Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American filmmaker and actor. Howard first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of The Twilight Zone. He gained national attention for playing young Opie Taylor, the son of Sheriff Andy Taylor (played by Andy Griffith) in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show from 1960 through 1968. During this time, he also appeared in the musical film The Music Man (1962), a critical and commercial success. He was credited as Ronny Howard in his film and television appearances from 1959 to 1973.
Howard was cast in one of the lead roles in the coming-of-age film American Graffiti (1973), which received widespread acclaim and became one of the most profitable films in history. The following year, Howard became a household name for playing Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days, a role he would play from 1974 through 1984. Howard continued appearing in films during this time, such as the western film The Shootist (1976) and the comedy film Grand Theft Auto (1977), which also marked his directorial debut.
In 1984, Howard left Happy Days to focus on directing, producing and occasionally writing variety films and television series. His films include the science-fiction/fantasy Cocoon (1985), the fantasy Willow (1988), the thriller Backdraft (1991), the historical docudrama Apollo 13 (1995), the Christmas comedy How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), the biographical drama A Beautiful Mind (2001), the biographical sports drama Cinderella Man (2005), the thriller The Da Vinci Code (2006), the historical drama Frost/Nixon (2008), Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), and the documentary Pavarotti (2019). For A Beautiful Mind, Howard won the Academy Award for Best Director and Academy Award for Best Picture. He was nominated again for the same awards for Frost/Nixon.
In 2003, Howard was awarded the National Medal of Arts. 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.
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Known For
The Studio
Ron Howard · (1 episode)
2025
Music by John Williams
Self - Filmmaker
2024
Greatest Geek Year Ever! 1982
Self · (4 episodes)
2023
100 Years of Warner Bros.
Self · (2 episodes)
2023
Tom Hanks: The Nomad
Self (archive footage)
2023
John Wayne: Cowboys & Demons
Self
2023
Willow: Behind the Magic
Self - Director, Willow, 1988 / Executive Producer, Willow, 2022
2023
'Tis the Season: The Holidays on Screen
Self
2022
Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel
Self
2022
1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever!
Self
2022
LIGHT & MAGIC
Self - Academy Award Winning Filmmaker · (1 episode)
2022
LIGHT & MAGIC
Self · (2 episodes)
2022
LIGHT & MAGIC
Self - Director, Cocoon · (1 episode)
2022
LIGHT & MAGIC
Self - Director, Willow · (1 episode)
2022
Only Murders in the Building
Ron Howard · (1 episode)
2021
Fuck Coin
Self
2021
Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema
Self
2021
How To with John Wilson
Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · (1 episode)
2020
Showbiz Kids
Self (archive footage)
2020
The Happy Days of Garry Marshall
Self
2020
Reunited Apart
Self · (1 episode)
2020
The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration
Wilcox Boy (archive footage)
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
(1 episode)
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self · (1 episode)
2019
Dads
Self
2019
Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10
Self
2019
Kasdan on Kasdan
Self
2018
Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies
Self
2017
This Is Us
Ron Howard (uncredited) · (4 episodes)
2016
Chelsea
Self · (1 episode)
2016
Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie
Himself
2016
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · (1 episode)
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
(1 episode)
2015
The Odd Couple
Stanley · (1 episode)
2015
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (1 episode)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Off Camera with Sam Jones
Self · (1 episode)
2014
And the Oscar Goes To...
Self (archive footage)
2014
The Arrested Development Documentary Project
Self
2013
Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck
Self
2013
From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking
Self - Director
2013
Radioman
Self
2012
Corman's World
Self - Filmmaker
2011
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
Richie Cunningham (archive footage)
2011
Sheldon Leonard's Wonderful Life
Self
2011
Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible
Self
2010
Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story
Self
2010
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2009
Ron Howard: 50 Years in Film
Self
2008
Cannes: All Access
Self
2007
The Graham Norton Show
Self · (2 episodes)
2007
The Colbert Report
(1 episode)
2005
George Lucas: Creating an Empire
Self
2005
Tell Them Who You Are
Self
2004
Kulturplatz
Self · (1 episode)
2004
Making a 'Splash'
Self - Director
2004
Weezer: Video Capture Device - Treasures from the Vault 1991-2002
Richie Cunningham ("Buddy Holly") (archive footage)
2004
Arrested Development
Narrator · (84 episodes)
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Real Time with Bill Maher
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2003
Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages
Self
2002
Top Gear
Self · (1 episode)
2002
Inside a Beautiful Mind
Self
2002
A Beautiful Mind
Man at Governor's Ball (uncredited)
2001
Osmosis Jones
Tom Colonic (voice)
2001
The Shootist: The Legend Lives On
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2001
The Independent
Ron Howard
2000
Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation
Self
2000
From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic
Self
1999
Where Are They Now?
Self · (1 episode)
1999
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1999
Television: The First Fifty Years
Self / Opie Taylor / Ritchie Cunningham (archive footage)
1999
Welcome to Hollywood
Ron Howard
1998
The Making of 'American Graffiti'
Self
1998
The View
Self · (2 episodes)
1997
The View
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1997
Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero
Self
1997
Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery
Self
1997
Frank Capra's American Dream
Self
1997
E! True Hollywood Story
(1 episode)
1996
The Daily Show
Self · (3 episodes)
1996
Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13
Self
1996
Blacklist: Hollywood on Trial
Herbert Biberman
1996
MADtv
Self · (1 episode)
1995
Inside the Actors Studio
Self · (1 episode)
1994
Frasier
Stephen (voice) · (1 episode)
1993
The Magical World of Chuck Jones
Self
1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(2 episodes)
1992
The Simpsons
Ron Howard (voice) · (2 episodes)
1989
First Works
Self
1989
Channel 99
1988
Willow: The Making of an Adventure
Self - Director
1988
Return to Mayberry
Opie Taylor
1986
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Self (archive footage)
1985
Night Shift
Annoying Sax Player (uncredited)
1982
Fire on the Mountain
Lee Mackie
1981
Bitter Harvest
Ned De Vries
1981
The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang
Richie Cunningham · (24 episodes)
1980
Act of Love
Leon Cybulkowski
1980
More American Graffiti
Steve Bolander
1979
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
Richie Cunningham (archive footage)
1979
Sitcom: The Adventures of Garry Marshall
Self
1979
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
Self - Host
1978
Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel
Self
1978
Grand Theft Auto
Sam Freeman
1977
I'm a Fool
Andy
1977
A Special: Olivia Newton-John
1976
Battle of the Network Stars
(2 episodes)
1976
The Captain and Tennille
Self · (1 episode)
1976
The Shootist
Gillom Rogers
1976
Eat My Dust
Hoover Niebold
1976
Laverne & Shirley
(2 episodes)
1976
Donny & Marie
Self · (1 episode)
1976
The First Nudie Musical
Auditioning Actor
1976
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host · (1 episode)
1975
Huckleberry Finn
Huckleberry Finn
1975
Dinah!
Self · (1 episode)
1974
Locusts
Donny Fletcher
1974
The Spikes Gang
Les
1974
The Migrants
Lyle Barlow
1974
Happy Days
(2 episodes)
1974
Happy Days
Richie Cunningham · (165 episodes)
1974
Happy Mother's Day, Love George
Johnny
1973
American Graffiti
Steve Bolander
1973
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Self · (1 episode)
1973
M*A*S*H
Wendell · (1 episode)
1972
The Waltons
(1 episode)
1972
Great Performances
Self · (1 episode)
1971
The Smith Family
Bob Smith · (39 episodes)
1971
The Wild Country
Virgil Tanner
1970
The Headmaster
(1 episode)
1970
Smoke
Chris (as Ronny Howard)
1970
Love, American Style
Richie Cunningham · (1 episode)
1969
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
Cory Merlino · (1 episode)
1969
Lancer
(2 episodes)
1968
Mayberry R.F.D.
Opie Taylor · (1 episode)
1968
Land of the Giants
Jodar · (1 episode)
1968
A Boy Called Nuthin’
Richie 'Nuthin'' Caldwell
1967
Gentle Ben
Jerry · (56 episodes)
1967
Gentle Ben
Jody Cutler · (56 episodes)
1967
Judd for the Defense
(1 episode)
1967
The Monroes
(1 episode)
1966
Village of the Giants
Genius
1965
The F.B.I.
Jess Orkin · (1 episode)
1965
I Spy
Alan Loden · (0 episode)
1965
The Big Valley
Tommy · (1 episode)
1965
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
Opie Taylor · (1 episode)
1964
Daniel Boone
Luke · (1 episode)
1964
The Great Adventure
Daniel Waterhouse · (1 episode)
1963
The Danny Kaye Show
Self · (1 episode)
1963
The Fugitive
Gus · (1 episode)
1963
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Eddie Corbett
1963
The Music Man
Winthrop Paroo
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (3 episodes)
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host · (4 episodes)
1961
Five Minutes to Live
Bobby Wilson
1961
The New Breed
Tommy Simms · (1 episode)
1961
Dr. Kildare
Jerry Prentice · (1 episode)
1961
Route 66
(1 episode)
1960
The Andy Griffith Show
Opie Taylor · (249 episodes)
1960
Insight
(133 episodes)
1960
Pete and Gladys
(1 episode)
1960
Dennis the Menace
(3 episodes)
1959
Five Fingers
(16 episodes)
1959
Dennis the Menace
Stewart · (1 episode)
1959
Johnny Ringo
Ricky Parrott · (1 episode)
1959
The Twilight Zone
Wilcox Boy · (1 episode)
1959
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
(2 episodes)
1959
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Little Boy Eating Candy Bar · (1 episode)
1959
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Little Boy with Ray Gun · (1 episode)
1959
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Wim · (1 episode)
1959
Bonanza
Ted Hoag · (1 episode)
1959
The Journey
Billy Rhinelander
1959
Gunsmoke
Jamie · (1 episode)
1955
The Wonderful World of Disney
Chris · (2 episodes)
1954
Lassie
(2 episodes)
1954
The Danny Thomas Show
Opie Taylor · (1 episode)
1953
The Oscars
Self · (1 episode)
1953
General Electric Theater
Barnaby Baxter · (1 episode)
1953
General Electric Theater
Randy · (1 episode)
1953
The Bob Hope Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1950
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
1944
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee · (2 episodes)
1944
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Accepting Award for Best Motion Picture Drama /Nominee · (1 episode)
1944