Ron Howard
Biography
Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American filmmaker and actor. He first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of The Twilight Zone. Howard 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.
Most directed genres
Recurring actors
- Clint Howard 9
- Tom Hanks 5
- Jennifer Connelly 3
- Jim Carrey 3
- Michael Keaton 3
- Paul Bettany 3
- Rance Howard 3
- Adam Goldberg 2
Awards and nominations
- 2014 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated
- 2014 BAFTA Award for Best British Film Nominated
- 2013 Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama Nominated
- 2010 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Program
- 2009 BAFTA Award for Best Film Nominated
- 2009 BAFTA Award for Best Direction Nominated
- 2009 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Program Nominated
- 2009 Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture Nominated
- 2008 Golden Globe Award for Best Director Nominated
- 2008 Satellite Award for Best Director Nominated
- 2006 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director Nominated
- 2006 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series Nominated
- 2005 Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Director Nominated
- 2005 Best Sports Movie ESPY Award Nominated
- 2004 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series
- 2004 Golden Bear Nominated
- 2003 National Medal of Arts
- 2002 Academy Award for Best Picture
- 2002 Academy Award for Best Director
- 2002 Academy Award for Best Director Nominated
- 2002 Australian Film Institute Award for Best Foreign Film Nominated
- 2001 Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Director
- 2001 Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Director
- 2001 Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film
- 2001 Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film Nominated
- 1999 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program Nominated
- 1998 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Miniseries
- 1998 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Miniseries Nominated
- 1989 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation Nominated
- 1986 Saturn Award for Best Director
- 1984 Saturn Award for Best Director Nominated
- 1981 star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- 1976 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Nominated
- — Directors Guild of America Award
- — Daytime Emmy Award
- — Academy Award for Best Picture Nominated
The career in numbers
- US$ 1.7 bi Total budget from 27 film(s) with data
- US$ 4.4 bi Total box office from 26 film(s) with data
- US$ 64 mi Average budget from 27 film(s) with data
- US$ 169 mi Average box office from 26 film(s) with data
- 6.8 Average rating from 31 film(s) with data
- 2.6× Return on investment from 25 film(s) with data
Budget and box office do not exist for every film in our records. Averages are computed over the films that carry the figure, and the count beside each one says how many.
Films directed
| Film | Year | Budget | Box office | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Avedon
|
2026 | — | — | 4.0 |
Eden
|
2025 | US$ 50 mi | US$ 2 mi | 6.7 |
Jim Henson Idea Man
|
2024 | — | — | 7.8 |
Thirteen Lives
|
2022 | US$ 55 mi | — | 7.8 |
We Feed People
|
2022 | — | — | 7.0 |
Hillbilly Elegy
|
2020 | — | — | 6.7 |
Rebuilding Paradise
|
2020 | — | — | 6.1 |
Pavarotti
|
2019 | — | — | 7.3 |
Solo: A Star Wars Story
|
2018 | US$ 250 mi | US$ 393 mi | 6.6 |
Inferno
|
2016 | US$ 75 mi | US$ 220 mi | 6.1 |
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
|
2016 | — | US$ 12 mi | 7.5 |
In the Heart of the Sea
|
2015 | US$ 100 mi | US$ 94 mi | 6.8 |
Rush
|
2013 | US$ 38 mi | US$ 90 mi | 7.7 |
Made in America
|
2013 | — | — | 4.2 |
The Dilemma
|
2011 | US$ 70 mi | US$ 67 mi | 5.4 |
Presidential Reunion
|
2010 | — | — | 6.1 |
Angels & Demons
|
2009 | US$ 150 mi | US$ 486 mi | 6.7 |
Frost/Nixon
|
2008 | US$ 25 mi | US$ 27 mi | 7.3 |
The Da Vinci Code
|
2006 | US$ 125 mi | US$ 760 mi | 6.7 |
Cinderella Man
|
2005 | US$ 88 mi | US$ 109 mi | 7.6 |
The Missing
|
2003 | US$ 60 mi | US$ 38 mi | 6.3 |
A Beautiful Mind
|
2001 | US$ 58 mi | US$ 317 mi | 7.9 |
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
|
2000 | US$ 123 mi | US$ 346 mi | 6.8 |
EDtv
|
1999 | US$ 80 mi | US$ 35 mi | 6.0 |
Ransom
|
1996 | US$ 80 mi | US$ 309 mi | 6.7 |
Apollo 13
|
1995 | US$ 52 mi | US$ 355 mi | 7.5 |
The Paper
|
1994 | US$ 6 mi | US$ 48 mi | 6.6 |
Far and Away
|
1992 | US$ 60 mi | US$ 138 mi | 6.8 |
Backdraft
|
1991 | US$ 75 mi | US$ 152 mi | 6.7 |
Parenthood
|
1989 | US$ 20 mi | US$ 126 mi | 6.7 |
Willow
|
1988 | US$ 35 mi | US$ 57 mi | 7.0 |
Gung Ho
|
1986 | US$ 13 mi | US$ 37 mi | 6.1 |
Cocoon
|
1985 | US$ 18 mi | US$ 85 mi | 6.6 |
Splash
|
1984 | US$ 8 mi | US$ 70 mi | 6.3 |
Night Shift
|
1982 | US$ 8 mi | US$ 21 mi | 6.1 |
Through the Magic Pyramid
|
1981 | — | — | 2.5 |
Skyward
|
1980 | — | — | 7.1 |
Cotton Candy
|
1978 | — | — | 4.9 |
Grand Theft Auto
|
1977 | US$ 602,000 | — | 5.3 |
Cards, Cads, Guns, Gore, and Death...
|
1969 | — | — | 3.7 |
|
Untitled Ron Howard Firefighter Film
|
— | — | — | — |
|
Alone at Dawn
|
— | — | — | — |
Untitled How the Grinch Stole Christmas Sequel
|
— | — | — | — |
