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, and Max Rose (both 2013). He received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program for co-producing the television film The Time Crystal (1981).
Early life
Howard was born Harold Engle Beckenholdt in Newkirk, Kay County, Oklahoma, the son of Ethel Cleo (née Tomlin) and Engel Beckenholdt, a farmer. He legally changed his name to "Rance Howard" when he became an actor. Howard graduated from Shidler High School in 1946 and studied at the University of Oklahoma.
While in the Air Force, Howard directed plays in Special Services, a unit that provided entertainment for service members.
Career
His professional acting career began in 1948 when he went to New York City, auditioned, and landed a job in a children's touring company.
Both Rance and elder son Ron, who was two at the time, made their feature-film debuts together in the 1956 Western Frontier Woman. Later in the 1950s, Rance's roles included his TV debut in the series Kraft Theatre, on which he appeared three times in 1956–57.
After son Ron went on to play Opie in The Andy Griffith Show in the early 1960s, Rance had guest parts in five episodes of the show. Howard was known best for his role on television in 25 episodes of the 1960s TV series Gentle Ben starring his younger son, Clint. Howard played Henry Boomhauer, a backwoodsman who befriended the family. He also starred in the short-lived 2000 TV series Driving Me Crazy. They remained married until her death in September 2000. Their sons are actor and filmmaker Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard, their granddaughters include actresses Bryce Dallas Howard and Paige Howard.
In 2001, Howard married Judy O’Sullivan. Judy Howard died in January 2017 in Burbank, 10 months before Howard's death.
Death
Howard died on the morning of November 25, 2017, in Los Angeles, California from heart failure spurred on by a West Nile virus infection.
Filmography
- Sources:
Film
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" | Notes
|-
| 1956
! scope="row" | Frontier Woman
| Prewitt
|
|-
| 1962
! scope="row" | The Music Man
| Oscar Jackson
| rowspan="2" | Uncredited
|-
| 1963
! scope="row" | The Courtship of Eddie's Father
| Camp Counselor
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1965
! scope="row" | Village of the Giants
| Deputy
| Son Ron also starred
|-
! scope="row" | The Desert Raven
| Reggie
|
|-
| 1966
! scope="row" | An Eye for an Eye
| Harry
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1967
! scope="row" | Gentle Giant
| Tater Coughlin
|
|-
! scope="row" | Cool Hand Luke
| Sheriff
| Uncredited
|-
| 1969
! scope="row" | Old Paint
| Cowboy
| Short film
|-
| 1970
! scope="row" | The Wild Country
| Cleve
| Uncredited
|-
| 1972
! scope="row" | Bloody Trail
| Jake
|
|-
| 1973
! scope="row" | Salty
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1974
! scope="row" | Where the Lilies Bloom
| Roy Luther
|
|-
! scope="row" | Chinatown
| Irate Farmer
|
|-
| 1976
! scope="row" | Eat My Dust!
| Clark
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | 1977
! scope="row" | The Legend of Frank Woods
| Howard Blacker
|
|-
! scope="row" | Heroes
| Veteran's Hospital Orderly
|
|-
! scope="row" | Grand Theft Auto
| Ned Slinker
| Directed by Ron Howard
|-
! scope="row" | Another Man, Another Chance
| Wagonmaster
|
|-
| 1978
! scope="row" | The Amazing Mr. No Legs
| Lou's Sidekick
|
|-
| 1979
! scope="row" | Mr. No Legs
| Mr. No Legs' sidekick
|
|-
| 1981
! scope="row" | Smokey Bites the Dust
| Coach
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1983
! scope="row" | Love Letters
| Joseph Chesley
|
|-
! scope="row" | Forever and Beyond
| Technician
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1984
! scope="row" | The Lonely Guy
| Minister
|
|-
! scope="row" | Splash
| McCollough
| rowspan="2" | Directed by Ron Howard
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1985
! scope="row" | Cocoon
| St. Petersburg Detective
|-
! scope="row" | Creator
| Mr. Spencer
|
|-
| 1986
! scope="row" | Gung Ho
| Mayor Conrad Zwart
| Directed by Ron Howard
|-
| 1987
! scope="row" | Innerspace
| Supermarket Customer #1
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1988
! scope="row" | Dark Before Dawn
| Logan
|
|-
! scope="row" | Merchants of Death
| Robert Morrison
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | 1989
! scope="row" | Trust Me
| Vern
|
|-
! scope="row" | The 'Burbs
| Detective #2
|
|-
! scope="row" | Listen to Me
| Tucker's Father
|
|-
! scope="row" | Parenthood
| Dean at College
| Directed by Ron Howard
|-
! scope="row" | Limit Up
| Chuck Feeney
|
|-
| 1991
! scope="row" | 9 1/2 Ninjas!
| Ninja Negotiator
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | 1992
! scope="row" | I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore
| Elderly Man
|
|-
! scope="row" | Far and Away
| Tomlin
| Directed by Ron Howard
|-
! scope="row" | Universal Soldier
| John Devreux
|
|-
! scope="row" | Wishman
| Det. Sturgis
|
|-
! scope="row" | Ticks
| Sheriff Parker
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1993
! scope="row" | Fearless
| Bald Cabby
|
|-
! scope="row" | Ed and His Dead Mother
| Rev. Praxton
|
|-
! scope="row" | Snapdragon
| Priest
|
|-
| rowspan="7" | 1994
! scope="row" | Forced to Kill
| Rance
|
|-
! scope="row" | The Paper
| Alicia's Doctor
| Directed by Ron Howard
|-
! scope="row" | The Cowboy Way
| Old Gentleman
|
|-
! scope="row" | Terminal Velocity
| Chuck (pilot)
|
|-
! scope="row" | Ed Wood
| Old Man McCoy
|
|-
! scope="row" | Little Giants
| Priest
|
|-
! scope="row" | Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter
| Todd Brandell
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1995
! scope="row" | Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest
| Eddie Calhoun
|
|-
! scope="row" | Savate
| Farmer
|
|-
! scope="row" | Apollo 13
| Reverend
| Directed by Ron Howard
|-
| rowspan="6" | 1996
! scope="row" | Sgt. Bilko
| Mr. Robbins
|
|-
! scope="row" | Tiger Heart
| Mr. Johnson
|
|-
! scope="row" | Where Truth Lies
| Judge Bloom
|
|-
! scope="row" | Independence Day
| Chaplain
|
|-
! scope="row" | Mars Attacks!
| Texan Investor
|
|-
! scope="row" | Ghosts of Mississippi
| Ralph Hargrove
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | 1997
! scope="row" | Busted
| Mayor Davies
|
|-
! scope="row" | Traveller
| Farmer
|
|-
! scope="row" | Money Talks
| Reverend
|
|-
! scope="row" | The Lay of the Land
| Dr. Brown
|
|-
! scope="row" | Sparkle and Charm
| Mr. Houghton
|
|-
| rowspan="7" | 1998
! scope="row" | The Sender
| Max
|
|-
! scope="row" | Chairman of the Board
| Rev. Hatley
|
|-
! scope="row" | Land of the Free
| Hotel Manager
|
|-
! scope="row" | Small Soldiers
| Husband
|
|-
! scope="row" | The Night Caller
| Hank
|
|-
! scope="row" | Evasive Action
| Train Engineer
| Uncredited
|-
! scope="row" | Psycho
| Mr. Lowery
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1999
! scope="row" | Happy, Texas
| Ely
|
|-
! scope="row" | Malevolence
| Dr. Burns
|
|-
! scope="row" | Abilene
| Arliss
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2000
! scope="row" | Love & Sex
| Earl
|
|-
! scope="row" | Ping!
| Old Man
|
|-
! scope="row" | Big Wind on Campus
| Grandpa Morton
|
|-
! scope="row" | How the Grinch Stole Christmas
| Elderly Timekeeper
| Directed by Ron Howard
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2001
! scope="row" | Joe Dirt
| Bomb Squad Cop
|
|-
! scope="row" | A Crack in the Floor
| Floyd Fryed
|
|-
! scope="row" | Rat Race
| Feed the Earth Spokesman
|
|-
! scope="row" | A Beautiful Mind
| White-Haired Patient
| Directed by Ron Howard
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2002
! scope="row" | D-Tox
| Geezer
|
|-
! scope="row" | Legend of the Phantom Rider
| Doc Fisher
|
|-
! scope="row" | Jumping for Joy
|
|
|-
! scope="row" | Leaving the Land
| Uncle Solomon
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2003
! scope="row" | The Long Ride Home
| Old man
|
|-
! scope="row" | Ghost Rock
| Cash
|
|-
! scope="row" | The Missing
| Telegraph Operator
| Directed by Ron Howard
|-
| rowspan="5" | 2004
! scope="row" | Death and Texas
| Circuit Court Judge
|
|-
! scope="row" | Toolbox Murders
| Chas Rooker
|
|-
! scope="row" | The Alamo
| Governor Smith
|
|-
! scope="row" | Eulogy
| Lance Sommers
|
|-
! scope="row" | Back by Midnight
| Priest
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2005
! scope="row" | Cinderella Man
| Announcer Al Fazin
| Directed by Ron Howard
|-
! scope="row" | Killing Cupid
| Zeke
|
|-
! scope="row" | Miracle at Sage Creek
| Doctor Babcock
|
|-
| 2006
! scope="row" | Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story
| James Kennedy
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2007
! scope="row" | Georgia Rule
| Dog Bite Man
|
|-
! scope="row" | Be My Baby
| Zippy the Messenger
|
|-
! scope="row" | Ghost Town
| Sheriff Tom Parker
|
|-
! scope="row" | Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
| Preacher
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | 2008
! scope="row" | Grizzly Park
| Ranger Howard
|
|-
! scope="row" | Drillbit Taylor
| Older Man
|
|-
! scope="row" | Keith
| Old Man
| Uncredited
|-
! scope="row" | Audie & the Wolf
| Dr. Maleosis
|
|-
! scope="row" | Frost/Nixon
| Ollie
| Directed by Ron Howard
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2009
! scope="row" | Play the Game
| Mervin Lavine
|
|-
! scope="row" | Angels & Demons
| Cardinal Beck
| Directed by Ron Howard
|-
! scope="row" | Within
| Deli Owner
|
|-
! scope="row" | Boppin' at the Glue Factory
| Walker Bill
|
|-
| rowspan="7" | 2010
! scope="row" | Valentine's Day
| Bistro Gardens Diner
|
|-
! scope="row" | Bloodworth
| Ira
|
|-
! scope="row" | Yohan: The Child Wanderer
| Old Knut
|
|-
! scope="row" | Once Fallen
| Harry
|
|-
! scope="row" | Jonah Hex
| Telegrapher
|
|-
! scope="row" | The Genesis Code
| Dr. Tolley
|
|-
! scope="row" | The Trial
| Judge Danielson
|
|-
| rowspan="7" | 2011
! scope="row" | The Dilemma
| Burt
| Directed by Ron Howard
|-
! scope="row" | Night Club
| Chuck
|
|-
! scope="row" | InSight
| Cemetery Presider
|
|-
! scope="row" | Spooky Buddies
| Mr. Joseph Johnson
| Direct-to-video
|-
! scope="row" | Rosewood Lane
| Fred Crumb
|
|-
! scope="row" | Redemption: For Robbing the Dead
| Doctor
|
|-
! scope="row" | Let Go
| Dimples
|
|-
| 2012
! scope="row" | Easy Rider: The Ride Back
| Andrew Jackson Bennett
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | 2013
! scope="row" | Max Rose
| Walter Prewitt
|
|-
! scope="row" | Nebraska
| Uncle Ray
|
|-
! scope="row" | The Lone Ranger
| Engineer
|
|-
! scope="row" | Richard Rossi 5th Anniversary of Sister Aimee
| James Kennedy
|
|-
! scope="row" | Gone Dark
| Charles
|
|-
| 2015
! scope="row" | Junction
| The Clerk
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2016
! scope="row" | 40 Nights
| Devil as an Old Man
|
|-
! scope="row" | Kalebegiak
| José Mari
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2017
! scope="row" | Chasing the Star
| Devil as an Old Man
|
|-
! scope="row" | Broken Memories
| Jasper
|
|-
| 2018
! scope="row" | Sister Aimee 10th Anniversary
| James Kennedy
| rowspan="4" | Posthumous release
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2019
! scope="row" | The Christ Slayer
| Devil as an Old Man
|-
! scope="row" | Apple Seed
| Carl
|-
! scope="row" | Dads
| Rance Howard
|}
Television
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" | Notes
|-
| 1956<br />1957
! scope="row" | Kraft Television Theatre
|
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1958
! scope="row" | How to Marry a Millionaire
| Corporal
| Episode: "Hit and Run"
|-
| 1959
! scope="row" | Bat Masterson
| Fletcher
| Episode: "Promised Land"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1962<br />1964
! scope="row" | Combat!
| Wilkerson
| Episode: "The Bridge at Chalons"
|-
! scope="row" | The Andy Griffith Show
| Bus Driver / First Treasury Agent /
Governor's Chauffeur / Party Guest
| 5 episodes