Ron Howard has been a prominent figure in Hollywood for nearly as long as his 70 years of life. Starting his career as a toddler, he has maintained a relentless pace in both film and television ever since.
Beyond his remarkable professional achievements, Howard has also shown great commitment in his personal life. The multiple award-winning filmmaker has been married to his wife, Cheryl, for nearly 50 years.
Read on to discover more about Howard, his enduring career, and his long-lasting marriage!
Ronald Howard, destined to become a Hollywood legend, was born on March 1, 1954, in Duncan, Oklahoma.
Howard’s introduction to the entertainment world came early—at just 18 months old, he appeared in his first film, Frontier Woman. By the age of two, he made his stage debut in The Seven Year Itch.
His rise to fame truly began with his role on The Andy Griffith Show, which aired from 1960 to 1968. As the freckle-faced, redheaded Opie, the son of Andy Griffith’s character, Howard quickly became a household name. Throughout this journey, he had the unwavering support of his parents, both of whom were involved in the entertainment industry.
Reflecting on a conversation with his parents, Howard recalls them saying, “Remember how we always said, ‘You can do it if you want, but you don’t have to?’ Well if you start this, you can’t quit. You don’t have to do other parts on other shows if you don’t want to, but you’d have to keep doing this one.”
Howard understood their message clearly. “I think it was pretty clear at that point that I was enjoying it, and I was good at it,” he explains.
Indeed, Howard was not just good—he was exceptional, and his path to stardom was only just beginning.
Howard’s ‘Happy Days’
During his time on The Andy Griffith Show, Howard also made a notable appearance in the 1962 musical film The Music Man, which became a major commercial hit.
Demonstrating his natural acting talent, he went on to star in the 1973 film American Graffiti, alongside Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfuss, and Cindy Williams—an actress he would later collaborate with again.
In 1974, Howard was cast as Richie Cunningham in the new series Happy Days, created by Garry Marshall. The show aired from 1974 to 1984, becoming a beloved fixture in homes around the world.
Happy Days also inspired several successful spin-offs, including Laverne & Shirley, starring Cindy Williams and Marshall’s sister Penny, and Mork & Mindy, featuring Robin Williams as the iconic character Mork from the planet Ork.
High school sweetheart
In 1970, long before winning a Golden Globe for his role as the innocent teenager on Happy Days, Ron Howard met his high school sweetheart, Cheryl Alley. They would go on to marry in 1975.
Reflecting on their relationship in an interview with People, the director of The Da Vinci Code said, “I met her, and there was never anybody else. She’s unbelievably supportive and always has been. Our compatibility has endured through all kinds of experiences.”
Now, after 50 years of shared experiences, Howard, who won an Oscar for directing A Beautiful Mind, celebrated the 50th anniversary of his first date with Cheryl on Instagram.
“On November 1, 1970, Cheryl and I went on our first date,” he wrote, accompanying the post with a photo of himself wearing socks adorned with images of Cheryl’s face. “We saw a re-release of Stanley Kramer’s It’s a Mad Mad Mad World and then grabbed some pizza at the now-closed Barnone’s in Toluca Lake. Quite a start, right?”
He also revealed their plans for the day: “We’ll be driving in the same ‘70 VW Bug I picked Cheryl up in 50 years ago. It runs great. So do we.”
His ‘good luck charm’
Cheryl has made multiple cameo appearances in Howard’s projects, even portraying herself in the TV comedy series Arrested Development, which Howard produced and narrated.
In an interview with the Television Academy, Ron referred to Cheryl as his “good luck charm” and shared that this is why she appears in all of his films.
“At a certain point, it became almost a ritual for me to ensure she makes an appearance, even if just for a single, recognizable frame,” he shared. “The cameos don’t have to be prominent, but she definitely has to be in there.”
Beyond bringing her husband some good fortune, Cheryl is also a published author with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in screenwriting.
The couple, who share four children—daughter Bryce, twins Paige and Jocelyn, and son Reed—are also proud grandparents to six grandchildren.
Bryce, a well-known actor, has gained recognition for his roles in films such as Jurassic World and The Help. Paige, who made her feature film debut in the 2009 movie Adventureland, has since appeared in films like The Employer and Collection.
Reed is a professional golfer, and Paige’s twin sister, Jocelyn, prefers to keep a low profile.
The secret to longevity
As they approach their 49th anniversary on June 7, the Emmy Award-winning producer reveals that “communication” is the key to their lasting love.
Howard shared with People that when asked about his approach, he often responds, “There’s no special technique or tactic.” He emphasized the importance of communication, stating, “You have to learn how to communicate and have tough conversations in a constructive way.” However, Howard also acknowledged that luck plays a role, as some people grow together naturally while others do not, and that process can’t be forced.
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