl | Posthumous release |
| 2019 | Dads | Rance Howard | Posthumous release |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1956 1957 | Kraft Television Theatre | — | 3 episodes |
| 1958 | How to Marry a Millionaire | Corporal | Episode: "Hit and Run" |
| 1959 | Bat Masterson | Fletcher | Episode: "Promised Land" |
| 1962 1964 | Combat! | Wilkerson | Episode: "The Bridge at Chalons" |
| 1962 1964 | The Andy Griffith Show | Bus Driver / First Treasury Agent / Governor's Chauffeur / Party Guest | 5 episodes |
| 1966 | That Girl | Customer #2 | 2 episodes |
| 1966 | The Virginian | Luka | Episode: "Ride a Cock-Horse to Laramie Cross" |
| 1967 | The Monroes | Al | Episode: "Teaching the Tiger to Purr" |
| 1967 1969 | Gentle Ben | Henry Boomhauer | 13 episodes |
| 1970 | Then Came Bronson | Mr. Carl Mueller | Episode: "That Undiscovered Country..." |
| 1971 | Night Gallery | Cameraman | Episode: "The Boy Who Predicted Earthquakes/Miss Lovecraft Sent Me/The Hand of Borgus Weems/Phantom of What Opera?" |
| 1971 1972 | Bonanza | Sam / Bogardus | 2 episodes |
| 1973 | The F.B.I. | Ranger | Episode: "Desperate Journey" |
| 1973 | Kung Fu | Sheriff Byrd | Episode: "The Hoots" |
| 1973 1975 | The Waltons | Dr. McIvers | 5 episodes |
| 1974 | Gunsmoke | Frank Benton | 2 episodes |
| 1976 1979 | Happy Days | Announcer / Ben Wilson / Mr. Burkhart | 3 episodes |
| 1977 | Little House on the Prairie | Simpson | Episode: "Quarantine" |
| 1978 | Battlestar Galactica | Farnes | Episode: "The Magnificent Warriors" |
| 1978 | Cotton Candy | Mr. Bremmercamp | Also director Television film |
| 1979 | Laverne & Shirley | Doctor | Episode: "Who's Papa?" |
| 1981 | Mork & Mindy | Guard | Episode: "Mork Meets Robin Williams" |
| 1983 | The Thorn Birds | Doctor | Episode: "Part 3" |
| 1984 | Dynasty | Gifford | Episode: "The Voice: Part 2" |
| 1985 | The Long Hot Summer | Wilk | Television film |
| 1986 | A Smoky Mountain Christmas | Doctor | Television film |
| 1986 | Return To Mayberry | Preacher | Made for TV Movie |
| 1989 1992 | Baywatch | Fireman / Joe | 2 episodes |
| 1991 | Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter | Bernie | Television film |
| 1993 | Coach | Herman Van Dam | Episode: "Christmas of the Van Damned" |
| 1993 1996 | Seinfeld | Blind Man / Farmer | 2 episodes |
| 1994 | Diagnosis: Murder | Driver | Episode: "Murder with Mirrors" |
| 1995 | Problem Child 3: Junior in Love | The Janitor | Television film |
| 1996 1997 | Babylon 5 | David Sheridan | 3 episodes |
| 1996 1997 | Married... with Children | Edwin / Reverend | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | Melrose Place | Motel Manager | Episode: "Full Metal Betsy" |
| 1997 | Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction | Reginald Hannon | Episode: "The Viewing/The Subway/Kid in the Closet/Justice is Served/The Tractor" |
| 1998 | Clueless | Mr. Bell | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | Two of a Kind | Mr. Fillmore | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Just Shoot Me! | Blind Flower Guy | Episode: "When Nina Met Elliott" |
| 2000 | 7th Heaven | Old Man in Park | Episode: "Help!" |
| 2001 | Angel | Marcus Roscoe / Angel | Episode: "Carpe Noctem" |
| 2002 | That '80s Show | Mr. Bailey | Episode: "Tuesday Comes Over" |
| 2004 | Cold Case | Buddie | Episode: "Factory Girls" |
| 2004 | That's So Raven | Murphy | Episode: "Sweeps" |
| 2005 | Ghost Whisperer | Dirk Abrams | Episode: "Lost Boys" |
| 2006 | CSI: NY | Samuel Cooper | Episode: "Fare Game" |
| 2006 | Sasquatch Mountain | Harris Zeff | Television film |
| 2009 | ER | Dr. Oliver Kostin | Episode: "A Long, Strange Trip" |
| 2009 | Lie to Me | Joe Metz | Episode: "Moral Waiver" |
| 2011 | Workaholics | Jerry | Episode: "The Strike" |
| 2012 | Grey's Anatomy | Martin Carroll | Episode: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" |
| 2013 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Eugene | Episode: "Purity" |
| 2014 | Bones | Jerold Norsky | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Kroll Show | Dr. Stanley Armond | Episode: "Banff Is on Fire" |
| 2014 | Review | Willie | Episode: "Teaching the Tiger to Purr" |
| 2016 | The X-Files | Old Man | Episode: "My Struggle" |
| 2018 | Arrested Development | Rance Howard | Episode: "Emotional Baggage" Posthumous release |