
Directing
Born March 1, 1954 · Duncan, Oklahoma, USA
Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American filmmaker and actor. Howard first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of The Twilight Zone. He 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.

Eden
2025

Jim Henson Idea Man
2024

Thirteen Lives
2022

We Feed People
2022

Hillbilly Elegy
2020

Rebuilding Paradise
2020

Pavarotti
2019

Solo: A Star Wars Story
2018

Inferno
2016

The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
2016

In the Heart of the Sea
2015

Made in America
2013

Rush
2013

The Dilemma
2011

Presidential Reunion
2010

Angels & Demons
2009

Frost/Nixon
2008

The Da Vinci Code
2006

Cinderella Man
2005

The Missing
2003

A Beautiful Mind
2001

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2000

EDtv
1999

Ransom
1996

Apollo 13
1995

The Paper
1994

Far and Away
1992

Backdraft
1991

Parenthood
1989

Willow
1988

Gung Ho
1986

Cocoon
1985

Splash
1984

Night Shift
1982
Through the Magic Pyramid
1981

Skyward
1980

Cotton Candy
1978

Grand Theft Auto
1977

Deed of Daring-Do
1969

Cards, Cads, Guns, Gore, and Death...
1969

Old Paint
1969
The Shrinking of Treehorn
The Fixer
Untitled Firefighter Film
Alone at Dawn

John Candy: I Like Me
2025

Enterprise or Love: The Story of Far and Away
2024

Music by John Williams
2024

Tom Hanks: The Nomad
2023

John Wayne: Cowboys & Demons
2023

Willow: Behind the Magic
2023

'Tis the Season: The Holidays on Screen
2022

Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel
2022

Fuck Coin
2021

Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema
2021

The Happy Days of Garry Marshall
2020

The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration
2019

Dads
2019

Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10
2019

Kasdan on Kasdan
2018

Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies
2017
Tom Hanks: A League of His Own
2016

Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie
2016

The Arrested Development Documentary Project
2013

Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck
2013

From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking
2013

Radioman
2012

Corman's World
2011

Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
2011

Sheldon Leonard's Wonderful Life
2011

Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible
2010