Sunday, December 15, 2024

Ron Howard’s Dad, Actor Rance Howard, Dies at 89: “His passion for acting changed the course of our family”

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220px-RanceHowardActor Rance Howard, father of Ron and Clint Howard, grandfather of actress Bryce Dallas Howard, has passed away at age 89.

Rance Howard was a journeyman actor, most recently seen in Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska.” He had small roles in movies like “Chinatown” and “Cool Hand Luke.” He worked a lot in television in the late 50s, and when Ronnie Howard became Opie Taylor in “The Andy Griffith Show,” Rance played a variety of roles in four episodes. He has a long list of appearance in various shows including “Gentle Ben,” which starred his other son, Clint. Both Clint and Rance have appeared in most of Ron Howard’s movies.


Just a couple of weeks ago, Ron and daughter Bryce celebrated Rance Howard’s last movie, “Broken Memories,” at an event in Hollywood. Ron told the audience (Rance was not there): “He has an undying love of the process, which has made him appreciate every day on a film or television set. And he’s never lost the youthful excitement for being a part of a process that tells a story that reaches audiences in different ways and reflects the work of a team of collaborators that share that excitement and that always rubbed off on me, that joy of being lucky enough to be among the storytellers.”

Condolences to the Howard family. Even 89 years old is not enough.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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