Ronald William Howard entered the world on the 1st of March 1954, in Duncan, Oklahoma. His father Rance Howard served three years in the United States Air Force at that time before taking the stage name Howard from his birth surname Beckenholdt.
Howard secured the part of Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show by 1960. This character became a household name across eight seasons running until 1968.
His big break came with Night Shift featuring Michael Keaton and Shelley Long in 1982. The film showcased his ability to handle comedies with ensemble casts including Henry Winkler from Happy Days.
Apollo 13 released in 1995 became a massive financial success earning $335 million off a budget of $52 million. Critics praised the docudrama for its clarity and technical detail while actors delivered performances without exaggerated emotion.
Howard took over directing duties on Solo: A Star Wars Story released the 23rd of May 2018. Officially replacing directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller on the 22nd of June 2017 he completed work on the Han Solo origin story.
The survival drama opened in select theaters the 29th of July 2022 by United Artists Releasing before streaming on Prime Video the 5th of August 2022. Critics generally received the film positively despite its challenging subject matter.