Biography Of Ron Howard – One Of This Generation's Most Popular Directors
When it comes to filmmaking, the greatness of many can be found behind the camera, not in front of it; directing and moving each piece to form a glorious picture. Such is the story of Ron Howard, who found his true calling behind the camera making some of our favourite movies despite appearing as an actor in two high profile television sitcoms in his youth.
Ronald William Howard was born on the 1st of March, 1954, in Duncan, California into a Hollywood family. What you might not know about him, is that he’s of German, English, Irish, Scottish and Dutch ancestry. In his youthful days, he gained prominence for playing young Opie Taylor, the son of Sheriff Andy Taylor in the hit sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show. In his early days as a budding actor, Ron Howard acknowledged he knew he was eventually going to become a director. One could consider his acting experience as a training wheel in better managing the men and women in front of the camera. He had his acting debut in 1959, in the movie The Journey. Then further appeared in a couple TV shows before landing his role in The Andy Griffith Show.
Ron Howard made a string of movie and television appearances before making his directorial debut in 1977 in the low budget comedy/action film Grand Theft Auto. The movie only came about after Ron agreed to star in Eat My Dust! with Christopher Norris in exchange for a directorial role. Ron Howard went on to hone his craft directing several TV movies. In 1982, his big directorial break happened when he directed Night Shift which starred Michael Keaton, Shelley Long, and Henry Winkler. Since then, he has continued to deliver good to great movies including Splash, Willow, Apollo 13, Rush, The Da Vinci Code and A Beautiful Mind for which he won an Academy Award for best director. Since then, Ron Howard has continued to flex his directing prowess.
Besides directing, Howard is the co-chairman of Imagine Entertainment, a film and television production company, alongside Brian Grazer. Imagine Entertainment is credited to a few popular projects such as Friday Night Lights, 24 and Arrested Development. Brother, Family Ron Howard's mother, Jean Speegle Howard was an actress while his father, Rance Howard was a director, writer, and actor. It is in his father’s footstep that Ron Howard would later walk. It has been said that Ron Howard comes from a Hollywood family, what we, however, haven’t mentioned is both children of the Howard parents followed in their parents’ steps. Ron Howard’s brother, Clinton Howard is also an American actor. He has appeared in multiple television shows including The Andy Griffith Show which made his brother famous. He has also appeared in the cult hit, Star Trek. Clinton Howard may not be as popular as his brother but he has found his own place in Hollywood history books after featuring in multiple classic projects. Also, a musician, Clinton Howard formed The Kempsters in 1981, The band was a new wave rock and roll group whose name was derived from the street on which the members lived.
Clinton married his wife, Melanie in 1995; unfortunately, in 2017, the couple got divorced. Ron Howard is married to a writer, Cheryl Alley. Together, the couple has four children – Bryce, Jocelyn, Paige and Reed. His first child, Bryce Dallas Howard, is a working actress who has starred in big projects like Spider-Man 3, Terminator Salvation, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Most recently, she appeared in Jurassic World and its sequel, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in a lead role alongside Chris Pratt. She’s married to actor Seth Gabel and the couple have two children together. The twins Jocelyn Carlyle and Paige Howard were born on the 5th of February, 1985. Paige is also an actor. Ron's son, Reed Cross was born in 1987 and is known to keep a low profile.
