Rance Howard
Rance Howard was a prolific screen actor who appeared in several dozen film and TV shows in a professional acting career that spanned over 60 years. Born in Duncan, Oklahoma as Harold Rance Beckenholdt, Howard always dreamt of becoming a professional actor. After spending three years in the United States Air Force, where he fathered his first son Ron (who would later go on to become an Oscar-winning film director and notable TV actor), Howard moved to New York City to pursue his acting dream in earnest. He initially gravitated towards the theater and in 1950 nabbed a role in a touring production of "Mister Roberts." That role put him in the sights of various Hollywood casting agents, and by the mid-1950s he was appearing on TV shows like "Zane Grey Theater" (CBS, 1956-61), "Death Valley Days" (Syndication, 1952-70), and the film "The Music Man." In the early 1960s Howard's son Ron nabbed the part of Opie on "The Andy Griffith Show" (CBS, 1960-68), with Rance also going on to guest star on five episodes of the widely popular series. Howard continued nabbing parts throughout the 60s and 70s, most notably in the classic film dramas "Cool Hand Luke" (1967) and "Chinatown" (1974), as well as his son Ron's 1977 directorial debut "Grand Theft Auto," which Rance co-wrote with his son. Howard would go on to appear in many more of his son Ron's films throughout the ensuing decades, including "Splash" (1984), "Apollo 13" (1995), and "A Beautiful Mind" (2001), which earned Ron Howard his first Oscar for Best Director. By the late 2000s Howard had racked up over 250 film and TV credits and despite being in his 80s showed no signs of slowing down. His most notable film role during this later period came in 2013 when he appeared in Alexander Payne's Oscar-nominated drama "Nebraska" (2013). A tireless worker, Rance Howard was appearing in films and TV shows right up to his death on November 25, 2017 at the age of 89.
Photos
Rance Howard
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
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No Score Yet |
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Apple Seed | Carl (Character) | - | 2019 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Broken Memories | Jasper (Character) | - | 2017 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Chasing the Star | Devil as an Old Man (Character) | - | 2017 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | 40 Nights | The Devil as an Old Man (Character) | - | 2016 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Junction | The Clerk (Character) | - | 2015 |
No Score Yet |
|
Second Chances | Wilbur (Character) | - | 2013 |
38% |
|
Max Rose | Walter Prewitt (Character) | $56.4K | 2013 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Gone Dark | Charles (Character) | - | 2013 |
90% |
|
Nebraska | Ray (Character) | $17.6M | 2013 |
No Score Yet |
|
Huff | Scotty (Character) | - | 2012 |
No Score Yet |
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Redemption | Doctor (Character) | - | 2012 |
No Score Yet |
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Easy Rider: The Ride Back | Andrew Jackson Bennett (Character) | - | 2011 |
No Score Yet |
|
Rosewood Lane | Fred Crumb (Character) | - | 2011 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Harley's Hill | Charlie (Character) | - | 2011 |
24% |
|
The Dilemma | Burt (Character) | $48.4M | 2011 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Where's My Sandwich? | Duffy (Character) | - | 2011 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Trial | Judge Danielson (Character) | $19.2K | 2010 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Genesis Code | Dr. Tolley (Character) | - | 2010 |
No Score Yet |
|
Boppin' at the Glue Factory | Walker Bill (Character) | - | 2009 |
36% |
|
Angels & Demons | Cardinal Beck (Character) | $133.4M | 2009 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Audie & the Wolf | Dr. Maleosis (Character) | - | 2009 |
29% |
|
Play the Game | Mervin (Character) | $635.7K | 2008 |
No Score Yet |
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Grizzly Park | Ranger Howard (Character) | - | 2008 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Dean Teaster's Ghost Town | Unknown (Character) | - | 2007 |
19% |
|
Georgia Rule | Dog Bite Man (Character) | $18.9M | 2007 |
No Score Yet |
|
Be My Baby | Zippy the Messenger (Character) | - | 2006 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Aimee Semple McPherson | James Kennedy (Character) | - | 2005 |
No Score Yet |
|
Miracle at Sage Creek | Doctor Babcock (Character) | - | 2005 |
57% |
|
Toolbox Murders | Chas Rooker (Character) | - | 2004 |
75% | No Score Yet | Death and Texas | Circuit Court Judge (Character) | - | 2004 |
No Score Yet |
|
Ghost Rock | Cash (Character) | - | 2003 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Jumping for Joy | Unknown (Character) | - | 2002 |
No Score Yet |
|
Legend of the Phantom Rider | Doc Fisher (Character) | - | 2002 |
No Score Yet |
|
A Crack in the Floor | Floyd Fryed (Character) | - | 2001 |
No Score Yet |
|
Ping! | Old Man (Character) | - | 2000 |
82% |
|
Happy, Texas | Ely the Tractor Driver (Character) | $1.9M | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Abilene | Arliss (Character) | - | 1999 |
41% |
|
Psycho | Mr. Lowery (Character) | $21.5M | 1998 |
No Score Yet |
|
Holiday in Your Heart | Blind Man (Character) | - | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest | Jarvis Bean (Character) | - | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Lay of the Land | Dr. Brown (Character) | $4.1K | 1997 |
No Score Yet |
|
Tiger Heart | Mr. Johnson (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Ninja Kids 5: Tiger Heart | Mr. Johnson (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet |
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Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter | Todd Brandell (Character) | - | 1995 |
No Score Yet |
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The Colony | Stan Benson (Character) | - | 1995 |
No Score Yet |
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Forced to Kill | Rance (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet |
|
Runaway Daughters | Minute Man 3 (Character) | - | 1994 |
71% |
|
Ticks | Sheriff Parker (Character) | - | 1993 |
50% |
|
Ed and His Dead Mother | Rev. Praxton (Character) | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet |
|
Snapdragon | Priest (Character) | - | 1993 |
50% |
|
Far and Away | Tomlin (Character) | $58.2M | 1992 |
No Score Yet |
|
Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter | Bernie (Character) | - | 1991 |
No Score Yet |
|
9 1/2 Ninjas | Ninja Negotiator (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | B.O.R.N. | Robert Morrison (Character) | - | 1989 |
56% |
|
The 'Burbs | Detective 2 (Character) | $34.1M | 1989 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | B.L. Stryker: The King of Jazz | Richard Walton (Character) | - | 1989 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Limit Up | Chuck Feeney (Character) | - | 1989 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Dark Before Dawn | Logan (Character) | - | 1988 |
33% |
|
Gung Ho | Mayor Conrad Zwart (Character) | $36.4M | 1986 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Words by Heart | Unknown (Character) | - | 1985 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Playing With Fire | Fireman Goodwin (Character) | - | 1985 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins | Policeman (Character) | - | 1984 |
No Score Yet |
|
Love Letters | Joseph Chesley (Character) | - | 1983 |
No Score Yet |
|
Mr. No Legs | Lou's Sidekick (Character) | - | 1979 |
27% |
|
Grand Theft Auto |
Ned Slinker (Character), Screenwriter |
- | 1977 |
No Score Yet |
|
Eat My Dust! | Clark (Character) | - | 1976 |
No Score Yet |
|
Huckleberry Finn | Pap Finn (Character) | - | 1975 |
98% |
|
Chinatown | Irate Farmer at Council Meeting (Character) | - | 1974 |
No Score Yet |
|
Where the Lilies Bloom | Roy Luther (Character) | - | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Locusts | Aaron (Character) | - | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Salty | Unknown (Character) | - | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Red Pony | Sheriff Bill Smith (Character) | - | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bloody Trail | Jake (Character) | - | 1972 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Wild Country | Cleve (Character) | - | 1971 |
No Score Yet |
|
Gentle Giant | Tater Coughlin (Character) | - | 1967 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | An Eye for an Eye | Harry (Character) | - | 1966 |
94% |
|
The Music Man | Oscar Jackson (uncredited) (Character) | - | 1962 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Frontier Woman | Prewitt (Character) | - | 1956 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
75% | 85% | Arrested Development | Rance Howard (Guest Star) | 2018 |
74% | 86% | The X-Files | Old Man (Character) | 2016 |
90% | 83% | Bones | Jerold Norsky (Guest Star) | 2014 |
No Score Yet | 63% | NCIS: Los Angeles | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2013 |
84% | 72% | Grey's Anatomy | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2012 |
No Score Yet | 85% | ER | Dr. Oliver Kostin (Guest Star) | 2009 |
No Score Yet | 86% | Lie to Me | Joe Metz (Guest Star) | 2009 |
No Score Yet | 82% | CSI: New York | Samuel Cooper (Guest Star) | 2006 |
No Score Yet | 87% | Ghost Whisperer | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2005 |
No Score Yet | 95% | Cold Case | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2004 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | That '80s Show | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2002 |
87% | 88% | Angel | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2001 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Just Shoot Me | Blind Flower Guy (Guest Star) | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Two of a Kind | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Clueless | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1998 |
No Score Yet | 92% | Babylon 5 | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1996-1997 |
No Score Yet | 97% | Married ... With Children | Edwin (Guest Star) | 1996-1997 |
17% | No Score Yet | Baywatch Nights | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1997 |
44% | No Score Yet | Ink | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1996 |
89% | 92% | Seinfeld |
Blind Man (Character), Farmer (Guest Star) |
1993 1996 |
82% | 90% | Tales From the Crypt | Unknown (Character) | 1994 |
No Score Yet | 90% | Quantum Leap | Doc Graves (Guest Star) | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Wiseguy | Ernest Haynes (Guest Star) | 1988 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Happy Days | Mr. Burkhart (Guest Star) | 1976 1978-1979 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Laverne & Shirley | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1979 |
43% | 83% | Battlestar Galactica | Farnes (Guest Star) | 1978 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Little House on the Prairie | Simpson (Guest Star) | 1977 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Waltons | Seth Turner (Guest Star) | 1974-1975 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Rookies |
Unknown (Guest Star), Writer |
1972 1975 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Gunsmoke | Judge Alan Franklin (Guest Star) | 1970 1974 |
No Score Yet | 100% | Kung Fu | Unknown (Character) | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bonanza | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1971-1972 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Here Come the Brides | Goff (Guest Star) | 1970 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Gentle Ben |
Unknown (Character), Writer |
1967-1969 |
No Score Yet | 88% | The Andy Griffith Show |
Party Guest (Guest Star), Writer |
1962-1964 1966 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Combat! | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1963 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Zane Grey Theatre | Unknown (Character) | 1959 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bat Masterson | Fletcher (Guest Star) | 1959 |