Ron Howard has been a household name for almost his entire life. The Hollywood star commenced his career as a toddler and has maintained an extraordinary presence in film and television ever since.
Beyond his stellar career, Ron has also achieved remarkable longevity in his personal life, being married to his wife Cheryl for nearly 50 years.
Let’s dive into the life of Ron Howard, his impressive career, and his enduring marriage!
Ronald Howard was born on March 1, 1954, in Duncan, Oklahoma, destined for fame.
At just 18 months old, he appeared in his first film, Frontier Woman, and by age two, he made his stage debut in The Seven Year Itch.
His big break came with his role as Opie on The Andy Griffith Show, where he charmed viewers from 1960 to 1968. During this time, his parents, both in the entertainment industry, were his biggest supporters.
“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,” Howard recalled a conversation with his parents. “You don’t have to do other parts on other shows if you don’t want, but you’d have to keep doing this one.”
Understanding his parents’ message, Howard added, “I think it was pretty clear at that point that I was enjoying it, and I was good at it.”
Indeed, he excelled and was on the verge of astronomical success.
Howard’s ‘Happy Days’
Alongside The Andy Griffith Show, Ron appeared in the 1962 musical hit, The Music Man. His talent shone brightly as he went on to star in 1973’s American Graffiti, alongside Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfuss, and Cindy Williams.
In 1974, he landed the role of Richie Cunningham in Garry Marshall’s new series, Happy Days, which aired from 1974 to 1984.
High School Sweetheart
In 1970, before achieving his Golden Globe-winning fame on Happy Days, Ron met his high school sweetheart, Cheryl Alley. The couple married in 1975.
“I met her, and there was never anybody else,” Ron shared with People. “She’s unbelievably supportive and always has been. Our compatibility has endured through all kinds of experiences.”
Celebrating 50 years of shared experiences, Ron, who received an Oscar for directing A Beautiful Mind, marked the 50th anniversary of their first date by posting on Instagram.
He also commemorated the milestone uniquely: “We’ll be driving in the same ‘70 VW Bug I picked Cheryl up in 5 decades ago. It runs great. So do we.”
His ‘Good Luck Charm’
Cheryl has made several cameos in Ron’s projects, including playing herself on the TV comedy series Arrested Development, produced and narrated by Ron.
In an interview with the Television Academy, Ron described Cheryl as his “good luck charm,” explaining why she appears in every film he makes.
“At a certain point, I became very superstitious about making sure that she appears, that she’s at least identifiable in one frame,” he said. “They don’t have to be big cameos, but she’s gotta be in there.”
Besides bringing luck, Cheryl is also a published author with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in screenwriting.
The couple is blessed with four children—Bryce, twins Paige and Jocelyn, and son Reed—and six grandchildren.
Their daughter, Bryce, is a well-known actor famous for roles in Jurassic World and The Help, while Paige debuted in the 2009 film Adventureland and has since appeared in movies like The Employer and Collection.
Reed is a professional golfer, and Jocelyn maintains a very private life.
The Secret to Longevity
As their 49th anniversary approaches on June 7, the Emmy Award-winning producer reveals that “communication” is key to their lasting marriage.
“People say, ‘How’d you do it?’ There’s no technique,” Ron told People. “There’s no tactic, other than communication is really important. You have to learn to communicate and have difficult conversations in constructive ways. Beyond that, there’s an element of luck because people either grow together, or they don’t, and I don’t think you can force that.”
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