Before winning a Golden Globe for his role on Happy Days, Ron Howard met his high school sweetheart, Cheryl Alley, in 1970. They married in 1975.
“I met her, and there was never anybody else,” Howard told People magazine. “She’s unbelievably supportive and always has been. Our compatibility has endured through all kinds of experiences.”
After 50 years of shared experiences, Howard, who earned an Oscar for directing A Beautiful Mind, celebrated the 50th anniversary of his first date with Cheryl on Instagram.
On November 1, 1970, Ron and Cheryl went on their first date. Ron shared a photo of himself wearing socks with Cheryl’s face on them. He wrote, “We went to see a movie called It’s a Mad Mad Mad World and then got pizza at a place called Barnone’s in Toluca Lake. Quite a start, right?”
He also mentioned that they planned to drive the same 1970 VW Bug they drove on their first date. It still runs great, just like their relationship.
Cheryl has appeared in some of Ron’s projects and even played herself on the TV show Arrested Development, which Ron produced and narrated.
Ron calls Cheryl his “good luck charm.” That’s why she appears in every movie he makes. He told the Television Academy, “I got really superstitious about making sure she appears, at least a little bit, in every movie. It doesn’t have to be a big part, but she’s gotta be in there.”
Besides bringing him luck, Cheryl is also a writer. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in screenwriting.
The couple has four children: daughter Bryce, twins Paige and Jocelyn, and son Reed. They’re also grandparents to six children.
Bryce, a well-known actor, has starred in movies like Jurassic World and The Help. Paige began her movie career in Adventureland in 2009 and has appeared in movies like The Employer and Collection.
Reed is a professional golfer. Jocelyn, Paige’s twin sister, keeps her life private.
Ron and Cheryl are about to celebrate their 49th anniversary on June 7th. Ron, who has won an Emmy Award, says that “communication” is the secret to their lasting love.
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