Cast & creator
Ron Howard
Best known for Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
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. 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.
Also known as: Ronny Howard, Ronald William Howard, Ronnie Howard, Ronald William "Ron" Howard, ران هاوارد
247
film credits
151
television credits
193
1944–2027 · acting roles
6.6
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (398)
Showing 398 of 398 credits
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
2009
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
2014
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Guest
2015The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
The Simpsons
Ron Howard (voice)
1989
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self - Guest
2014
The Daily Show
Self
1996
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
2019
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
1961
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975Saturday Night Live
Contestant #2 (uncredited)
1975
The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007
The View
Self
1997The View
Self - Guest
1997
The Colbert Report
2005
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest
2003Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003
Real Time with Bill Maher
Self
2003
Frasier
Stephen (voice)
1993
This Is Us
Ron Howard (uncredited)
2016
Bonanza
Ted Hoag
1959
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Great Performances
Self
1971
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter
1944Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944Golden Globe Awards
Self - Accepting Award for Best Motion Picture Drama / Nominee
1944
M*A*S*H
Wendell
1972
The South Bank Show
1978
The Andy Griffith Show
Opie Taylor
1960
The Fugitive
Gus
1963
Love, American Style
Richie Cunningham
1969
The Waltons
1972
Top Gear
Self
2002
Lassie
1954
The Red Skelton Show
Joey
1951
Arrested Development
Narrator
2003Arrested Development
Executive Producer
2003
Happy Days
1974Happy Days
Richie Cunningham
1974
Parenthood
Producer
2010Parenthood
Executive Producer
2010
Dr. Kildare
Jerry Prentice
1961
Curious George
Executive Producer
2006
Only Murders in the Building
Ron Howard
2021
The Twilight Zone
Wilcox Boy
1959
The F.B.I.
Jess Orkin
1965
Daniel Boone
Luke
1964
Route 66
1960
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Self - Guest
1999
The Big Valley
Tommy
1965
Dinah!
Self
1974
The Bob Hope Show
Self
1950
Laverne & Shirley
1976
Off Camera with Sam Jones
Self
2014
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
Opie Taylor
1964
Gunsmoke
Jamie
1955
Felicity
Producer
1998Felicity
Executive Producer
1998
Chelsea
Self
2016
Genius
Executive Producer
2017
The Oscars
Self
1953
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
1959The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Little Boy Eating Candy Bar
1959The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Little Boy with Ray Gun
1959
Dennis the Menace
1959Dennis the Menace
Stewart
1959
Kulturplatz
Self
2004
The Studio
Ron Howard
2025
Judd, for the Defense
1967
The Danny Kaye Show
Self
1963
From the Earth to the Moon
Producer
1998From the Earth to the Moon
Creator
1998
People's Choice Awards
Self - Winner
1975
I Spy
Alan Loden
1965
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Wim
1959
The Dark Tower
Producer
2017
Angels & Demons
Director
2009Angels & Demons
Producer
2009
The Da Vinci Code
Director
2006The Da Vinci Code
Producer
2006
Land of the Giants
Jodar
1968
The Danny Thomas Show
Opie Taylor
1953
Mayberry R.F.D.
Opie Taylor
1968
Lancer
1968
Sports Night
Producer
1998Sports Night
Executive Producer
1998
In the Heart of the Sea
Director
2015In the Heart of the Sea
Producer
2015
A Beautiful Mind
Man at Governor's Ball (uncredited)
2001A Beautiful Mind
Director
2001A Beautiful Mind
Producer
2001
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director
2018
Whalefall
Producer
2026
The PJs
Executive Producer
1999Where Are They Now?
Self
1999
Donny & Marie
Self
1976
The Odd Couple
Stanley
2015
The New Breed
Tommy Simms
1961
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Director
2000How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Producer
2000
Rush
Director
2013Rush
Producer
2013
The Great Adventure
Daniel Waterhouse
1963
Willow
Executive Producer
2022
Pete and Gladys
1960
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
Cory Merlino
1969
Tetris
Executive Producer
2023
100 Years of Warner Bros.
Self
2023
The Wonderful World of Disney
Chris
1954
Cinderella Man
Director
2005Cinderella Man
Producer
2005
Far and Away
Director
1992Far and Away
Producer
1992Far and Away
Story
1992
Battle of the Network Stars
1976
Cowboys & Aliens
Producer
2011
LIGHT & MAGIC
Self - Academy Award Winning Filmmaker
2022LIGHT & MAGIC
Self
2022LIGHT & MAGIC
Self - Director, Cocoon
2022LIGHT & MAGIC
Self - Director, Willow
2022LIGHT & MAGIC
Executive Producer
2022
Johnny Ringo
Ricky Parrott
1959
Apollo 13
Director
1995Apollo 13
Executive Music Producer
1995
Changeling
Producer
2008
Under the Banner of Heaven
Executive Producer
2022
Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol
Executive Producer
2021
Gentle Ben
Jerry
1967Gentle Ben
Jody Cutler
1967
Mars
Creator
2016
The 'Burbs
Executive Producer
1989
The Tiny Chef Show
Executive Producer
2022
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Self
1973
Curious George
Producer
2006
Eden
Producer
2025Eden
Director
2025Eden
Story
2025
Inferno
Director
2016Inferno
Producer
2016
Marty, Life Is Short
Self
2026Marty, Life Is Short
Executive Producer
2026
The Dynasty: New England Patriots
Executive Producer
2024
The Monroes
1966
Reunited Apart
Self
2020
The Spy Who Dumped Me
Executive Producer
2018
The Super Models
Executive Producer
2023
The Captain and Tennille
Self - Guest
1976
Thirteen Lives
Director
2022Thirteen Lives
Producer
2022
David Blaine: Do Not Attempt
Executive Producer
2025
John Candy: I Like Me
Self - Director, Splash (archive footage)
2025
Willow
Director
1988
Taiwan Crime Stories
Executive Producer
2023
Hillbilly Elegy
Director
2020Hillbilly Elegy
Producer
2020
The Beanie Bubble
Producer
2023
Wonderland
Producer
2000
How To with John Wilson
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2020
The Shootist
Gillom Rogers
1976
Choir
Executive Producer
2024
American Graffiti
Steve Bolander
1973
The Gringo Hunters
Executive Producer
2025
Bossy Bear
Executive Producer
2023
tick, tick... BOOM!
Producer
2021
Frost/Nixon
Director
2008Frost/Nixon
Producer
2008
The Good Lie
Producer
2014
The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang
Richie Cunningham
1980
Osmosis Jones
Tom Colonic (voice)
2001
The Missing
Director
2003The Missing
Producer
2003
Backdraft
Director
1991
Parenthood
Producer
1990
Splash
Director
1984
The Slumber Party
Executive Producer
2023
68 Whiskey
Executive Producer
2020
Fight for Glory: 2024 World Series
Executive Producer
2025
Leave No Trace
Executive Producer
2022
Ransom
Director
1996
The Smith Family
Bob Smith
1971
The Alamo
Producer
2004
Jim Henson Idea Man
Director
2024Jim Henson Idea Man
Producer
2024
Who Are You, Charlie Brown?
Executive Producer
2021
The Dilemma
Director
2011The Dilemma
Producer
2011
Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey!
Executive Producer
2009
General Electric Theater
Barnaby Baxter
1953General Electric Theater
Randy
1953
Cocoon
Director
1985
Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing
Executive Producer
2026
Harlem Ice
Executive Producer
2025
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
The Paper
Director
1994
Pets
Executive Producer
2025
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Executive Producer
2022
On Pointe
Executive Producer
2020
Music by John Williams
Self - Filmmaker
2024Music by John Williams
Producer
2024
Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields
Executive Producer
2022
Parenthood
Director
1989Parenthood
Story
1989
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel
Executive Producer
2021
The Headmaster
1970
The Astronauts
Executive Producer
2020
MADtv
Self
1995
Night Shift
Annoying Sax Player (uncredited)
1982Night Shift
Director
1982
Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies and the Internet
Executive Producer
2022
Breakthrough
Director
2015Breakthrough
Creator
2015
Backdraft 2
Executive Producer
2019
No Man's Land
Executive Producer
1987
Willow: Behind the Magic
Self - Director, Willow, 1988 / Executive Producer, Willow, 2022
2023
Gung Ho
Director
1986Gung Ho
Executive Producer
1986
Lucy and Desi
Executive Producer
2022
I'm Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders
Executive Producer
2024
The Chamber
Producer
1996
Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer
Executive Producer
2021
EDtv
Director
1999EDtv
Producer
1999
Inside Deep Throat
Producer
2005
Inventing the Abbotts
Producer
1997
Five Fingers
1959
Churchill at War
Executive Producer
2024
Downfall: The Case Against Boeing
Executive Producer
2022
Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle
Executive Producer
2015
We Feed People
Director
2022We Feed People
Producer
2022
Dads
Self
2019Dads
Producer
2019Hiller and Diller
Producer
1997
Katy Perry: Part of Me
Producer
2012
Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with Dave Letterman
Executive Producer
2023
Wedding Season
Executive Producer
2022
The Music Man
Winthrop Paroo
1962The Beast
Producer
2001
Murf the Surf: Jewels, Jesus, and Mayhem in the USA
Executive Producer
2023
Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest
Executive Producer
2013
Sheldon Leonard's Wonderful Life
Self
2011
The Lost Children
Executive Producer
2024
Greatest Geek Year Ever! 1982
Self
2023
The First Nudie Musical
Auditioning Actor
1976
More American Graffiti
Steve Bolander
1979
Welcome to Hollywood
Ron Howard
2000
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
Director
2016The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
Producer
2016
The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari
Executive Producer
2022
Corman's World
Self - Filmmaker
2011
Clean and Sober
Executive Producer
1988
Curious George: Go West, Go Wild
Executive Producer
2020
Cannes: All Access
Self
2007
We Are: The Brooklyn Saints
Executive Producer
2021
The Journey
Billy Rhinelander
1959
Grand Theft Auto
Sam Freeman
1977Grand Theft Auto
Director
1977Grand Theft Auto
Writer
1977
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Eddie Corbett
1963
Inside the Actors Studio
Self
1994
Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema
Self
2021
Radioman
Self
2012
The Truth About Jim
Executive Producer
2024
Avedon
Director
2026Avedon
Producer
2026
The Happy Days of Garry Marshall
Self
2020
First Works
Self
1989
Restless
Producer
2011Television: The First Fifty Years
Self / Opie Taylor / Ritchie Cunningham (archive footage)
1999
The Arrested Development Documentary Project
Self
2013
Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel
Self
2022
Inside a Beautiful Mind
Self
2002
D. Wade: Life Unexpected
Producer
2020
Pavarotti
Director
2019Pavarotti
Producer
2019
The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration
Wilcox Boy (archive footage)
2019
Frank Capra's American Dream
Self
1997
Beyond the Mat
Producer
1999
Sci-Fi Channel: The Making of Apollo 13
Self
1995
Earnhardt
Producer
2025
Vibes
Executive Producer
1988
The Day Sports Stood Still
Executive Producer
2021
Enterprise or Love: The Story of Far and Away
Self
2024Alone at Dawn
Director
2027Alone at Dawn
Producer
2027
Paper & Glue
Executive Producer
2021
The Death and Return of Superman
Max's Son
2011
Personality Crisis: One Night Only
Executive Producer
2022The Horror Hall of Fame II
Self
1991
Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything
Executive Producer
2025
Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie
Himself
2016Sitcom: The Adventures of Garry Marshall
Self
1979
Weezer: Video Capture Device - Treasures from the Vault 1991-2002
Richie Cunningham ("Buddy Holly") (archive footage)
2004
The Spikes Gang
Les
1974
The Magical World of Chuck Jones
Self
1992
Tom Hanks: The Nomad
Self (archive footage)
2023
Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10
Self
2019Untitled Ron Howard Firefighter Film
Director
Untitled Ron Howard Firefighter Film
Producer
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Self (archive footage)
1985
Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band
Executive Producer
2020
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
Self - Host
1978
The Wild Country
Virgil Tanner
1970
Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation
Self
2000
Happy Mother's Day, Love George
Johnny
1973
Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13
Self
1996
From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic
Self
1999
Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery
Self
1997
George Lucas: Creating an Empire
Self
2002
Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck
Self
2013
Summer of '94
Executive Producer
2026
Tell Them Who You Are
Self
2004
Kyle Larson vs. The Double
Executive Producer
2026
Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies
Self
2017
The Independent
Ron Howard
2000
Closet Land
Executive Producer
1991
Village of the Giants
Genius
1965
Into Thin Air
Executive Producer
1985
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
Richie Cunningham (archive footage)
2011
Fire on the Mountain
Lee Mackie
1981Splash
Producer
Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages
Self
2002
Five Minutes to Live
Bobby Wilson
1961
Eat My Dust
Hoover Niebold
1976
Willow: The Making of an Adventure
Self - Director
1988
Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel
Self
1978
Made in America
Director
2013Made in America
Producer
2013
The Making of 'American Graffiti'
Self
1998
Dangerously Funny
Producer
Being Frank
Producer
2019
Huckleberry Finn
Huckleberry Finn
1978
Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible
Self
2010
The Lone Star Kid
Executive Producer
1986
I'm a Fool
Andy
1977
Blacklist: Hollywood on Trial
Herbert Biberman
1996
Julia
Executive Producer
2021
Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story
Self
2010Tom Hanks: A League of His Own
Self
2016
A Special: Olivia Newton-John
1976
When Your Lover Leaves
Executive Producer
1983
Judy Blume Forever
Executive Producer
2023
'Tis the Season: The Holidays on Screen
Self
2022
Through the Magic Pyramid
Executive Producer
1981Through the Magic Pyramid
Director
1981
From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking
Self - Director
2001
Presidential Reunion
Director
2010
Prophet's Prey
Executive Producer
2015Pa'l Pueblo: Fania for the People
Executive Producer
Fuck Coin
Self
2021
Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero
Self
1997
Untitled How the Grinch Stole Christmas Sequel
Director
Untitled How the Grinch Stole Christmas Sequel
Producer
Gossip
Executive Producer
2021
John Wayne: Cowboys & Demons
Self
2023
Out of the Blue
Executive Producer
2013
Blood of the Tribades
Thanks
2016
The Shootist: The Legend Lives On
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2001
Rebuilding Paradise
Director
2020Rebuilding Paradise
Producer
2020
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
Richie Cunningham (archive footage)
1979
Frida
Executive Producer
2024
Carlos
Executive Producer
2023
A Boy Called Nuthin’
Richie 'Nuthin'' Caldwell
1967
Old Paint
Director
1969The Shrinking of Treehorn
Director
The Shrinking of Treehorn
Producer
Return to Mayberry
Opie Taylor
1986
Bitter Harvest
Ned De Vries
1981
Cards, Cads, Guns, Gore, and Death...
Director
1969
Act of Love
Leon Cybulkowski
1980
Mademoiselle Chambon
Thanks
2009
Cotton Candy
Director
1978Cotton Candy
Writer
1978The Sound of Philadelphia
Executive Producer
Leo and Loree
Executive Producer
1980Love Advice from the Great Duke of Hell
Producer
Kasdan on Kasdan
Self
2018
No Greater Gift
Executive Producer
1985
Big Dreams: The Little League World Series 2024
Executive Producer
2025
Channel 99
1988
The Migrants
Lyle Barlow
1974
Ron Howard: 50 Years in Film
Self
2008
Skyward Christmas
Executive Producer
1981
Smoke
Chris (as Ronny Howard)
1970
Making a 'Splash'
Self - Director
2004Silicon Follies
Executive Producer
2001
Locusts
Donny Fletcher
1974
Hollywood on Hollywood
Host
1993
Skyward
Executive Producer
1980Skyward
Director
1980Spy vs. Spy
Producer
Curious George
Producer
Deed of Daring-Do
Director
1969The Fixer
Director
Magnetic
Thanks
2015