Ron Howard

On 7th June, 1975 he married Cheryl Alley, a writer. They presently reside in South Carolina at the ‘Sea Pines Resort’. The couple have four children and all their children have been named after the place they were conceived.

His first born was a girl and he named her Bryce Dallas as she was conceived in Dallas. His second born were twins named Jocelyn Carlyle and Paige Carlyle, conceived at Hotel Carlyle. His fourth child was named Reed Cross, after a specific road.

Ron Howard was born Ronald William Howard on 1st March, 1954 at Duncan in Oklahoma. His mother, Jean Speegle Howard was an actress and his father, Rance Howard was a writer, actor and director.

In 1958, he moved with his parents to Hollywood and a year later his younger brother, Clint Howard was born. After three years the Howards settled in Burbank.

As a child, he received tutoring at ‘Desilu Studios’ now known as ‘The Culver Studios’ and attended ‘John Burroughs High School’.

After high school, he enrolled at the ‘University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts’, but couldn’t complete his education owing to a flourishing career.

When Ron was eighteen months old he made his first appearance in the movie ‘Frontier Woman’ in 1956. By the age of two he was cast in his first stage debut in a play called ‘The Seven Year Itch’.

However, his film debut on records is the 1959 film ‘The Journey’. With his earnest performance he managed to bag a spot in the first season of the sitcom ‘Dennis the Menace’ as Stewart and also claimed a role in the show ‘The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis’.

Around the same time he was cast in ‘Playhouse 90’. His performance grabbed the attention of Sheldon Leonard, producer of the ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ and was signed for the role of the lead character’s son, Ronny Griffith.

In 1962, he was cast in the film ‘The Music Man’ and the following year he acted in ‘The Courtship of Eddie’s Father’. From 1965 to 1969, he starred in several guest roles in ‘I Spy’, ‘The Smith Family’ and ‘Daniel Boone’.

Howard worked closely with Disney in his teens. He was signed for the leading part of Mike in the Disneyland record album ‘The Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion’ which was narrated by Thurl Ravenscroft.

In 1973, he was cast in George Luca’s blockbuster film ‘American Graffiti’. In the movie he played the main role of Steve Bolander alongside Richard Dreyfus.

The next year, he was signed for the lead role of Richie Cunningham in the ABC sitcom ‘Happy Days’ from the first to the seventh season and also starred in the movie ‘The Shootist’ alongside John Wayne.

In 1986, he made his final appearance as an actor in the television movie ‘Return to Mayberry’. He even attended ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ reunion and ‘The Happy Days 30th Anniversary Reunion’.