Ron Howard has been a familiar face in our homes for almost as long as his 70 years. This Hollywood heavyweight has been continuously active in both film and television, beginning his illustrious career as a toddler.
Alongside his impressive career, Ron has also shown great longevity in his personal life, having been married to his wife Cheryl for nearly 50 years.
Read on to find out more about Howard, his decades-spanning career, and the secrets behind his enduring marriage!
On March 1, 1954, in Duncan, Oklahoma, Ronald Howard, a future Hollywood legend, was born.
Ron was just 18 months old when he made his first film appearance in Frontier Woman. By the age of two, he had already made his stage debut in The Seven Year Itch.
Shortly after, the freckle-faced redhead embarked on his celebrity journey with his role on The Andy Griffith Show, which aired from 1960 to 1968.
During his time playing Opie, the son of Andy Griffith’s character, Ron had the full support of his parents, who were both part of the entertainment industry.
“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 take on other parts on different shows, but you’d have to stick with this one.”
Reflecting on understanding the message his parents were imparting, Ron added, “I think it was clear that I was enjoying it, and I was good at it.”
Indeed, he was great at it, and he was about to reach new heights of stardom.
Howard’s ‘Happy Days’
While starring in The Andy Griffith Show, Howard also appeared on the big screen in 1962’s The Music Man, a musical film that saw commercial success.
Ron’s natural talent shined through in the 1973 film American Graffiti, where he starred alongside Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfuss, and Cindy Williams — the latter he would collaborate with in the future.
In 1974, he was cast as Richie Cunningham in a new series by Garry Marshall called Happy Days, which graced TV screens from 1974 to 1984.
High School Sweetheart
Back in 1970, well before his Golden Globe win for Richie Cunningham in Happy Days, Howard met his future wife, Cheryl Alley, in high school. They married in 1975.
“I met her, and there was never anybody else,” Howard told People. “She’s always been unbelievably supportive. Our compatibility has endured through all kinds of experiences.”
Celebrating 50 years since their first date, Ron shared a commemorative post on Instagram.
He also shared plans for the day, “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 and even played herself in Arrested Development, produced and narrated by Howard.
Ron told the Television Academy that he considers Cheryl his “good luck charm,” insisting she appears in every film he makes.
“At a certain point, I became very superstitious about making sure she appears in at least one frame,” he said. “They don’t have to be big cameos, but she’s gotta be in there.”
Besides being Ron’s lucky charm, Cheryl is also a published author with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in screenwriting.
The power couple are grandparents to six and parents to four – Bryce, twins Paige and Jocelyn, and Reed.
Bryce, a recognizable actor, is known for roles in movies like Jurassic World and The Help. Paige made her film debut in the 2009 movie Adventureland and has since appeared in films like The Employer and Collection.
Reed is a professional golfer, and Jocelyn, Paige’s twin sister, keeps a low profile.
The Secret to Longevity
As they approach their 49th anniversary on June 7, Ron shares that “communication” is the key to their enduring love.
“People ask, ‘How’d you do it?’ There’s no technique,” Howard told People. “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. You can’t force that.”
