Ron Howard
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.
Known For
Not in library
A Beautiful Mind
2001
Not in library
The Simpsons
1989
Not in library
Only Murders in the Building
2021
Not in library
Arrested Development
2003
Not in library
This Is Us
2016
Not in library
American Graffiti
1973
Not in library
Osmosis Jones
2001
Not in library
The Twilight Zone
1959
Not in library
Frasier
1993
Not in library
Top Gear
2002
Acting
2025
John Candy: I Like Me
as Self - Director, Splash (archive footage)
2025
The Studio
as Ron Howard
(1 episode)
2024
Music by John Williams
as Self - Filmmaker
2024
Enterprise or Love: The Story of Far and Away
as Self
2023
Willow: Behind the Magic
as Self - Director, Willow, 1988 / Executive Producer, Willow, 2022
2023
Tom Hanks: The Nomad
as Self (archive footage)
2023
John Wayne: Cowboys & Demons
as Self
2023
100 Years of Warner Bros.
as Self
(2 episodes)
2023
Greatest Geek Year Ever! 1982
as Self
(4 episodes)
2022
Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel
as Self
2022
'Tis the Season: The Holidays on Screen
as Self
2022
LIGHT & MAGIC
as Self - Academy Award Winning Filmmaker
(1 episode)
2022
LIGHT & MAGIC
as Self
(2 episodes)
2022
LIGHT & MAGIC
as Self - Director, Cocoon
(1 episode)
2022
LIGHT & MAGIC
as Self - Director, Willow
(1 episode)
2021
Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema
as Self
2021
Fuck Coin
as Self
2021
Only Murders in the Building
as Ron Howard
(1 episode)
2020
The Happy Days of Garry Marshall
as Self
2020
Reunited Apart
as Self
(1 episode)
2020
How To with John Wilson
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
(1 episode)
2019
The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration
as Wilcox Boy (archive footage)
2019
Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10
as Self
2019
Dads
as Self
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
as Self
(2 episodes)
2018
Kasdan on Kasdan
as Self
2017
Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies
as Self
2016
Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie
as Himself
2016
Tom Hanks: A League of His Own
as Self
2016
Chelsea
as Self
(1 episode)
2016
This Is Us
as Ron Howard (uncredited)
(4 episodes)
2015
The Odd Couple
as Stanley
(1 episode)
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
as Self - Guest
(2 episodes)
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers
as Self
(1 episode)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
as Self
(1 episode)
2014
Off Camera with Sam Jones
as Self
(1 episode)
2013
The Arrested Development Documentary Project
as Self
2013
Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck
as Self
2013
From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking
as Self - Director
2012
Radioman
as Self
2011
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
as Richie Cunningham (archive footage)
2011
Corman's World
as Self - Filmmaker
2011
Sheldon Leonard's Wonderful Life
as Self
2010
Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible
as Self
2010
Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story
as Self
2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
as Self - Guest
(1 episode)
2008
Ron Howard: 50 Years in Film
as Self
2007
Cannes: All Access
as Self
2007
The Graham Norton Show
as Self
(2 episodes)
2005
George Lucas: Creating an Empire
as Self
2005
The Colbert Report
2004
Tell Them Who You Are
as Self
2004
Making a 'Splash'
as Self - Director
2004
Weezer: Video Capture Device - Treasures from the Vault 1991-2002
as Richie Cunningham ("Buddy Holly") (archive footage)
2004
Kulturplatz
as Self
(1 episode)
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
as Self
(1 episode)
2003
Arrested Development
as Narrator
(84 episodes)
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
as Self - Guest
(1 episode)
2003
Real Time with Bill Maher
as Self
(1 episode)
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
as Self
(1 episode)
2002
Inside a Beautiful Mind
as Self
2002
Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages
as Self
2002
Top Gear
as Self
(1 episode)
2001
Osmosis Jones
as Tom Colonic (voice)
2001
The Shootist: The Legend Lives On
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2001
A Beautiful Mind
as Man at Governor's Ball (uncredited)
2000
The Independent
as Ron Howard
2000
Welcome to Hollywood
as Ron Howard
2000
Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation
as Self
1999
Television: The First Fifty Years
as Self / Opie Taylor / Ritchie Cunningham (archive footage)
1999
From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic
as Self
1999
Where Are They Now?
as Self
(1 episode)
1999
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
as Self - Guest
(1 episode)
1998
The Making of 'American Graffiti'
as Self
1997
Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery
as Self
1997
Frank Capra's American Dream
as Self
1997
Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero
as Self
1997
The View
as Self
(2 episodes)
1997
The View
as Self - Guest
(1 episode)
1996
Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13
as Self
1996
Blacklist: Hollywood on Trial
as Herbert Biberman
1996
The Daily Show
as Self
(3 episodes)
1996
E! True Hollywood Story
1995
MADtv
as Self
(1 episode)
1994
Inside the Actors Studio
as Self
(1 episode)
1993
Hollywood on Hollywood
as Host
1993
Frasier
as Stephen (voice)
(1 episode)
1992
The Magical World of Chuck Jones
as Self
1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1989
First Works
as Self
1989
The Simpsons
as Ron Howard (voice)
(2 episodes)
1988
Willow: The Making of an Adventure
as Self - Director
1988
Channel 99
1986
Return to Mayberry
as Opie Taylor
1985
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
1982
Night Shift
as Annoying Sax Player (uncredited)
1981
Bitter Harvest
as Ned De Vries
1981
Fire on the Mountain
as Lee Mackie
1980
Act of Love
as Leon Cybulkowski
1980
The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang
as Richie Cunningham
(24 episodes)
1979
More American Graffiti
as Steve Bolander
1979
Sitcom: The Adventures of Garry Marshall
as Self
1979
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
as Richie Cunningham (archive footage)
1978
Huckleberry Finn
as Huckleberry Finn
1978
Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel
as Self
1978
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
as Self - Host
1977
Grand Theft Auto
as Sam Freeman
1977
I'm a Fool
as Andy
1976
The Shootist
as Gillom Rogers
1976
Eat My Dust
as Hoover Niebold
1976
The First Nudie Musical
as Auditioning Actor
1976
A Special: Olivia Newton-John
1976
Donny & Marie
as Self
(1 episode)
1976
Laverne & Shirley
1976
Battle of the Network Stars
1976
The Captain and Tennille
as Self - Guest
(1 episode)
1975
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Host
(1 episode)
1975
Saturday Night Live
as Contestant #2 (uncredited)
(1 episode)
1975
People's Choice Awards
as Self - Winner
(1 episode)
1974
The Spikes Gang
as Les
1974
Locusts
as Donny Fletcher
1974
The Migrants
as Lyle Barlow
1974
Happy Days
1974
Happy Days
as Richie Cunningham
(165 episodes)
1974
Dinah!
as Self
(1 episode)
1973
American Graffiti
as Steve Bolander
1973
Happy Mother's Day, Love George
as Johnny
1973
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
as Self
(1 episode)
1972
M*A*S*H
as Wendell
(1 episode)
1972
The Waltons
1971
The Smith Family
as Bob Smith
(39 episodes)
1971
Great Performances
as Self
(1 episode)
1970
Smoke
as Chris (as Ronny Howard)
1970
The Wild Country
as Virgil Tanner
1970
The Headmaster
1969
Love, American Style
as Richie Cunningham
(1 episode)
1969
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
as Cory Merlino
(1 episode)
1968
Lancer
1968
Mayberry R.F.D.
as Opie Taylor
(1 episode)
1968
Land of the Giants
as Jodar
(1 episode)
1967
A Boy Called Nuthin’
as Richie 'Nuthin'' Caldwell
1967
Judd for the Defense
1967
Gentle Ben
as Jerry
(56 episodes)
1967
Gentle Ben
as Jody Cutler
(56 episodes)
1966
The Monroes
1965
Village of the Giants
as Genius
1965
The F.B.I.
as Jess Orkin
(1 episode)
1965
I Spy
as Alan Loden
1965
The Big Valley
as Tommy
(1 episode)
1964
Daniel Boone
as Luke
(1 episode)
1964
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
as Opie Taylor
(1 episode)
1963
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
as Eddie Corbett
1963
The Great Adventure
as Daniel Waterhouse
(1 episode)
1963
The Fugitive
as Gus
(1 episode)
1963
The Danny Kaye Show
as Self
(1 episode)
1962
The Music Man
as Winthrop Paroo
1961
Five Minutes to Live
as Bobby Wilson
1961
The New Breed
as Tommy Simms
(1 episode)
1961
Dr. Kildare
as Jerry Prentice
(1 episode)
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self
(4 episodes)
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self - Co-Host
(4 episodes)
1960
The Andy Griffith Show
as Opie Taylor
(249 episodes)
1960
Route 66
1960
Pete and Gladys
1959
The Journey
as Billy Rhinelander
1959
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
1959
Dennis the Menace
1959
Johnny Ringo
as Ricky Parrott
(1 episode)
1959
Five Fingers
1959
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
as Wim
(1 episode)
1959
Dennis the Menace
as Stewart
(1 episode)
1959
Bonanza
as Ted Hoag
(1 episode)
1959
The Twilight Zone
as Wilcox Boy
(1 episode)
1959
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
as Little Boy Eating Candy Bar
(1 episode)
1959
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
as Little Boy with Ray Gun
(1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
as Jamie
(1 episode)
1954
Lassie
1954
The Wonderful World of Disney
as Chris
(2 episodes)
1953
General Electric Theater
as Barnaby Baxter
(1 episode)
1953
The Oscars
as Self
(1 episode)
1953
General Electric Theater
as Randy
(1 episode)
1953
The Danny Thomas Show
as Opie Taylor
(1 episode)
1951
The Red Skelton Show
as Joey
(1 episode)
1950
The Bob Hope Show
as Self
(2 episodes)
1944
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Presenter
(1 episode)
1944
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Nominee
(2 episodes)
1944
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Accepting Award for Best Motion Picture Drama / Nominee
(1 episode)
Directing
2025
Eden
Director
2024
Jim Henson Idea Man
Director
2022
We Feed People
Director
2022
Thirteen Lives
Director
2020
Hillbilly Elegy
Director
2020
Rebuilding Paradise
Director
2019
Pavarotti
Director
2018
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director
2016
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
Director
2015
In the Heart of the Sea
Director
2015
Breakthrough
Director
2013
Rush
Director
2013
Made in America
Director
2011
The Dilemma
Director
2010
Presidential Reunion
Director
2009
Angels & Demons
Director
2008
Frost/Nixon
Director
2006
The Da Vinci Code
Director
2005
Cinderella Man
Director
2003
The Missing
Director
2001
A Beautiful Mind
Director
2000
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Director
1999
EDtv
Director
1996
Ransom
Director
1995
Apollo 13
Director
1994
The Paper
Director
1992
Far and Away
Director
1991
Backdraft
Director
1989
Parenthood
Director
1988
Willow
Director
1986
Gung Ho
Director
1985
Cocoon
Director
1984
Splash
Director
1982
Night Shift
Director
1981
Through the Magic Pyramid
Director
1980
Skyward
Director
1978
Cotton Candy
Director
1977
Grand Theft Auto
Director
1969
Old Paint
Director
1969
Cards, Cads, Guns, Gore, and Death...
Director
1969
Deed of Daring-Do
Director
—
The Shrinking of Treehorn
Director
—
The Fixer
Director
—
Untitled Firefighter Film
Director
—
Alone at Dawn
Director
Writing
2025
Eden
Story
1992
Far and Away
Story
1989
Parenthood
Story
1978
Cotton Candy
Writer
1977
Grand Theft Auto
Writer
Production
2026
Whalefall
Producer
2026
Summer of '94
Executive Producer
2025
Eden
Producer
2025
Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything
Executive Producer
2025
Pets
Executive Producer
2025
Big Dreams: The Little League World Series 2024
Executive Producer
2025
David Blaine Do Not Attempt
Executive Producer
2025
The Gringo Hunters
Executive Producer
2025
Harlem Ice
Executive Producer
2025
Fight for Glory: 2024 World Series
Executive Producer
2025
Earnhardt
Producer
2024
Frida
Executive Producer
2024
Jim Henson Idea Man
Producer
2024
Music by John Williams
Producer
2024
The Lost Children
Executive Producer
2024
The Dynasty: New England Patriots
Executive Producer
2024
Choir
Executive Producer
2024
The Truth About Jim
Executive Producer
2024
I'm Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders
Executive Producer
2024
Churchill at War
Executive Producer
2023
The Slumber Party
Executive Producer
2023
The Beanie Bubble
Producer
2023
Judy Blume Forever
Executive Producer
2023
Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with Dave Letterman
Executive Producer
2023
Carlos
Executive Producer
2023
Tetris
Executive Producer
2023
Murf the Surf: Jewels, Jesus, and Mayhem in the USA
Executive Producer
2023
Taiwan Crime Stories
Executive Producer
2023
Bossy Bear
Executive Producer
2023
The Super Models
Executive Producer
2022
Downfall: The Case Against Boeing
Executive Producer
2022
Leave No Trace
Executive Producer
2022
Wedding Season
Executive Producer
2022
Personality Crisis: One Night Only
Executive Producer
2022
We Feed People
Producer
2022
The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari
Executive Producer
2022
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Executive Producer
2022
Thirteen Lives
Producer
2022
Lucy and Desi
Executive Producer
2022
Willow
Executive Producer
2022
Under the Banner of Heaven
Executive Producer
2022
Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies and the Internet
Executive Producer
2022
LIGHT & MAGIC
Executive Producer
2022
Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields
Executive Producer
2022
The Tiny Chef Show
Executive Producer
2021
The Day Sports Stood Still
Executive Producer
2021
Paper & Glue
Executive Producer
2021
Who Are You, Charlie Brown?
Executive Producer
2021
Julia
Executive Producer
2021
tick, tick... BOOM!
Producer
2021
We Are: The Brooklyn Saints
Executive Producer
2021
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel
Executive Producer
2021
Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol
Executive Producer
2021
Gossip
Executive Producer
2021
Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer
Executive Producer
2020
Curious George: Go West, Go Wild
Executive Producer
2020
Hillbilly Elegy
Producer
2020
Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band
Executive Producer
2020
Rebuilding Paradise
Producer
2020
D. Wade: Life Unexpected
Producer
2020
68 Whiskey
Executive Producer
2020
The Astronauts
Executive Producer
2020
On Pointe
Executive Producer
2019
Being Frank
Producer
2019
Pavarotti
Producer
2019
Backdraft 2
Executive Producer
2019
Dads
Producer
2018
The Spy Who Dumped Me
Executive Producer
2017
The Dark Tower
Producer
2017
Genius
Executive Producer
2016
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
Producer
2015
Prophet's Prey
Executive Producer
2015
Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle
Executive Producer
2015
In the Heart of the Sea
Producer
2014
The Good Lie
Producer
2013
Rush
Producer
2013
Out of the Blue
Executive Producer
2013
Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest
Executive Producer
2013
Made in America
Producer
2012
Katy Perry: Part of Me
Producer
2011
Cowboys & Aliens
Producer
2011
The Dilemma
Producer
2011
Restless
Producer
2010
Parenthood
Producer
2010
Parenthood
Executive Producer
2009
Angels & Demons
Producer
2009
Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey!
Executive Producer
2008
Changeling
Producer
2008
Frost/Nixon
Producer
2006
The Da Vinci Code
Producer
2006
Curious George
Producer
2006
Curious George
Executive Producer
2005
Cinderella Man
Producer
2005
Inside Deep Throat
Producer
2004
The Alamo
Producer
2003
The Missing
Producer
2003
Arrested Development
Executive Producer
2001
A Beautiful Mind
Producer
2001
Silicon Follies
Executive Producer
2001
The Beast
Producer
2000
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Producer
2000
Wonderland
Producer
1999
EDtv
Producer
1999
Beyond the Mat
Producer
1999
The PJs
Executive Producer
1998
From the Earth to the Moon
Producer
1998
Sports Night
Producer
1998
Felicity
Producer
1998
Sports Night
Executive Producer
1998
Felicity
Executive Producer
1997
Inventing the Abbotts
Producer
1997
Hiller and Diller
Producer
1996
The Chamber
Producer
1992
Far and Away
Producer
1991
Closet Land
Executive Producer
1990
Parenthood
Producer
1989
The 'Burbs
Executive Producer
1988
Vibes
Executive Producer
1988
Clean and Sober
Executive Producer
1987
No Man's Land
Executive Producer
1986
Gung Ho
Executive Producer
1986
The Lone Star Kid
Executive Producer
1985
No Greater Gift
Executive Producer
1985
Into Thin Air
Executive Producer
1983
When Your Lover Leaves
Executive Producer
1981
Through the Magic Pyramid
Executive Producer
1981
Skyward Christmas
Executive Producer
1980
Skyward
Executive Producer
—
Love Advice from the Great Duke of Hell
Producer
—
The Sound of Philadelphia
Executive Producer
—
The Shrinking of Treehorn
Producer
—
Splash
Producer
—
Spy vs. Spy
Producer
—
Curious George
Producer
—
Untitled Firefighter Film
Producer
—
Dangerously Funny
Producer
—
Pa'l Pueblo: Fania for the People
Executive Producer
Crew
2009
Mademoiselle Chambon
Thanks
1995
Apollo 13
Executive Music Producer
Creator
2016
Mars
Creator
2015
Breakthrough
Creator
1998
From the Earth to the Moon
Creator