
Biography
Rance Howard (born Harold Engle Beckenholdt; November 17, 1928 – November 25, 2017) was an American actor who starred in film and on television. He was the father of actor and filmmaker Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard, and grandfather of actresses Bryce Dallas Howard and Paige Howard.
Howard appeared in films such as Cool Hand Luke (1967), Chinatown (1974), Splash (1984), Ed Wood (1994), Apollo 13 (1995), Independence Day (1996), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Cinderella Man (2005), Frost/Nixon (2008), Nebraska (2013), and Max Rose (2016). He received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program for co-producing the television film The Time Crystal (1981).
Filmography
All 207
Movies 154
TV Shows 53
Writter 4
Self 2
Narrator 1
Devil as Old Man

The Christ Slayer (2019)
Movie
Carl

Apple Seed (2019)
Movie
Devil as an Old Man

Chasing the Star (2017)
Movie
Jasper

Broken Memories (2017)
Movie
José Mari

Kalebegiak (2016)
Movie
Devil as an Old Man

40 Nights (2016)
Movie
Actor

Talk Radio (2016)
Movie
Older Man

Solemates (2015)
Movie
Charles

Gone Dark (2013)
Movie
Uncle Ray

Nebraska (2013)
Movie
6.33
Engineer

The Lone Ranger (2013)
Movie
6.54
Wilbur

Second Chances (2013)
Movie
Scotty

Huff (2013)
Movie
Dimples

Let Go (2011)
Movie
Doctor

Redemption: For Robbing the Dead (2011)
Movie
Fred Crumb

Rosewood Lane (2011)
Movie
Mr. Johnson

Spooky Buddies (2011)
Movie
5.54
Cemetery Presider

InSight (2011)
Movie
Charlie

Harley's Hill (2011)
Movie
Chuck

Night Club (2011)
Movie
Preacher

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 (2011)
Movie
5.11
Burt

The Dilemma (2011)
Movie
6.43
Harry

Once Fallen (2010)
Movie
Judge Danielson

The Trial (2010)
Movie
Dr. Tolley

The Genesis Code (2010)
Movie
Telegrapher

Jonah Hex (2010)
Movie
5.29
Old Knut

The Child Wanderers (2010)
Movie
Bistro Gardens Diner

Valentine's Day (2010)
Movie
6.22
Mervin Lavine

Play the Game (2009)
Movie
Deli Owner

Within (2009)
Movie
Cardinal Beck

Angels & Demons (2009)
Movie
6.47
Joe Metz

Lie to Me (2009)
TV Show
6.15
Walker Bill

Boppin' at the Glue Factory (2009)
Movie
Ollie

Frost/Nixon (2008)
Movie
6
Sheriff Tom Parker

Ghost Town: The Movie (2008)
Movie
Old Man (uncredited)

Keith (2008)
Movie
4
Ranger Howard

Grizzly Park (2008)
Movie
Older Man

Drillbit Taylor (2008)
Movie
3.5
Dr. Maleosis

Audie & the Wolf (2008)
Movie
Preacher

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
Movie
8
Zippy

Be My Baby (2007)
Movie
Dog Bite Man

Georgia Rule (2007)
Movie
Harris Zeff

Sasquatch Mountain (2006)
Movie
Narrator

Harrison Bergeron (2006)
Movie
Doctor Babcock

Miracle at Sage Creek (2005)
Movie
Dirk Abrams

Ghost Whisperer (2005)
TV Show
6.63
Jerold Norsky

Bones (2005)
TV Show
6.22
Announcer Al Fazin

Cinderella Man (2005)
Movie
5.62
Chas Rooker

Toolbox Murders (2004)
Movie
Samuel Cooper

CSI: NY (2004)
TV Show
5.75
Cash

Ghost Rock (2004)
Movie
Governor Smith

The Alamo (2004)
Movie
Circuit Court Judge

Death and Texas (2004)
Movie
Telegraph Operator

The Missing (2003)
Movie
6
Himself

Arrested Development (2003)
TV Show
5.88
Old Man

Ping! (2003)
Movie
Buddie

Cold Case (2003)
TV Show
6.2
Old Man

The Long Ride Home (2003)
Movie
Doc Fisher

Legend of the Phantom Rider (2003)
Movie
Murphy

That's So Raven (2003)
TV Show
6.67

Jumping For Joy (2002)
Movie

That '80s Show (2002)
TV Show
Geezer

D-Tox (2002)
Movie
1
White-Haired Patient

A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Movie
6.97
Feed the Earth Spokesman

Rat Race (2001)
Movie
4.75
Floyd Fryed

A Crack in the Floor (2001)
Movie
Bomb Squad Cop

Joe Dirt (2001)
Movie
5.82
Elderly Timekeeper

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Movie
6.32

The Huntress (2000)
TV Show
Earl

Love & Sex (2000)
Movie

Son of the Beach (2000)
TV Show
Grandpa Morton

Big Wind on Campus (2000)
Movie
Ely

Happy, Texas (1999)
Movie
Marcus Roscoe

Angel (1999)
TV Show
6.15
Arliss

Abilene (1999)
Movie
Dr. Burns

Malevolence (1999)
Movie
Mr. Lowery

Psycho (1998)
Movie
5.42
Reginald Hannon (segment 'The Viewing')

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (1998)
TV Show
6

Two of a Kind (1998)
TV Show
Hank

The Night Caller (1998)
Movie
Husband

Small Soldiers (1998)
Movie
4
Rev. Hatley

Chairman of the Board (1998)
Movie
6
Train Engineer

Evasive Action (1998)
Movie
Blind Man

Holiday in Your Heart (1997)
Movie
Arnold Tooney, jr.

The Second Civil War (1997)
Movie
Jarvis Bean

Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest (1997)
Movie
Reverend

Money Talks (1997)
Movie
7
Farmer

Traveller (1997)
Movie
Blind Flower Guy

Just Shoot Me! (1997)
TV Show
8
Mayor Davies

Busted (1997)
Movie
Judge Bloom

Where Truth Lies (1996)
Movie
Ralph Hargrove

Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
Movie
2
Texan Investor

Mars Attacks! (1996)
Movie
6.2

Clueless (1996)
TV Show
8.5
Old Man in Park

7th Heaven (1996)
TV Show
5.67
Mr. Johnson

Tiger Heart (1996)
Movie
Chaplain

Independence Day (1996)
Movie
6.02
Mr. Robbins

Sgt. Bilko (1996)
Movie
6

Baywatch Nights (1995)
TV Show
Stan Benson

The Colony (1995)
Movie
Employer

Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest (1995)
Movie
5.12
Zeke

Killing Cupid (1995)
Movie
Reverend

Apollo 13 (1995)
Movie
7.08
Father Kelly

Little Giants (1994)
Movie
7
Old Man McCoy (uncredited)

Ed Wood (1994)
Movie
6.46
Dr. Oliver Kostin

ER (1994)
TV Show
5.7
Rance

Forced to Kill (1994)
Movie
Alicia's Doctor

The Paper (1994)
Movie
David Sheridan

Babylon 5 (1994)
TV Show
6.44
Todd

Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter (1994)
Movie
Priest

Snapdragon (1993)
Movie
Driver

Diagnosis: Murder (1993)
TV Show
6.46
Bald Cabby

Fearless (1993)
Movie
6
Sheriff Parker

Ticks (1993)
Movie
Old Man

The X-Files (1993)
TV Show
6.09
Rev. Praxton

Ed and His Dead Mother (1993)
Movie
4.25
John Devreux

Universal Soldier (1992)
Movie
5.03

Melrose Place (1992)
TV Show
6
Tomlin

Far and Away (1992)
Movie
4.33
Elderly Man

I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore (1992)
Movie
Polygraph Man

Boris and Natasha (1992)
Movie
Frank Hill

Switched at Birth (1991)
Movie
Bernie

Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter (1991)
Movie
Ninja Negotiator

9 1/2 Ninjas! (1991)
Movie
Vern

Trust Me (1989)
Movie
Chuck Feeney

Limit Up (1989)
Movie
Robert Morrison

B.O.R.N. (1989)
Movie
Dean at College

Parenthood (1989)
Movie
6.04
Farmer / Blind Man

Seinfeld (1989)
TV Show
5.99

Tales from the Crypt (1989)
TV Show
6.4
Fireman / Joe

Baywatch (1989)
TV Show
6.31
Doc Graves

Quantum Leap (1989)
TV Show
5.84
Detective #2

The 'Burbs (1989)
Movie
5.96

B.L. Stryker (1989)
TV Show

Superboy (1988)
TV Show
Logan

Dark Before Dawn (1988)
Movie
Ernest Haynes

Wiseguy (1987)
TV Show
6
Supermarket Customer

Innerspace (1987)
Movie
6.75
Dr. Jennings

A Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986)
Movie
Preacher

Return to Mayberry (1986)
Movie
Paw

Two Soldiers (1986)
Movie
Mayor Conrad Zwart

Gung Ho (1986)
Movie
Captain Truck

Gary Coleman: For Safety's Sake (1986)
Movie
Wilk

The Long Hot Summer (1985)
TV Show
Mr. Spencer

Creator (1985)
Movie
6
St. Petersburg Dectective

Cocoon (1985)
Movie
5.25
Fireman Goodwin

Playing with Fire (1985)
Movie
Mr. Bell

Scandal Sheet (1985)
Movie
Fillmore

Murder, She Wrote (1984)
TV Show
7
Hank

Finder of Lost Loves (1984)
TV Show
McCullough

Splash (1984)
Movie
6.67
Policeman

The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins (1984)
Movie
Minister

The Lonely Guy (1984)
Movie
6
Still Photographer

Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess (1983)
Movie
Joseph Chesley

Love Letters (1983)
Movie
Doc Wilson

The Thorn Birds (1983)
TV Show
3

The Kid with the 200 I.Q. (1983)
Movie
Lt. Nelson

The Executioner's Song (1982)
Movie
Writer

Through the Magic Pyramid (1981)
Movie
Dr. Jewell

The Miracle of Kathy Miller (1981)
Movie
Football Coach

Smokey Bites the Dust (1981)
Movie

Dynasty (1981)
TV Show
3
Pilot #2

Skyward (1980)
Movie
The Captain

Scout's Honor (1980)
Movie
Foldy / Sheriff

Here's Boomer (1980)
TV Show
Harry the Bartender

The Kid from Left Field (1979)
Movie
Mr. Murray

Flatbed Annie & Sweetie Pie: Lady Truckers (1979)
Movie
Himself

Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy (1978)
Movie
Farnes

Battlestar Galactica (1978)
TV Show
6
Lou's Sidekick

Mr. No Legs (1978)
Movie
Wagonmaster

Another Man, Another Chance (1977)
Movie
Writer

Grand Theft Auto (1977)
Movie
6.5
Howard Blacker

The Legend of Frank Woods (1977)
Movie

The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe (1976)
Movie
Clark

Eat My Dust (1976)
Movie

Laverne & Shirley (1976)
TV Show
5
Pap Finn

Huckleberry Finn (1975)
Movie
Aaron

Locusts (1974)
Movie

Little House on the Prairie (1974)
TV Show
7.38
Irate Farmer

Chinatown (1974)
Movie
6.14
Roy Luther

Where the Lilies Bloom (1974)
Movie

Happy Days (1974)
TV Show
6.28

Kung Fu (1972)
TV Show
7.14
Myron Faraday

ABC Afterschool Special (1972)
TV Show

The Waltons (1972)
TV Show
6
Writer

The Rookies (1972)
TV Show
Jake

Bloody Trail (1972)
Movie
Deputy

Nichols (1971)
TV Show
Cleve

The Wild Country (1970)
Movie
6

Night Gallery (1970)
TV Show

Then Came Bronson (1969)
TV Show
Cowboy

Old Paint (1969)
Movie
Actor

Deed of Daring-Do (1969)
Movie
Tater Coughlin

Gentle Giant (1967)
Movie
Henry Boomhauer

Gentle Ben (1967)
TV Show
Sheriff

Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Movie
5.25

The Monroes (1966)
TV Show
Harry

An Eye for an Eye (1966)
Movie
Deputy

Village of the Giants (1965)
Movie
6
Camp Counselor (uncredited)

The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963)
Movie
Luka

The Virginian (1962)
TV Show
Bus Driver

The Andy Griffith Show (1960)
TV Show
6
Writer

The Flintstones (1960)
TV Show
6.62
Fletcher

Bat Masterson (1958)
TV Show
Prewitt

Frontier Woman (1956)
Movie
Frank Benton / Judge Alan Franklin

Gunsmoke (1955)
TV Show
6
Technician

Forever and Beyond
Movie
Ratings
Average 5.94
Based on 7.5 Million movie and tv ratings over time
1955
1983
1995
1985
2019
Information
Known forActing
GenderMale
Birthday1928-11-17
Deathday2017-11-25 (89 years old)
Place of birthDuncan, United States of America
RelationshipsJean Speegle Howard (1949-01-01 - 2000-01-01)
ChildrenRon Howard, Clint Howard
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
Also known asHarold Engle Beckenholdt
This article uses material from Wikipedia.