Ron Howard

Photo of Ron Howard

Biography

Ever since he made his acting debut when he was less than two years old, former television star-turned-film director Ron Howard enjoyed legendary status on both sides of the camera. After he charmed television audiences as Opie Taylor, the loveable son of a small town sheriff on "The Andy Griffith Show" (CBS, 1960-68), Howard cemented his fame as Richie Cunningham on the iconic series, "Happy Days" (ABC, 1974-1984). Though he was dogged for …
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Job Title

Actor, Director, Producer, Writer, Other

Born

Ronald William Howard on March 1, 1954 in Duncan, Oklahoma, USA

Career Milestones

2013

Inducted into The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame

2011

Helmed "The Dilemma," starring Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, and Winona Ryder

2011

Co-produced biographical drama "J. Edgar," directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Leonardo DiCaprio

2010

Executive produced updated version of 1989 film "Parenthood" for NBC

2009

Re-teamed with Hanks for "Angels & Demons," the film adaptation of Dan Brown's novel and sequel to "The Da Vinci Code"

2009

Nominated for the 2008 Academy Award for Best Achievement in Directing ("Frost/Nixon")

2008

Nominated for the 2008 Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film ("Frost/Nixon")

2008

Nominated for the 2008 Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture ("Frost/Nixon")

2008

Directed and produced feature adaption of Peter Morgan's play "Frost/Nixon," starring Michael Sheen and Frank Langella in title roles

2006

Directed Tom Hanks as symbologist Robert Langdon in film adaptation of Dan Brown's best-selling novel "The Da Vinci Code"

2005

Re-teamed with Russell Crowe as director of "Cinderella Man," a true story of Depression-era fighter and folk hero Jim Braddock

2003

With partner Brian Grazer, was executive producer of Fox sitcom "Arrested Development"; also narrated series

2003

Directed psychological thriller "The Missing," starring Cate Blanchett as a frontier woman who teams up with her estranged father, played by Tommy Lee Jones, to rescue her abducted daughter

2002

With Grazer, was producer of comedy feature "Stealing Harvard"

2001

Directed Russell Crowe in "A Beautiful Mind," a fictionalized biopic of Nobel Prize winner who overcame schizophrenia John Forbes Nash; received Golden Globe for Best Director and BAFTA nomination for Best Film

2001

Provided character voice of animated figure Tom Colonic in mixed media feature "Osmosis Jones"

2000

Helmed live action version of "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas," starring Jim Carrey in title role

1999

With Grazer and Eddie Murphy, served as executive producer of animated series "The PJs" (Fox, 1999-2000; The WB, 2000-01)

1999

Directed feature comedy "EDtv," starring Matthew McConaughey

1998

With Grazer, executive produced highly touted drama series "Felicity" (The WB)

1998

With partner Brian Grazer, was executive producer of ABC sitcom "Sports Night"

1998

Served as one of the producers of Emmy-winning HBO series "From the Earth to the Moon"; Tom Hanks was driving force behind project, serving as executive producer, director, screenwriter, and co-star

1997

Was executive producer of ABC sitcom "Hiller & Diller"

1996

Helmed "Ransom," a remake of 1956 film about a child kidnapping, starring Mel Gibson and Rene Russo

1995

Directed fact-based drama about an aborted NASA mission to the moon "Apollo 13"; starred Tom Hanks, Ed Harris, and Gary Sinise

1994

Helmed "The Paper," featuring an all-star cast including Michael Keaton, Glenn Close, Robert Duvall, and Marisa Tomei

1993

Bought out Imagine (with Grazer), making the company private again

1992

Teamed with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman on box office disappointment "Far and Away"

1992

Announced he and Grazer were leaving Imagine for joint venture at Universal Pictures

1991

Helmed action thriller "Backdraft," starring Robert De Niro, Kurt Russell, and Donald Sutherland

1990

Returned to TV as executive producer of short-lived NBC sitcom "Parenthood"

1989

Enjoyed hit with genial comedy "Parenthood"

1988

Executive produced TV sequel "Splash Too" (ABC)

1988

Had box office misfire with fantasy "Willow"

1987

Was executive producer on short-lived CBS sitcom "Take Five"

1987

First Imagine production, "Like Father Like Son"

1986

Reprised signature childhood role of Opie Taylor in NBC reunion movie "Return to Mayberry," executive produced by Andy Griffith

1986

Took Imagine Films public

1985

Founded Imagine Films Entertainment with Brian Grazer

1984

Directed hit romantic comedy "Splash," starring Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah, and scripted by Mandel and Ganz

1982

Helmed breakthrough feature, "Night Shift"; first collaborations with producer Brian Grazer, writers Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, and actor Michael Keaton; "Happy Days" co-star Henry Winkler also starred

1980

Feature debut as executive producer, "Leo and Loree"

1980

Cast as a man who honors his brother's wishes by committing a mercy killing and then is tried for murder in NBC movie "Act of Love"

1980

TV producing debut, "Ron Howard's 'Skyward,'" about a paraplegic teen who yearns to pilot her own plane with Bette Davis in featured role; also directed

1979

Reprised role in less successful sequel "More American Graffiti"

1978

Made TV directing and screenwriting debut with NBC movie "Cotton Candy," co-written with brother Clint

1976

Co-starred with John Wayne in elegiac Western "The Shootist"

1975

Played title role in ABC adaptation of "Huckleberry Finn"; also featured parents and brother in supporting parts

1974

Delivered dramatic role in acclaimed TV production "The Migrants" (CBS)

1974

Cast as Richie Cunningham on long-running ABC sitcom, "Happy Days"; was a regular on the series for six years; left to pursue career as a filmmaker but returned for occasional appearances

1973

Starred in George Lucas' groundbreaking teen film "American Graffiti"

1971

Played Bob Smith on ABC series "The Smith Family"; also starred Henry Fonda and Janet Blair

1971

Made feature debut as director and co-writer at age 23 with "Grand Theft Auto"; also starred

1970

Resumed movie acting career in "Smoke"

1965

Last film role for five years, "Village of the Giants"

1963

Played Eddie in feature "The Courtship of Eddie's Father"

1962

Landed featured role in big screen adaptation of "The Music Man"

1960

Portrayed Opie Taylor, the son of Sheriff Andy Taylor on "The Andy Griffith Show" (CBS)

1959

TV series debut, playing various characters on CBS sitcom "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis"

1959

First feature acting role, at age four in "The Journey"

1958

TV acting debut, "Police Station"

1956

Appeared as a baby in "Frontier Woman," which featured his father

1956

Made stage acting debut at 18 months with parents in "The Seven Year Itch"; father Rance Howard directed production

Awards

2009

Palm Springs International Film Festival for Lifetime Achievement Award in Directing

2008

Critics' Choice Award for Best Director in Frost/Nixon

2008

Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in Frost/Nixon

2008

BAFTA Award for Best Film in Frost/Nixon

2008

Academy Award for Best Picture in Frost/Nixon

2008

Academy Award for Directing in Frost/Nixon

2008

BAFTA Award for Director in Frost/Nixon

2008

Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in Frost/Nixon

2006

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in Arrested Development

2005

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in Arrested Development

2005

Critics' Choice Award for Best Director in Cinderella Man

2004

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in Arrested Development

2001

Critics' Choice Award for Best Director in A Beautiful Mind

2001

Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in A Beautiful Mind

2001

Academy Award for Best Picture in A Beautiful Mind

2001

BAFTA Award for David Lean Award For Achievement In Direction, The in A Beautiful Mind

2001

Academy Award for Directing in A Beautiful Mind

2001

Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in A Beautiful Mind

2001

BAFTA Award for Film in A Beautiful Mind

1999

Producers Guild of America Award for Long-Form Television in From the Earth to the Moon

1999

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The PJs

1998

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries in From the Earth to the Moon

1995

Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in Apollo 13

1995

Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in Apollo 13

1985

Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in Cocoon

1982

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program in Through the Magic Pyramid

1977

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy Or Musical in Happy Days

1976

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in The Shootist