Ron Howard

Ron Howard

Directing
Born 1954-03-01Duncan, Oklahoma, USA

Biography

Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American filmmaker and actor. He first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of The Twilight Zone. Howard 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.

Movies (89)

A Beautiful Mind
7.9

A Beautiful Mind

2001Movie7.9
Marty, Life Is Short
7.9

Marty, Life Is Short

2026Movie7.9
Osmosis Jones
6.5

Osmosis Jones

2001Movie6.5
John Candy: I Like Me
7.9

John Candy: I Like Me

2025Movie7.9
Willow: Behind the Magic
4.3

Willow: Behind the Magic

2023Movie4.3
Music by John Williams
8.0

Music by John Williams

2024Movie8.0
The Shootist
7.1

The Shootist

1976Movie7.1
American Graffiti
7.0

American Graffiti

1973Movie7.0
The Music Man
7.1

The Music Man

1962Movie7.1
Dads
6.9

Dads

2019Movie6.9
Night Shift
6.1

Night Shift

1982Movie6.1
Sitcom: The Adventures of Garry Marshall
9.0

Sitcom: The Adventures of Garry Marshall

1979Movie9.0
The Wild Country
6.0

The Wild Country

1970Movie6.0
Five Minutes to Live
5.5

Five Minutes to Live

1961Movie5.5
More American Graffiti
5.2

More American Graffiti

1979Movie5.2
The Independent
5.5

The Independent

2000Movie5.5
The Happy Days of Garry Marshall
8.0

The Happy Days of Garry Marshall

2020Movie8.0
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
2.0

Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers

1985Movie2.0
Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10
6.3

Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10

2019Movie6.3
Television: The First Fifty Years

Television: The First Fifty Years

1999Movie
Fuck Coin

Fuck Coin

2021Movie
Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation
7.1

Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation

2000Movie7.1
The Journey
6.3

The Journey

1959Movie6.3
Radioman
6.3

Radioman

2012Movie6.3
Corman's World
7.0

Corman's World

2011Movie7.0
The Spikes Gang
6.7

The Spikes Gang

1974Movie6.7
Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema
7.0

Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema

2021Movie7.0
Eat My Dust
5.8

Eat My Dust

1976Movie5.8
The Horror Hall of Fame II
2.0

The Horror Hall of Fame II

1991Movie2.0
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
5.9

The Courtship of Eddie's Father

1963Movie5.9
Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie
5.3

Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie

2016Movie5.3
Welcome to Hollywood
4.2

Welcome to Hollywood

2000Movie4.2
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street

A Walking Tour of Sesame Street

1979Movie
Act of Love
6.0

Act of Love

1980Movie6.0
The First Nudie Musical
5.0

The First Nudie Musical

1976Movie5.0
Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible
6.7

Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible

2010Movie6.7
Grand Theft Auto
5.3

Grand Theft Auto

1977Movie5.3
Blacklist: Hollywood on Trial
10.0

Blacklist: Hollywood on Trial

1996Movie10.0
Making a 'Splash'
4.6

Making a 'Splash'

2004Movie4.6
The Making of 'American Graffiti'
7.8

The Making of 'American Graffiti'

1998Movie7.8
The Arrested Development Documentary Project
5.6

The Arrested Development Documentary Project

2013Movie5.6
The Migrants
6.1

The Migrants

1974Movie6.1
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
2.0

Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored

2011Movie2.0
Village of the Giants
3.7

Village of the Giants

1965Movie3.7
From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic
7.8

From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic

1999Movie7.8
From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking
4.8

From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking

2001Movie4.8
Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck
6.3

Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck

2013Movie6.3
Cannes: All Access
3.2

Cannes: All Access

2007Movie3.2
Tom Hanks: The Nomad
5.5

Tom Hanks: The Nomad

2023Movie5.5
Inside a Beautiful Mind
6.0

Inside a Beautiful Mind

2002Movie6.0
The Death and Return of Superman

The Death and Return of Superman

2011Movie
A Special: Olivia Newton-John
7.7

A Special: Olivia Newton-John

1976Movie7.7
Sheldon Leonard's Wonderful Life
10.0

Sheldon Leonard's Wonderful Life

2011Movie10.0
The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration
10.0

The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration

2019Movie10.0
Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel
7.2

Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel

2022Movie7.2
Tom Hanks: A League of His Own
8.0

Tom Hanks: A League of His Own

2016Movie8.0
John Wayne: Cowboys & Demons

John Wayne: Cowboys & Demons

2023Movie
Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies
5.4

Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies

2017Movie5.4
Weezer: Video Capture Device - Treasures from the Vault 1991-2002
8.6

Weezer: Video Capture Device - Treasures from the Vault 1991-2002

2004Movie8.6
Fire on the Mountain
7.0

Fire on the Mountain

1981Movie7.0
First Works
7.0

First Works

1989Movie7.0
'Tis the Season: The Holidays on Screen
5.0

'Tis the Season: The Holidays on Screen

2022Movie5.0
Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages
4.7

Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages

2002Movie4.7
Huckleberry Finn
6.2

Huckleberry Finn

1978Movie6.2
Frank Capra's American Dream
6.3

Frank Capra's American Dream

1997Movie6.3
Tell Them Who You Are
6.2

Tell Them Who You Are

2004Movie6.2
Bitter Harvest
1.0

Bitter Harvest

1981Movie1.0
Happy Mother's Day, Love George
6.5

Happy Mother's Day, Love George

1973Movie6.5
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
7.0

NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney

1978Movie7.0
A Boy Called Nuthin’
6.5

A Boy Called Nuthin’

1967Movie6.5
Willow: The Making of an Adventure
7.3

Willow: The Making of an Adventure

1988Movie7.3
Locusts
5.4

Locusts

1974Movie5.4
I'm a Fool
6.0

I'm a Fool

1977Movie6.0
George Lucas: Creating an Empire
5.0

George Lucas: Creating an Empire

2005Movie5.0
Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13
6.2

Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13

1996Movie6.2
Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery
8.0

Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery

1997Movie8.0
Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero
7.0

Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero

1997Movie7.0
Enterprise or Love: The Story of Far and Away

Enterprise or Love: The Story of Far and Away

2024Movie
The Magical World of Chuck Jones
8.0

The Magical World of Chuck Jones

1992Movie8.0
Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story
6.0

Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story

2010Movie6.0
Return to Mayberry
6.2

Return to Mayberry

1986Movie6.2
Kasdan on Kasdan

Kasdan on Kasdan

2018Movie
The Shootist: The Legend Lives On
7.0

The Shootist: The Legend Lives On

2001Movie7.0
Smoke

Smoke

1970Movie
Hollywood on Hollywood

Hollywood on Hollywood

1993Movie
Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel
7.7

Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel

1978Movie7.7
Channel 99

Channel 99

1988Movie
Ron Howard: 50 Years in Film

Ron Howard: 50 Years in Film

2008Movie
Sci-Fi Channel: The Making of Apollo 13

Sci-Fi Channel: The Making of Apollo 13

1995Movie

TV Shows (87)

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
4.9

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

2009Series4.9
The Simpsons
8.0

The Simpsons

1989Series8.0
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
5.8

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

2014Series5.8
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
6.1

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015Series6.1
The Daily Show
6.4

The Daily Show

1996Series6.4
The Kelly Clarkson Show
6.3

The Kelly Clarkson Show

2019Series6.3
Late Night with Seth Meyers
5.1

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014Series5.1
Frasier
7.7

Frasier

1993Series7.7
Saturday Night Live
6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975Series6.9
Real Time with Bill Maher
6.1

Real Time with Bill Maher

2003Series6.1
The Graham Norton Show
7.2

The Graham Norton Show

2007Series7.2
Lassie
6.3

Lassie

1954Series6.3
The Andy Griffith Show
7.6

The Andy Griffith Show

1960Series7.6
The Colbert Report
7.0

The Colbert Report

2005Series7.0
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
5.3

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003Series5.3
The View
4.3

The View

1997Series4.3
The Mike Douglas Show
5.8

The Mike Douglas Show

1961Series5.8
Bonanza
7.5

Bonanza

1959Series7.5
This Is Us
8.2

This Is Us

2016Series8.2
M*A*S*H
7.9

M*A*S*H

1972Series7.9
Arrested Development
7.9

Arrested Development

2003Series7.9
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
5.4

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

1992Series5.4
Golden Globe Awards
7.0

Golden Globe Awards

1944Series7.0
Only Murders in the Building
8.4

Only Murders in the Building

2021Series8.4
Top Gear
7.6

Top Gear

2002Series7.6
The Waltons
7.2

The Waltons

1972Series7.2
Happy Days
7.6

Happy Days

1974Series7.6
Great Performances
6.1

Great Performances

1971Series6.1
Love, American Style
6.2

Love, American Style

1969Series6.2
The Fugitive
7.3

The Fugitive

1963Series7.3
The Twilight Zone
8.5

The Twilight Zone

1959Series8.5
Dr. Kildare
5.7

Dr. Kildare

1961Series5.7
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
5.6

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

2003Series5.6
The Red Skelton Show
7.4

The Red Skelton Show

1951Series7.4
The Studio
7.8

The Studio

2025Series7.8
Off Camera with Sam Jones
5.0

Off Camera with Sam Jones

2014Series5.0
Daniel Boone
7.0

Daniel Boone

1964Series7.0
Route 66
6.7

Route 66

1960Series6.7
The Big Valley
6.2

The Big Valley

1965Series6.2
Gunsmoke
6.7

Gunsmoke

1955Series6.7
Chelsea
5.1

Chelsea

2016Series5.1
Land of the Giants
6.8

Land of the Giants

1968Series6.8
Dinah!
7.0

Dinah!

1974Series7.0
The F.B.I.
5.6

The F.B.I.

1965Series5.6
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
7.1

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

1964Series7.1
Kulturplatz
6.0

Kulturplatz

2004Series6.0
The Oscars
7.0

The Oscars

1953Series7.0
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
6.3

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

1959Series6.3
Laverne & Shirley
7.1

Laverne & Shirley

1976Series7.1
People's Choice Awards
9.2

People's Choice Awards

1975Series9.2
The Danny Thomas Show
6.2

The Danny Thomas Show

1953Series6.2
Dennis the Menace
6.6

Dennis the Menace

1959Series6.6
The Bob Hope Show
7.0

The Bob Hope Show

1950Series7.0
Mayberry R.F.D.
6.2

Mayberry R.F.D.

1968Series6.2
I Spy
6.5

I Spy

1965Series6.5
Lancer
5.6

Lancer

1968Series5.6
100 Years of Warner Bros.
7.6

100 Years of Warner Bros.

2023Series7.6
LIGHT & MAGIC
7.9

LIGHT & MAGIC

2022Series7.9
The Odd Couple
5.8

The Odd Couple

2015Series5.8
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
6.8

The DuPont Show with June Allyson

1959Series6.8
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
5.3

The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn

1999Series5.3
Judd, for the Defense
7.7

Judd, for the Defense

1967Series7.7
Where Are They Now?
7.5

Where Are They Now?

1999Series7.5
Gentle Ben
6.7

Gentle Ben

1967Series6.7
The Danny Kaye Show
7.0

The Danny Kaye Show

1963Series7.0
Battle of the Network Stars
6.4

Battle of the Network Stars

1976Series6.4
Johnny Ringo
5.9

Johnny Ringo

1959Series5.9
The New Breed
7.7

The New Breed

1961Series7.7
Donny & Marie
6.8

Donny & Marie

1976Series6.8
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
4.8

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

1969Series4.8
Reunited Apart
5.5

Reunited Apart

2020Series5.5
The Wonderful World of Disney
7.9

The Wonderful World of Disney

1954Series7.9
Pete and Gladys
6.3

Pete and Gladys

1960Series6.3
The Great Adventure
10.0

The Great Adventure

1963Series10.0
The Headmaster
7.0

The Headmaster

1970Series7.0
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
6.3

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

1973Series6.3
The Monroes
6.8

The Monroes

1966Series6.8
The Captain and Tennille
7.0

The Captain and Tennille

1976Series7.0
How To with John Wilson
8.1

How To with John Wilson

2020Series8.1
Five Fingers
10.0

Five Fingers

1959Series10.0
The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang
7.8

The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang

1980Series7.8
General Electric Theater
6.8

General Electric Theater

1953Series6.8
The Smith Family
7.3

The Smith Family

1971Series7.3
E! True Hollywood Story
8.1

E! True Hollywood Story

1996Series8.1
MADtv
7.1

MADtv

1995Series7.1
Inside the Actors Studio

Inside the Actors Studio

1994Series
Greatest Geek Year Ever! 1982
6.6

Greatest Geek Year Ever! 1982

2023Series6.6