Ron Howard has been a familiar face in Hollywood for nearly as long as his 70 years on Earth. This industry giant, who started his career as a toddler, has been a constant presence in film and television for decades. Beyond his impressive career, Howard also boasts a remarkable personal achievement—he’s been married to his wife, Cheryl, for nearly 50 years.
Let’s dive into the story of Ron Howard, his enduring career, and the love that has lasted almost half a century.
A Hollywood Legend Is Born
Ron Howard was born on March 1, 1954, in Duncan, Oklahoma. His journey to becoming a Hollywood legend began early; at just 18 months old, Howard appeared in his first film, Frontier Woman. By the age of two, he had made his stage debut in The Seven Year Itch.
Howard’s rise to fame truly took off when he joined The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968) as Opie, the son of Griffith’s character. With the support of his parents, both of whom were in the entertainment industry, Howard began to shine as a young star.
Recalling a conversation with his parents, Howard shared, “They said, ‘You can do it if you want, but you don’t have to. But if you start this, you can’t quit.’ I understood what they were saying, and it was pretty clear that I was enjoying it and that I was good at it.”
And good at it he was—Howard was on the brink of becoming a star.
Happy Days and Stardom
While still starring on The Andy Griffith Show, Howard made a big-screen appearance in the 1962 musical The Music Man, which became a major success. His natural talent then landed him a role in the 1973 film American Graffiti, alongside Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfuss, and Cindy Williams.
But it was in 1974 that Howard truly cemented his place in television history when he was cast as Richie Cunningham in Happy Days. The show became a cultural phenomenon, airing from 1974 to 1984 and spawning popular spin-offs like Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy.
Meeting His High School Sweetheart
Before his success on Happy Days, Howard met his high school sweetheart, Cheryl Alley, in 1970. The couple married in 1975, and their bond has remained strong ever since.
In an interview with People, Howard spoke about Cheryl, saying, “I met her, and there was never anybody else. She’s unbelievably supportive and always has been. Our compatibility has endured through all kinds of experiences.”
To commemorate their first date, Howard posted on Instagram, “Nov 1, 1970, Cheryl & I went on our 1st date. We went to see a re-release of Stanley Kramer’s It’s a Mad Mad Mad World and then got some pizza. Quite a start, right?” He added, “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 Howard’s projects and even appeared as herself on the TV comedy series Arrested Development, which Howard produced and narrated.
Ron affectionately refers to Cheryl as his “good luck charm,” ensuring she appears in every film he directs. “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.”
Beyond being his good luck charm, Cheryl is a published author with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in screenwriting. Together, the couple are parents to four children—Bryce, twins Paige and Jocelyn, and son Reed—and grandparents to six.
The Secret to a Long Marriage
As their 49th wedding anniversary approaches, Howard reflects on the key to their lasting love. “People ask, ‘How’d you do it?’ There’s no technique,” Howard 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.”
Ron Howard’s journey through Hollywood and his enduring marriage to Cheryl are a testament to love, communication, and a little bit of luck.
