Ron Howard has been a well-known figure for nearly all of his 70 years, having started his career in film and television as a toddler.
In addition to his impressive career, Ron has enjoyed a long-lasting marriage to his wife Cheryl for nearly 50 years.
Keep reading to learn more about Ron Howard, his enduring career, and his long marriage!
Ronald Howard was born on March 1, 1954, in Duncan, Oklahoma. He would grow up to become a Hollywood legend.
Howard began acting at just 18 months old, appearing in his first film, Frontier Woman. By the time he was two, he was on stage in The Seven Year Itch.
After his early start in the entertainment world, Ron Howard became known for his role as Opie on The Andy Griffith Show from 1960 to 1968.
During this time, Howard had the support of his parents, who were also in the entertainment business.
Ron recalls a conversation with his parents from his youth: “Remember how we always said, ‘You can do it if you want, but you don’t have to?’ Well, if you start this, you can’t quit. You don’t have to do other parts on other shows if you don’t want, but you’d have to keep doing this one.”
Ron Howard understood his parents’ message and says, “I think it was pretty clear at that point that I was enjoying it, and I was good at it.”
Indeed, he was very good at it, and he was about to become a big star.
While he was on The Andy Griffith Show, Howard also acted in the 1962 movie The Music Man. The musical did very well.
He was a natural talent. In 1973, he starred in American Graffiti, alongside actors like Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfuss, and Cindy Williams, who he would work with again in the future.
In 1974, Ron Howard landed a significant role as Richie Cunningham in Happy Days, created by Garry Marshall. The show aired from 1974 to 1984 and was beloved worldwide.
Happy Days was so popular that it led to other shows, like Laverne & Shirley, starring Cindy Williams and Garry Marshall’s sister Penny, and Mork & Mindy, featuring Robin Williams as the funny character Mork from Ork.
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