Rance Howard
Acting • Born 1928-11-17 – Died 2017-11-25
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
238 credits
Big Wind on Campus
Movie • 2000
Grandpa Morton
Spooky Buddies
Movie • 2011
Mr. Johnson
Audie & the Wolf
Movie • 2008
Dr. Maleosis
Cotton Candy
Movie • 1978
Mr. Bremmercamp
Angels & Demons
Movie • 2009
Cardinal Beck
Gung Ho
Movie • 1986
Mayor Conrad Zwart
A Crack in the Floor
Movie • 2001
Floyd Fryed
Runaway Daughters
Movie • 1994
Minute Man 3
Land of the Free
Movie • 1998
Hotel Manager
Creator
Movie • 1985
Mr. Spencer
Smokey Bites the Dust
Movie • 1981
Football Coach
I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore
Movie • 1992
Elderly Man
A Smoky Mountain Christmas
Movie • 1986
Dr. Jennings
Mr. No Legs
Movie • 1978
Lou's Sidekick
Toolbox Murders
Movie • 2004
Chas Rooker
Miracle at Sage Creek
Movie • 2005
Doctor Babcock
The Red Pony
Movie • 1973
Sheriff Bill Smith
Be My Baby
Movie • 2007
Zippy
Trust Me
Movie • 1989
Vern
Terminal Velocity
Movie • 1994
Stunt Pilot/Chuck
Grand Theft Auto
Movie • 1977
Ned Slinker
Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy
Movie • 1978
Self
InSight
Movie • 2011
Cemetery Presider
Skyward
Movie • 1980
Pilot #2
The Kid with the Broken Halo
Movie • 1982
Coach Ramsdell
Dads
Movie • 2019
Self
Splash
Movie • 1984
McCullough
Locusts
Movie • 1974
Aaron
Gone Dark
Movie • 2013
Charles
Dark Before Dawn
Movie • 1988
Logan
Problem Child 3
Movie • 1995
The Janitor
Holiday in Your Heart
Movie • 1997
Blind Man
Mars Attacks!
Movie • 1996
Texan Investor
Rosewood Lane
Movie • 2011
Fred Crumb
Harrison Bergeron
Movie • 2006
Narrator
Cool Hand Luke
Movie • 1967
Sheriff
Where the Lilies Bloom
Movie • 1974
Roy Luther
Chinatown
Movie • 1974
Irate Farmer
Flatbed Annie & Sweetie Pie: Lady Truckers
Movie • 1979
Mr. Murray
Cocoon
Movie • 1985
St. Petersburg Dectective
The 'Burbs
Movie • 1989
Detective #2
Ticks
Movie • 1993
Sheriff Parker
Tiger Heart
Movie • 1996
Mr. Johnson
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Movie • 2000
Elderly Timekeeper
The Long Ride Home
Movie • 2003
Old Man
Sasquatch Mountain
Movie • 2006
Harris Zeff
Grizzly Park
Movie • 2008
Ranger Howard
Frost/Nixon
Movie • 2008
Ollie
Boppin' at the Glue Factory
Movie • 2009
Walker Bill
Harley's Hill
Movie • 2011
Charlie
Nebraska
Movie • 2013
Uncle Ray
Bloody Trail
Movie • 1972
Jake
Let Go
Movie • 2011
Dimples
Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess
Movie • 1983
Still Photographer
Gentle Giant
Movie • 1967
Tater Coughlin
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Movie • 1963
Camp Counselor (uncredited)
Forever and Beyond
Movie • 1983
Technician
Where Truth Lies
Movie • 1996
Judge Bloom
Innerspace
Movie • 1987
Supermarket Customer
Sgt. Bilko
Movie • 1996
Mr. Robbins
Ping!
Movie • 2001
Old Man
Another Man, Another Chance
Movie • 1977
Wagonmaster
The Miracle of Kathy Miller
Movie • 1981
Dr. Jewell
Back By Midnight
Movie • 2005
Priest
Huff
Movie • 2013
Scotty
Play the Game
Movie • 2009
Mervin Lavine
Universal Soldier
Movie • 1992
John Devreux
The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins
Movie • 1984
Policeman
The Colony
Movie • 1995
Stan Benson
B.O.R.N.
Movie • 1989
Robert Morrison
The Kid with the 200 I.Q.
Movie • 1983
Bus Driver
Scandal Sheet
Movie • 1985
Mr. Bell
Scout's Honor
Movie • 1980
The Captain
Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter
Movie • 1991
Bernie
A Beautiful Mind
Movie • 2001
White-Haired Patient
The Kid from Left Field
Movie • 1979
Harry the Bartender
Cinderella Man
Movie • 2005
Announcer Al Fazin
Parenthood
Movie • 1989
Dean at College
The Missing
Movie • 2003
Telegraph Operator
Ed Wood
Movie • 1994
Old Man McCoy
Ghost Town: The Movie
Movie • 2008
Sheriff Tom Parker
An Eye for an Eye
Movie • 1966
Harry
Listen to Me
Movie • 1989
Airplane II: The Sequel
Movie • 1982
Person #1 (uncredited)
Drillbit Taylor
Movie • 2008
Older Man
Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story
Movie • 2006
James Kennedy
Little Giants
Movie • 1994
Father Kelly
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Movie • 2007
Preacher
Snapdragon
Movie • 1993
Priest
Playing with Fire
Movie • 1985
Fireman Goodwin
Eat My Dust
Movie • 1976
Clark
Ghost Rock
Movie • 2004
Cash
Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest
Movie • 1995
Employer
Night Club
Movie • 2011
Chuck
Death and Texas
Movie • 2004
Circuit Court Judge
The Lone Ranger
Movie • 2013
Engineer
9 1/2 Ninjas!
Movie • 1991
Ninja Negotiator
The Night Caller
Movie • 1998
Hank
The Dilemma
Movie • 2011
Burt
Kalebegiak
Movie • 2016
José Mari
Fearless
Movie • 1993
Bald Cabby
Frontier Woman
Movie • 1956
Prewitt
Talk Radio
Movie • 2016
Lou
The Child Wanderers
Movie • 2010
Old Knut
Legend of the Phantom Rider
Movie • 2003
Doc Fisher
Psycho
Movie • 1998
Mr. Lowery
The Paper
Movie • 1994
Alicia's Doctor
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2
Movie • 2011
Preacher
40 Nights
Movie • 2016
Devil as an Old Man
The Legend of Frank Woods
Movie • 1977
Howard Blacker
Ed and His Dead Mother
Movie • 1993
Rev. Praxton
Solemates
Movie • 2015
Older Man
Broken Memories
Movie • 2017
Jasper
Limit Up
Movie • 1989
Chuck Feeney
Village of the Giants
Movie • 1965
Deputy
Apollo 13
Movie • 1995
Reverend
Forced to Kill
Movie • 1994
Rance
Chasing the Star
Movie • 2017
Devil as an Old Man
The Christ Slayer
Movie • 2019
Devil as Old Man
The Genesis Code
Movie • 2010
Dr. Tolley
Far and Away
Movie • 1992
Tomlin
The Wild Country
Movie • 1970
Cleve
Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter
Movie • 1994
Todd
The Second Civil War
Movie • 1997
Arnold Tooney, Jr.
Evasive Action
Movie • 1998
Train Engineer
Once Fallen
Movie • 2010
Harry
Love & Sex
Movie • 2000
Earl
The Trial
Movie • 2010
Judge Danielson
Busted
Movie • 1997
Mayor Davies
Second Chances
Movie • 2013
Wilbur
D-Tox
Movie • 2002
Geezer
Killing Cupid
Movie • 1995
Zeke
Return to Mayberry
Movie • 1986
Preacher
Independence Day
Movie • 1996
Chaplain
Abilene
Movie • 1999
Arliss
Traveller
Movie • 1997
Farmer
Huckleberry Finn
Movie • 1978
Pap Finn
Love Letters
Movie • 1983
Joseph Chesley
Chairman of the Board
Movie • 1998
Rev. Hatley
Joe Dirt
Movie • 2001
Bomb Squad Cop
Jumping for Joy
Movie • 2002
The Alamo
Movie • 2004
Governor Smith
Apple Seed
Movie • 2019
Carl
Keith
Movie • 2008
Old Man (uncredited)
Jonah Hex
Movie • 2010
Telegrapher
Redemption: For Robbing the Dead
Movie • 2011
Doctor
Small Soldiers
Movie • 1998
Husband
Money Talks
Movie • 1997
Reverend
Georgia Rule
Movie • 2007
Dog Bite Man
Valentine's Day
Movie • 2010
Bistro Gardens Diner
The Executioner's Song
Movie • 1982
Lt. Nelson
Within
Movie • 2009
Deli Owner
The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe
Movie • 1976
Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest
Movie • 1997
Jarvis Bean
The Lonely Guy
Movie • 1984
Minister
Happy, Texas
Movie • 1999
Ely
Ghosts of Mississippi
Movie • 1996
Ralph Hargrove
Malevolence
Movie • 1999
Dr. Burns
Boris and Natasha
Movie • 1992
Polygraph Man
Two Soldiers
Movie • 1986
Paw
Easy Rider: The Ride Back
Movie • 2012
Andrew Jackson Bennett
Gary Coleman: For Safety's Sake
Movie • 1986
Captain Truck
Max Rose
Movie • 2016
Walter Prewitt
Rat Race
Movie • 2001
Feed the Earth Spokesman
The Andy Griffith Show
TV • 1960
Treasury agent
Son of the Beach
TV • 2000
The Rookies
TV • 1972
Kung Fu
TV • 1972
Sheriff Byrd
Ghost Whisperer
TV • 2005
Dirk Abrams
Little House on the Prairie
TV • 1974
Simpson
Two of a Kind
TV • 1998
Mr. Fillmore
Cold Case
TV • 2003
Buddie
Tales from the Crypt
TV • 1989
Des
Angel
TV • 1999
Marcus Roscoe
CSI: NY
TV • 2004
Samuel Cooper
Dynasty
TV • 1981
Happy Days
TV • 1974
Mr. Burkhart
Clueless
TV • 1996
Diagnosis: Murder
TV • 1993
Driver
Quantum Leap
TV • 1989
Doc Graves
Laverne & Shirley
TV • 1976
That '80s Show
TV • 2002
Mr. Bailey
Babylon 5
TV • 1994
David Sheridan
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Judge Alan Franklin
Night Gallery
TV • 1970
Cameraman (segment "The Boy Who Predicted Earthquakes")
Melrose Place
TV • 1992
Motel Manager
Superboy
TV • 1988
Colonel
Baywatch
TV • 1989
Joe
7th Heaven
TV • 1996
Old Man in Park
The Huntress
TV • 2000
Just Shoot Me!
TV • 1997
Blind Flower Guy
The Waltons
TV • 1972
Wiseguy
TV • 1987
Ernest Haynes
ER
TV • 1994
Dr. Oliver Kostin
The Monroes
TV • 1966
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Luka
The Thorn Birds
TV • 1983
Doc Wilson
Bat Masterson
TV • 1958
Fletcher
ABC Afterschool Special
TV • 1972
Myron Faraday
Gentle Ben
TV • 1967
Henry Boomhauer
B.L. Stryker
TV • 1989
Seinfeld
TV • 1989
Blind Man
Baywatch
TV • 1989
Fireman
Nichols
TV • 1971
Deputy
The Andy Griffith Show
TV • 1960
The Governor's Chauffeur
The Andy Griffith Show
TV • 1960
Bus Driver
Married... with Children
TV • 1987
Edwin
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Frank Benton
Arrested Development
TV • 2003
Rance Howard
The Long Hot Summer
TV • 1985
Wilk
Seinfeld
TV • 1989
Farmer
Lie to Me
TV • 2009
Joe Metz
Kraft Television Theatre
TV • 1947
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Ranger
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
TV • 1997
Reginald Hannon (segment "The Viewing")
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self
The Waltons
TV • 1972
Dr. McIvers
Mork & Mindy
TV • 1978
Guard
Finder of Lost Loves
TV • 1984
Hank
Grey's Anatomy
TV • 2005
Martin Carroll
Bones
TV • 2005
Jerold Norsky
That's So Raven
TV • 2003
Murphy
The X-Files
TV • 1993
Old Man
Coach
TV • 1989
Herman Van Dam
Dan August
TV • 1970
Hobbs
Baywatch Nights
TV • 1995
A Death in California
TV • 1985
Ralph Lee
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Fillmore
Battlestar Galactica
TV • 1978
Farnes
NCIS: Los Angeles
TV • 2009
Eugene
Switch
TV • 1975
Collins
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV • 1956
Deputy Shaker
Then Came Bronson
TV • 1969
Carl Mueller
Workaholics
TV • 2011
Jerry
Switched at Birth
TV • 1991
Frank Hill
Twenty Good Years
TV • 2006
Henry
Married... with Children
TV • 1987
Reverend
Rebel Highway
TV • 1994
Minuteman