Ron Howars - Artist Essay

Ron Howard
My artist essay

Ronald Howard was born March 1st, 1954 in Duncan, Oklahoma. He is the son of Jean Howard, an actress, and Rance Howard, a director, writer, and actor. He also has a younger brother named Clint Howard who is a well known actor. Ron Howard is an Academy Award-winning director and producer, as well as an actor. His claims to fame as an actor are playing Andy Griffith’s TV son, Opie Taylor, on The Andy Griffith Show in the 1960s and playing Richie Cunningham on Happy Days in the 1970s. After retiring from acting, he has directed many films including Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Splash, and The Da Vinci Code.

Ron first earned recognition for playing Winthrop Paroo, the kid with the lisp in the film version of The Music Man. Soon after he, appeared in the role of Opie Taylor in the TV series The Andy Griffith Show for 8 seasons where he spent a lot of time with Andy Griffith on screen and off. He also appeared in the 1963 film The Courtship of Eddie’s Father and Little Boy Lost. Ron made a guest-star appearance on M.A.S.H. during the show’s first season.

As Ron got older he received a historic part as Steve Bollander in George Lucas’ American Graffiti in 1973, which lead to him being cast as Richie Cunningham in the popular TV series Happy Days where he played the perfect contrast to Henry Winkler’s character Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli. While still starring on Happy Days, he directed his low budget film called Grand Theft Auto. His last significant on-screen role was when he played his famous role as Opie Taylor one more time in 1986 for the TV reunion movie, Return to Mayberry.

      After leaving Happy Days in 1980, Ron went on to direct several TV movies. His big theatrical break came in 1982 with the movie Night Shift which featured many soon to be stars, including his old co-star Henry Winkler. Since then he has directed a number of incredible films including Splash, Parenthood, Cocoon, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind (for...