Ron Howard
Born: 1954-03-01 in Duncan, Oklahoma, USA
Known For: Directing
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.
Filmography
2026
- Marty, Life Is Short as Self
- Whalefall ... (Producer)
- Summer of '94 ... (Executive Producer)
- Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing ... (Executive Producer)
- The House is Fire ... (Director)
- Kyle Larson vs. The Double ... (Executive Producer)
- Avedon ... (Director)
2025
- The Studio as Ron Howard
- David Blaine: Do Not Attempt ... (Executive Producer)
- Eden ... (Producer)
- The Gringo Hunters ... (Executive Producer)
- Fight for Glory: 2024 World Series ... (Executive Producer)
- John Candy: I Like Me as Self - Director, Splash (archive footage)
- Harlem Ice ... (Executive Producer)
- Pets ... (Executive Producer)
- Earnhardt ... (Producer)
- Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything ... (Executive Producer)
- Big Dreams: The Little League World Series 2024 ... (Executive Producer)
2024
- The Dynasty: New England Patriots ... (Executive Producer)
- Choir ... (Executive Producer)
- Churchill at War ... (Executive Producer)
- Jim Henson Idea Man ... (Director)
- Music by John Williams as Self - Filmmaker
- The Lost Children ... (Executive Producer)
- The Truth About Jim ... (Executive Producer)
- I'm Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders ... (Executive Producer)
- Frida ... (Executive Producer)
- Enterprise or Love: The Story of Far and Away as Self
2023
- 100 Years of Warner Bros. as Self
- The Super Models ... (Executive Producer)
- The Beanie Bubble ... (Producer)
- Tetris ... (Executive Producer)
- Bossy Bear ... (Executive Producer)
- Taiwan Crime Stories ... (Executive Producer)
- The Slumber Party ... (Executive Producer)
- Willow: Behind the Magic as Self - Director, Willow, 1988 / Executive Producer, Willow, 2022
- Greatest Geek Year Ever! 1982 as Self
- Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with Dave Letterman ... (Executive Producer)
- Murf the Surf: Jewels, Jesus, and Mayhem in the USA ... (Executive Producer)
- Tom Hanks: The Nomad as Self (archive footage)
- Carlos ... (Executive Producer)
- Judy Blume Forever ... (Executive Producer)
- John Wayne: Cowboys & Demons as Self
2022
- Thirteen Lives ... (Director)
- Willow ... (Executive Producer)
- Under the Banner of Heaven ... (Executive Producer)
- LIGHT & MAGIC as Self - Academy Award Winning Filmmaker
- The Tiny Chef Show ... (Executive Producer)
- Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies and the Internet ... (Executive Producer)
- Leave No Trace ... (Executive Producer)
- Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields ... (Executive Producer)
- Wedding Season ... (Executive Producer)
- Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues ... (Executive Producer)
- Downfall: The Case Against Boeing ... (Executive Producer)
- Lucy and Desi ... (Executive Producer)
- We Feed People ... (Director)
- The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari ... (Executive Producer)
- Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel as Self
- 'Tis the Season: The Holidays on Screen as Self
- Personality Crisis: One Night Only ... (Executive Producer)
2021
- Only Murders in the Building as Ron Howard
- Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol ... (Executive Producer)
- tick, tick... BOOM! ... (Producer)
- Who Are You, Charlie Brown? ... (Executive Producer)
- Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer ... (Executive Producer)
- Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel ... (Executive Producer)
- Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema as Self
- We Are: The Brooklyn Saints ... (Executive Producer)
- Paper & Glue ... (Executive Producer)
- The Day Sports Stood Still ... (Executive Producer)
- Julia ... (Executive Producer)
- Fuck Coin as Self
- Gossip ... (Executive Producer)
2020
- Hillbilly Elegy ... (Director)
- Reunited Apart as Self
- How To with John Wilson as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- On Pointe ... (Executive Producer)
- 68 Whiskey ... (Executive Producer)
- The Astronauts ... (Executive Producer)
- Curious George: Go West, Go Wild ... (Executive Producer)
- The Happy Days of Garry Marshall as Self
- Rebuilding Paradise ... (Director)
- Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band ... (Executive Producer)
- D. Wade: Life Unexpected ... (Producer)
2019
- The Kelly Clarkson Show as Self
- Dads as Self
- Backdraft 2 ... (Executive Producer)
- Pavarotti ... (Director)
- Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10 as Self
- The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration as Wilcox Boy (archive footage)
- Being Frank ... (Producer)
2018
- Solo: A Star Wars Story ... (Director)
- The Spy Who Dumped Me ... (Executive Producer)
- Kasdan on Kasdan as Self
2017
- Genius ... (Executive Producer)
- The Dark Tower ... (Producer)
- Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies as Self
2016
- This Is Us as Ron Howard (uncredited)
- Chelsea as Self
- Inferno ... (Director)
- Mars ... (Creator)
- The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years ... (Director)
- Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie as Himself
- Tom Hanks: A League of His Own as Self
2015
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self - Guest
- In the Heart of the Sea ... (Director)
- The Odd Couple as Stanley
- Breakthrough ... (Director)
- Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle ... (Executive Producer)
- Prophet's Prey ... (Executive Producer)
2014
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self - Guest
- Off Camera with Sam Jones as Self
- The Good Lie ... (Producer)
2013
- Rush ... (Director)
- Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest ... (Executive Producer)
- The Arrested Development Documentary Project as Self
- Out of the Blue ... (Executive Producer)
- Made in America ... (Director)
- Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck as Self
2012
- Radioman as Self
- Katy Perry: Part of Me ... (Producer)
2011
- Cowboys & Aliens ... (Producer)
- The Dilemma ... (Director)
- Corman's World as Self - Filmmaker
- Restless ... (Producer)
- Sheldon Leonard's Wonderful Life as Self
- Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored as Richie Cunningham (archive footage)
- The Death and Return of Superman as Max's Son
2010
- Parenthood ... (Producer)
- Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible as Self
- Presidential Reunion ... (Director)
- Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story as Self
2009
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
- Angels & Demons ... (Director)
- Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey! ... (Executive Producer)
- Mademoiselle Chambon ... (Thanks)
2008
- Changeling ... (Producer)
- Frost/Nixon ... (Director)
- Ron Howard: 50 Years in Film as Self
2007
- The Graham Norton Show as Self
- Cannes: All Access as Self
2006
- Curious George ... (Executive Producer)
- The Da Vinci Code ... (Director)
- Curious George ... (Producer)
2005
- The Colbert Report
- Cinderella Man ... (Director)
- Inside Deep Throat ... (Producer)
- George Lucas: Creating an Empire as Self
2004
- Kulturplatz as Self
- The Alamo ... (Producer)
- Making a 'Splash' as Self - Director
- Tell Them Who You Are as Self
- Weezer: Video Capture Device - Treasures from the Vault 1991-2002 as Richie Cunningham ("Buddy Holly") (archive footage)
2003
- Real Time with Bill Maher as Self
- Arrested Development as Narrator
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self - Guest
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
- The Missing ... (Director)
2002
- Top Gear as Self
- Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages as Self
- Inside a Beautiful Mind as Self
2001
- A Beautiful Mind as Man at Governor's Ball (uncredited)
- Osmosis Jones as Tom Colonic (voice)
- The Beast ... (Producer)
- The Shootist: The Legend Lives On as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking as Self - Director
- Silicon Follies ... (Executive Producer)
2000
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas ... (Director)
- Wonderland ... (Producer)
- Welcome to Hollywood as Ron Howard
- The Independent as Ron Howard
- Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation as Self
1999
- The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn as Self - Guest
- The PJs ... (Executive Producer)
- Where Are They Now? as Self
- EDtv ... (Director)
- Beyond the Mat ... (Producer)
- Television: The First Fifty Years as Self / Opie Taylor / Ritchie Cunningham (archive footage)
- From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic as Self
1998
- Felicity ... (Producer)
- Sports Night ... (Producer)
- From the Earth to the Moon ... (Producer)
- The Making of 'American Graffiti' as Self
1997
- The View as Self
- Inventing the Abbotts ... (Producer)
- Hiller and Diller ... (Producer)
- Frank Capra's American Dream as Self
- Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery as Self
- Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero as Self
1996
- The Daily Show as Self
- Ransom ... (Director)
- The Chamber ... (Producer)
- E! True Hollywood Story
- Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13 as Self
- Blacklist: Hollywood on Trial as Herbert Biberman
1994
- The Paper ... (Director)
- Inside the Actors Studio as Self
1993
- Frasier as Stephen (voice)
- Hollywood on Hollywood as Host
1992
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
- Far and Away ... (Director)
- The Magical World of Chuck Jones as Self
1991
- Backdraft ... (Director)
- Closet Land ... (Executive Producer)
- The Horror Hall of Fame II as Self
1990
- Parenthood ... (Producer)
1989
- The Simpsons as Ron Howard (voice)
- The 'Burbs ... (Executive Producer)
- Parenthood ... (Director)
- First Works as Self
1988
- Willow ... (Director)
- Clean and Sober ... (Executive Producer)
- Vibes ... (Executive Producer)
- Willow: The Making of an Adventure as Self - Director
- Channel 99
1987
- No Man's Land ... (Executive Producer)
1986
- Gung Ho ... (Director)
- Return to Mayberry as Opie Taylor
- The Lone Star Kid ... (Executive Producer)
1985
- Cocoon ... (Director)
- Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers as Self (archive footage)
- Into Thin Air ... (Executive Producer)
- No Greater Gift ... (Executive Producer)
1984
- Splash ... (Director)
1983
- When Your Lover Leaves ... (Executive Producer)
1982
- Night Shift as Annoying Sax Player (uncredited)
1981
- Fire on the Mountain as Lee Mackie
- Bitter Harvest as Ned De Vries
- Skyward Christmas ... (Executive Producer)
- Through the Magic Pyramid ... (Executive Producer)
1980
- The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang as Richie Cunningham
- Act of Love as Leon Cybulkowski
- Skyward ... (Executive Producer)
1979
- More American Graffiti as Steve Bolander
- Sitcom: The Adventures of Garry Marshall as Self
- A Walking Tour of Sesame Street as Richie Cunningham (archive footage)
1978
- Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel as Self
- NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney as Self - Host
- Cotton Candy ... (Director)
- Huckleberry Finn as Huckleberry Finn
1977
- Grand Theft Auto as Sam Freeman
- I'm a Fool as Andy
1976
- Laverne & Shirley
- Donny & Marie as Self
- Battle of the Network Stars
- The Shootist as Gillom Rogers
- The Captain and Tennille as Self - Guest
- The First Nudie Musical as Auditioning Actor
- Eat My Dust as Hoover Niebold
- A Special: Olivia Newton-John
1975
- Saturday Night Live as Self - Host
- People's Choice Awards as Self - Winner
1974
- Happy Days
- Dinah! as Self
- The Spikes Gang as Les
- The Migrants as Lyle Barlow
- Locusts as Donny Fletcher
1973
- American Graffiti as Steve Bolander
- The American Film Institute Salute to ... as Self
- Happy Mother's Day, Love George as Johnny
1972
- M*A*S*H as Wendell
- The Waltons
1971
- Great Performances as Self
- The Smith Family as Bob Smith
1970
- The Headmaster
- The Wild Country as Virgil Tanner
- Smoke as Chris (as Ronny Howard)
1969
- Love, American Style as Richie Cunningham
- The Bold Ones: The New Doctors as Cory Merlino
- Cards, Cads, Guns, Gore, and Death... ... (Director)
- Old Paint ... (Director)
- Deed of Daring-Do ... (Director)
1968
- Land of the Giants as Jodar
- Mayberry R.F.D. as Opie Taylor
- Lancer
1967
- Judd, for the Defense
- Gentle Ben as Jerry
- A Boy Called Nuthin’ as Richie 'Nuthin'' Caldwell
1966
1965
- The Big Valley as Tommy
- The F.B.I. as Jess Orkin
- I Spy as Alan Loden
- Village of the Giants as Genius
1964
- Daniel Boone as Luke
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. as Opie Taylor
1963
- The Fugitive as Gus
- The Danny Kaye Show as Self
- The Great Adventure as Daniel Waterhouse
- The Courtship of Eddie's Father as Eddie Corbett
1962
- The Music Man as Winthrop Paroo
1961
- The Mike Douglas Show as Self
- Dr. Kildare as Jerry Prentice
- The New Breed as Tommy Simms
- Five Minutes to Live as Bobby Wilson
1960
- The Andy Griffith Show as Opie Taylor
- Route 66
- Pete and Gladys
1959
- Bonanza as Ted Hoag
- The Twilight Zone as Wilcox Boy
- Dennis the Menace
- The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
- The DuPont Show with June Allyson as Wim
- Johnny Ringo as Ricky Parrott
- Five Fingers
- The Journey as Billy Rhinelander
1955
- Gunsmoke as Jamie
1954
- Lassie
- The Wonderful World of Disney as Chris
1953
- The Oscars as Self
- The Danny Thomas Show as Opie Taylor
- General Electric Theater as Barnaby Baxter
1951
- The Red Skelton Show as Joey
1950
- The Bob Hope Show as Self
1944
- Golden Globe Awards as Self - Presenter