Ron Howard

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Ron Howard

Ron Howard

Photo credit: 
AP

Ron Howard

Birthday: March 1
Birthplace: Duncan, Oklahoma

Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor and filmmaker. Howard is best known for playing two high-profile roles in television sitcoms in his childhood and early adulthood, and for directing a number of successful feature films later in his career.

Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor and filmmaker. Howard is best known for playing two high-profile roles in television sitcoms in his childhood and early adulthood, and for directing a number of successful feature films later in his career.

Howard first came to prominence playing young Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years and later playing teenager Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for seven years. He appeared in the musical film The Music Man (1962), The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963), the coming of age film American Graffiti (1973), the western The Shootist, (1974), Bonanza season 14 episode 4 (1972), and the comedy Grand Theft Auto (1977), which he also directed.

In 1980, Howard left Happy Days to focus on directing. His films include: the science-fiction/fantasy film Cocoon (1985), the historical docudrama Apollo 13 (1995), the biographical drama A Beautiful Mind (2001) (earning him the Academy Award for Best Director), the thriller The Da Vinci Code (2006) and its two sequels.

In 2002, Howard narrated the Fox comedy series, Arrested Development, on which he would also serve as producer and play a semi-fictionalized version of himself.

In 2003, Howard was awarded the National Medal of Arts. Asteroid 12561 Howard is named after him. 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

Ron Howard was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2013.

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Awards & Nominations

13 Nominations | 3 Emmys | 1 Honor
Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program - 2024
  • Nominee
  • Ron Howard, Directed by
  • Jim Henson Idea Man
  • Disney+
  • Imagine Documentaries Productions, Disney Branded Television
Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Special - 2024
  • Winner
  • Ron Howard, Produced by
  • Jim Henson Idea Man
  • Disney+
  • Imagine Documentaries Productions, Disney Branded Television
Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Special - 2022
  • Nominee
  • Ron Howard, Produced by
  • We Feed People
  • Disney+
  • National Geographic Documentary Films Presents An Imagine Documentaries Production
Outstanding Limited Series - 2018
  • Nominee
  • Ron Howard, Executive Producer
  • Genius: Picasso
  • National Geographic
  • Imagine Television and Fox 21 Television Studios
Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special - 2017
  • Nominee
  • Ron Howard, Directed by
  • Genius
  • "Einstein: Chapter One"
  • National Geographic
  • Imagine Television and Fox 21 Television Studios
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special - 2017
Outstanding Limited Series - 2017
  • Nominee
  • Ron Howard, Executive Producer
  • Genius
  • National Geographic
  • Imagine Television and Fox 21 Television Studios
Hall of Fame - 2013
  • Winner
  • Ron Howard, as Honoree
Outstanding Comedy Series - 2006
  • Nominee
  • Ron Howard, Executive Producer
  • Arrested Development
  • FOX
  • Produced by Imagine TV and 20th Century Fox Television for Netflix
Outstanding Comedy Series - 2005
  • Nominee
  • Ron Howard, Executive Producer
  • Arrested Development
  • FOX
  • Produced by Imagine TV and 20th Century Fox Television for Netflix
Outstanding Comedy Series - 2004
  • Winner
  • Ron Howard, Executive Producer
  • Arrested Development
  • FOX
  • Produced by Imagine TV and 20th Century Fox Television for Netflix

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

Ron Howard and Henry Winkler present the award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series during the 76th Emmy Awards
Bust of Ron Howard
Ron Howard in the audience at the 2022 Creative Arts Emmys.
25th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
25th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
25th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Bust of Ron Howard
Ron Howard and Brian Grazer
Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Will Arnett and Ron Howard
Fill 1
Fill 1
Ron Howard and Henry Winkler present the award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series during the 76th Emmy Awards
Camera

Ron Howard and Henry Winkler present the award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series during the 76th Emmy Awards

Invision/AP
Bust of Ron Howard
Camera

Bust of Ron Howard in the Hall of Fame Garden. Sculpture by Richard Becker.

Ron Howard in the audience at the 2022 Creative Arts Emmys.
Camera

Ron Howard of We Feed People backstage at the 2022 Creative Arts Emmys.

Invision/AP
25th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Camera

Ron Howard at the 25th Television Academy Hall of Fame induction ceremony, held at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California on January 28, 2020.

Invision/AP
25th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Camera

Ron Howard at the 25th Television Academy Hall of Fame induction ceremony, held at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California on January 28, 2020.

Invision/AP
25th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Camera

Ron Howard speaks at the 25th Television Academy Hall of Fame induction ceremony, held at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California on January 28, 2020.

Invision/AP
Bust of Ron Howard
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Bust of Ron Howard in the Television Academy Hall of Fame Garden.

Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Images
Ron Howard and Brian Grazer
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Ron Howard and Brian Grazer at the 56th Emmy Awards Governors Ball

TVA/PictureGroup
Ron Howard
Camera

Ron Howard at his induction into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, March 2013

Vince Bucci/PictureGroup
Ron Howard
Camera

Ron Howard at his induction into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, March 2013

Vince Bucci/PictureGroup
Will Arnett and Ron Howard
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Will Arnett inducts Ron Howard into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, March 2013

Vince Bucci/PictureGroup
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