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Ron Howard

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Biography

Recent Role:
Himself on Attack of the Show!
Gender:
Male
Born:
3-1-1954
Birthplace:
Duncan, Oklahoma
Birth Name:
Ronald William Howard
AKA:
Ronny Howard, Ronnie Howard
The world watched as Ron Howard grew up. And Howard responded by landing three distinct monster roles before his 21st birthday. When he was just a teenager, it was said of him, "If Ron Howard never works another day in his life, he will have accomplished more in his life than most household name stars."

Ron was born in Oklahoma to Jean Speegle and Rance Howard. Rance was a Drama major at the University of Oklahoma. Jean attended acting school in New York. Ron appeared in Frontier Women at age 18 months, and appeared in Playhouse 90 at age 2. He was

… More introduced as a household name at age 6 when he played the inquisitive Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show. The role proved bigger than the show, as his Opie character was re-cast in the parent show, The Danny Thomas Show, as well as the spin-off Gomer Pyle, USMC.

Two years later, at age 8, he was cast as Winthrop Peroo in The Music Man. It remains watched today in video. Maybe the average viewer would have a problem identifying the character Winthrop Peroo. But we all know that the kid brother is "the kid who plays Opie." And the strength of character required to play the Wells Fargo scene - pushing adults out of the way to take center stage mid song, and singing a lively solo out of dialect - ranks up there as one of the greatest casting marvels of all time.

Howard was cast as Steve Bolander, and worked with eventual partner Cindy Williams in American Graffiti, the movie that began the nerd glorification movement. A year later, he capstoned that movement, and spearheaded the movement himself, by playing Richie Cunningham for the first seven years of Happy Days.

Howard left Happy Days four years before the nerd glorification movement was completed. He turned his attention to Directing, rather than acting. His influence was so profound that fellow Happy Days nerds Anson Williams and Donny Most likewise abandoned acting in favor of directing. We now know that as Richie, Potsie and Ralph encouraged each other to "sit on it," that the "it" was the Director's chair - and all three heeded their advice to success.

Among Howard's directing credits were motion pictures, including Parenthood, A Beautiful Mind, and most recently The DaVinci Code. He also lent his voice as the narrator of the sitcom Arrested Development.

No matter how comprehensively any written biography on Ron Howard extends, several new chapters are waiting to be written.

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  •  
    10 Perfect
    He's an amazing actor. hide show

    The first time I saw Ron Howard act was as the role of Opie Taylor in one of the older episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. He was so young and so cute. But even at such a young age he could act well. As he grew up, his acting quality just increased. The next time I saw him was in the 70's sitcom Happy Days as Richie Cunningham. He did a phenomenal job playing that character as well. Richie was one of my favorite characters on the show because he was so funny and believable. Ron Howard truly is a great actor.

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    onceinabluemoon Added Jul 15, 2007 All my reviews
  •  
    10 Perfect
    Watch out here he comes hide show

    I love Ron Howard , he started acting in the late 50's.His first role was in a movie called Frontier Woman in 1956.He is best known for his roles in The Andy Griffith Show , Happy Days , Lassie the list goes on an on. He was in a number of movies in his career also.Today he is best known for being a Director/Producer for movies like The Da Vinci Code , Cinderella Man , A Beautiful Mind and the list goes on an on.Ron Howard is a special kind of talent , that you don't see come around to often.

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    PapaTazzz Added Nov 19, 2006 All my reviews
 
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