Ron was born in Oklahoma, into an acting family - his father had realized a boyhood dream of acting by attending the University of Oklahoma and majoring in drama, and his mother went through acting school in New York. He was in his first movie at 18 months, Frontier Woman, although his first real part was at the age of 4. Soon a regular on Playhouse 90 he was cast as Opie on The Andy Griffith Show, and later moved from a child in Mayberry to America's teenager as Richie Cunningham in Happy Days. The life of a child star is certainly not routine, but Ron's parents wanted his life to be as normal as possible - he attended public schools and at age 15 even took nine months off to play a basketball season. The transition from child actor to adult actor is always difficult, but for Ron the real transition was from child actor to adult director. There were some film roles, such as The Shootist for which he received a Golden Globe nomination, but his dream and now his focus was directing. He had begun shooting films at age 15 with a Super-8 camera, and after high school spent two years in a film program at the University of Southern California, but then left, feeling he could learn more from actual experience. That first film was the hardest to finance, but he struck a deal with Roger Corman - he would star in _Eat My Dust! (1976)_ and Corman would produce Grand Theft Auto which Howard would direct (he also wrote the script and starred). It was a success, and his directorial career was jump-started. Married since 1975 to his high school sweetheart, he, in 1997, is enjoying a life of telling stories as one of Hollywood's top directors.


A Beautiful Mind (2001): $10,000,000

In 1971, was a contestant on "The Dating Game" (1965) and ended up choosing Bachelorette #2, Nola Green. Brother of Clint Howard. Daughters: Bryce Dallas Howard (b. 1981), Jocelyn Carlyle (twin, b. 1985), Paige Howard (twin, b. 1985). Son: Reed Cross (b. 1987). Acted with Kathleen Quinlan in American Graffiti (1973), then directed her in Apollo 13 (1995). Had the following rankings on Premiere's annual Power 100 List - #22 in 2006, #27 in 2005, #30 in 2004, #26 in 2003, #29 in 2002. Born on the same day as Catherine Bach, who is best known as "Daisy Duke" from "The Dukes of Hazzard" (1979). Ranked #7 in Vh1's of the "100 Greatest Kid Stars". When he was a child actor, his father was very involved in his career, protecting him from unfair treatment, and being strict with him (when necessary). Has directed two films on the American Film Institute's 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time. They are A Beautiful Mind (2001) at #93 and Apollo 13 (1995) at #12. Played Winthrop Paroo in The Music Man (1962), and the title role in Huckleberry Finn (1975) (TV). Both roles were previously played by Eddie Hodges. Became a grandfather when his daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard, had a baby boy on February 16, 2007. Stepson of L.A. Times columnist and playwright Judy Howard. Henry Winkler is the godfather of Howard's daughter Bryce Dallas Howard. Started two production companies - Major H Productions (which ran until 1985) and then, in 1985, Imagine Films Entertainment. With the death of Don Knotts on February 24, 2006, he is the youngest surviving cast member of "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960), along with adult surviving cast members, Andy Griffith and George Lindsey.