Ron Howard is an American actor and filmmaker most recognized for his roles on the Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days.
The 64-year old is also well known for being one of the top successful directors in the movie industry. Apollo 13, EDtv, Cinderella Man, The Da Vinci Code, are just some of the high-profile films that made Howard a household name. And now with his latest work Solo: A Star Wars Story about to kill at the box office, Howard’s value is at an all-time high.
But even with all his accolades and accomplishments, how much is Ron Howard actually worth?
Ron Howard Net Worth 2018: $140 Million
Howard’s work as an actor and director has him worth a large $140 million. No wonder he’s one of the best in the business, the numbers speak for themselves.
Early Life
Howard was born on March 1, 1954 in Duncan, Oklahoma. His parents, Jean and Rance Howard, were in the movie industry already when he was born. Jean an actress, and Rance an actor, writer, and director.
At the age of four, Howard and his family moved to Hollywood, California. The house they rented was a block south of Desuli Studios. That studio was later used for the filming of The Andy Griffith Show. Three years later in 1961, his family moved from Hollywood to Burbank.
At Desuli, Howard was tutored in both acting and directing from a young age. In 1959, he was credited with his first acting role on The Andy Griffith Show. He became a member of the show in 1960, along with a few other roles in The DuPont Show with June Allyson, Dennis The Menace, The Many Loves of Dobbie Gillis, and The Cheyenne Show.
In 1962, Howard received his first movie role as Winthrop Paroo in The Music Man. A year later, he starred in the film, The Courtship of Eddie’s Father.
Howard graduated from John Burroughs High School in Burbank, California. After graduating, he attended the University of California’s School of Cinematic Arts but did not graduate.
1973-1980
Howard continued to garner roles heading into his teen years. At age 19, he starred in George Lucas’s classic film, American Grafitti. His performance in that film and the show Love, American Style led to him being cast for one of the greatest sitcoms of all-time, Happy Days.
Starting in 1974, Howard played a likable, “buttoned up” character named Richie Cunningham. He would play the role for six years until the show ended in 1980.
Howard found the love of his life Cheryl Alley in the early 70’s and the two were married in 1975.
In 1976, Howard played the role of Gillom Rogers with the legendary John Wayne, in the American Western, The Shootist. By 1977, he was divulging into becoming a director. He directed a low-budget comedy/action film titled, Grand Theft Auto.
Howard received his first Golden Globe Award in 1978. He won the award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy for his work on Happy Days.
After Grand Theft Auto, Howard started racking up directorial credits and building a reputation around Hollywood.
1980-2000
Howard directed the films, Night Shift, Cocoon, Gung Ho, and No Man’s Land in the early 80’s, while also continuing to act on many television shows.
In 1987, Howard partnered with fellow legendary filmmaker George Lucas on the fantasy flim, Willow. Following Willow, Howard took a two-year sabbatical from directing until coming back with the comedy-drama flick Parenthood in 1989. He also was an executive on the 1991 biographic motion-picture about the legendary American band The Doors.
Between 1991 and 1994, Howard was non-stop, directing Backdraft, Far and Away, The Magical World of Chuck Jones, and The Paper. After those four pictures, Howard directed his best film to date in the space docudrama, Apollo 13. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Director for Apollo 13, despite losing to Mel Gibson’s Braveheart.
Howard followed up Apollo 13, with Ransom (1996), EDtv (1999), and How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000). He also voiced the character Tom Colonic in the animated film Osmosis Jones.
2001-2018
In 2001, Howard directed and acted in one of his greatest works, A Beautiful Mind. The film won Howard Best Picture and Best Director Award at the 2002 Academy Awards, and Best Motion Drama at the 2002 Golden Globes.
Two years later, Howard’s next directed film The Missing hit theaters. Also in that year, he took on the role of narrator of one of the funniest tv sitcoms of the decade, Arrested Development. He and Russell Crowe collaborated again in 2005 for the biographical sports drama Cinderella Man. The film received nominations at both the Academy and Golden Globe Awards.
A year after Cinderella Man, Howard directed The Da Vinci Code starring Tom Hanks. The film was not an overall success. But his next two films, Frost/Nixon (2008) and Angels & Demons (2009), put Howard back on the map. Howard once again received nods for Best Director (Academy and Golden Globes) and Best Picture (Academy) for Frost/Nixon.
By 2010, Howard had been producing an animated program with the famous children’s character, Curious George. After four years of the show, he won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Animated Program. Howard continued to direct as the new decade got underway. The Dilemma, Rush, Made in America, and In The Heart of The See were all done under Howard’s watch.
In 2016, Howard, who is a lifelong Beatles fan, directed the documentary, The Beatles: Eight Days a Week. The documentary won Howard Best Music Film at the 2017 Grammy Awards. His 2016 movie Inferno also was a box-office hit.
Now in 2018, after a two-year hiatus, Howard is back with the next flick in the Star Wars triology. Solo: A Star Wars Story. He is already slated to direct another film, The Perfect Wife, in the coming future.
