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). He was best known for his role as Mr. Fillmore in Two of a Kind (American TV series) starring Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen.
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. The role that got him noticed nationally for television and film was playing the part of Lindstrom in the touring company of the play Mister Roberts with Henry Fonda in 1950, portraying the character for about a year-and-a-half in major cities across the U.S.
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. Another well-known TV role was on Babylon 5, in which he had a recurring role as David Sheridan, the father of Babylon 5 captain John Sheridan. He also starred in the short-lived 2000 TV series Driving Me Crazy. His television guest appearances include Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Kung Fu, The Waltons, CBS Schoolbreak Special 1986 episode "The Drug Knot", Angel, Married... with Children, 7th Heaven, Two of a Kind, Cold Case, That's So Raven, and two appearances on Seinfeld (as different characters). On The Waltons, Howard portrayed Dr. McIver in five different episodes, one of which included Ron.
Howard appeared in over 100 films, including the movies The Music Man (1962) (in an uncredited bit part playing "Oscar Jackson"), Cool Hand Luke (1967), Chinatown (1974), and many other films. Howard acted in many of his son Ron's films including Splash (1984), Cocoon (1985), Apollo 13 (1995), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Cinderella Man (2005) and Frost/Nixon (2008). He also appeared as Dottie and Kit's father in A League of Their Own (1992), as well as in the films Ed Wood (1994), Independence Day (1996) and Max Rose (2013). In 2013, he played Woody Grant's brother in Nebraska. He often took parts as a priest or minister, county sheriff, or western marshal, and made numerous appearances in films by Joe Dante.
His final film role, completed in September 2017, is also the largest in his career. He plays the role of Carl Robbins in the Michael Worth road-trip drama, Apple Seed, playing on film for the first time the father of his real-life son Clint.
Personal life Howard married actress Jean Speegle Howard in Winchester, Kentucky, in 1949.newspapers.com The Duncan Eagle Jan 27, 1949 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. Ron was born while his father served three years in the United States Air Force.
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 Year Title Role Notes 1956 Frontier Woman Prewitt 1962 The Music Man Oscar Jackson Uncredited 1963 The Courtship of Eddie's Father Camp Counselor 1965 Village of the Giants Deputy Son Ron also starred The Desert Raven Reggie 1966 An Eye for an Eye Harry 1967 Gentle Giant Tater Coughlin Cool Hand Luke Sheriff Uncredited 1969 Old Paint Cowboy Short film 1970 The Wild Country Cleve Uncredited 1972 Bloody Trail Jake 1973 Salty 1974 Where the Lilies Bloom Roy Luther Chinatown Irate Farmer 1976 Eat My Dust! Clark 1977 The Legend of Frank Woods Howard Blacker Heroes Veteran's Hospital Orderly Grand Theft Auto Ned Slinker Directed by Ron Howard Another Man, Another Chance Wagonmaster 1978 The Amazing Mr. No Legs Lou's Sidekick 1981 Smokey Bites the Dust Coach 1983 Love Letters Joseph Chesley Forever and Beyond Technician 1984 The Lonely Guy Minister Splash McCollough Directed by Ron Howard 1985 Cocoon St. Petersburg Detective Creator Mr. Spencer 1986 Gung Ho Mayor Conrad Zwart Directed by Ron Howard 1987 Innerspace Supermarket Customer #1 1988 Dark Before Dawn Logan 1989 Trust Me Vern The 'Burbs Detective #2 Listen to Me Tucker's Father Parenthood Dean at College Directed by Ron Howard Merchants of Death Robert Morrison Limit Up Chuck Feeney 1991 9 1/2 Ninjas! Ninja Negotiator 1992 I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore Elderly Man Far and Away Tomlin Directed by Ron Howard Universal Soldier John Devreux Wishman Det. Sturgis Ticks Sheriff Parker 1993 Fearless Bald Cabby Ed and His Dead Mother Rev. Praxton Snapdragon Priest 1994 Forced to Kill Rance The Paper Alicia's Doctor Directed by Ron Howard The Cowboy Way Old Gentleman Terminal Velocity Chuck (pilot) Ed Wood Old Man McCoy Little Giants Priest Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter Todd Brandell 1995 Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest Eddie Calhoun Savate Farmer Apollo 13 Reverend Directed by Ron Howard 1996 Sgt. Bilko Mr. Robbins Tiger Heart Mr. Johnson Where Truth Lies Judge Bloom Independence Day Chaplain Mars Attacks! Texan Investor Ghosts of Mississippi Ralph Hargrove 1997 Busted Mayor Davies Traveller Farmer Money Talks Reverend The Lay of the Land Dr. Brown Sparkle and Charm Mr. Houghton 1998 The Sender Max Chairman of the Board Rev. Hatley Land of the Free Hotel Manager Small Soldiers Husband The Night Caller Hank Evasive Action Train Engineer Uncredited Psycho Mr. Lowery 1999 Happy, Texas Ely Malevolence Dr. Burns Abilene Arliss 2000 Love & Sex Earl Ping! Old Man Big Wind on Campus Grandpa Morton How the Grinch Stole Christmas Elderly Timekeeper Directed by Ron Howard 2001 Joe Dirt Bomb Squad Cop A Crack in the Floor Floyd Fryed Rat Race Feed the Earth Spokesman A Beautiful Mind White-Haired Patient Directed by Ron Howard 2002 D-Tox Geezer Legend of the Phantom Rider Doc Fisher Jumping for Joy Leaving the Land Uncle Solomon 2003 The Long Ride Home Old man Ghost Rock Cash The Missing Telegraph Operator Directed by Ron Howard 2004 Death and Texas Circuit Court Judge Toolbox Murders Chas Rooker The Alamo Governor Smith Eulogy Lance Sommers Back by Midnight Priest 2005 Cinderella Man Announcer Al Fazin Directed by Ron Howard Killing Cupid Zeke Miracle at Sage Creek Doctor Babcock 2006 Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story James Kennedy 2007 Georgia Rule Dog Bite Man Be My Baby Zippy the Messenger Ghost Town Sheriff Tom Parker Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Preacher 2008 Grizzly Park Ranger Howard Drillbit Taylor Older Man Keith Old Man Uncredited Audie & the Wolf Dr. Maleosis Frost/Nixon Ollie Directed by Ron Howard 2009 Play the Game Mervin Lavine Angels & Demons Cardinal Beck Directed by Ron Howard Within Deli Owner Boppin' at the Glue Factory Walker Bill 2010 Valentine's Day Bistro Gardens Diner Bloodworth Ira Yohan: The Child Wanderer Old Knut Once Fallen Harry Jonah Hex Telegrapher The Genesis Code Dr. Tolley The Trial Judge Danielson 2011 The Dilemma Burt Directed by Ron Howard Night Club Chuck InSight Cemetery Presider Spooky Buddies Mr. Joseph Johnson Direct-to-video Rosewood Lane Fred Crumb Redemption: For Robbing the Dead Doctor Let Go Dimples 2012 Easy Rider: The Ride Back Andrew Jackson Bennett 2013 Max Rose Walter Prewitt Nebraska Uncle Ray The Lone Ranger Engineer Richard Rossi 5th Anniversary of Sister Aimee James Kennedy Gone Dark Charles 2015 Junction The Clerk 2016 40 Nights Devil as an Old Man Kalebegiak José Mari 2017 Chasing the Star Devil as an Old Man Broken Memories Jasper 2018 Sister Aimee 10th Anniversary James Kennedy Posthumous release 2019 The Christ Slayer Devil as an Old Man Apple Seed Carl Dads Rance Howard
Television Year Title Role Notes 19561957 Kraft Television Theatre 3 episodes 1958 How to Marry a Millionaire Corporal Episode: "Hit and Run" 1959 Bat Masterson Fletcher Episode: "Promised Land" 19621964 Combat! Wilkerson Episode: "The Bridge at Chalons" The Andy Griffith Show Bus Driver / First Treasury Agent /