Ron Howard has been a familiar name for nearly as long as his 70 years of life. This Hollywood powerhouse has maintained a relentless career in film and television, one that began when he was just a toddler.

Beyond his remarkable career, Howard also exemplifies longevity in his personal life, having been married to his wife, Cheryl, for nearly 50 years.

Read on to discover more about Howard’s decades-spanning career and enduring marriage!

Born on March 1, 1954, in Duncan, Oklahoma, Ronald Howard would grow up to become a Hollywood legend.

At just 18 months old, Howard made his film debut in Frontier Woman, and by the age of two, he was already on stage in The Seven Year Itch.

His journey into stardom truly began with his role as Opie on The Andy Griffith Show (1960 to 1968), where the freckle-faced redhead became a household name.

During this time, young Howard had the unwavering support of his parents, both of whom were involved in the entertainment industry.

“Remember how we always said, ‘You can do it if you want, but you don’t have to?’ Well, if you start this, you can’t quit,” Howard recalls his parents telling him. “You don’t have to take other roles, but you’d have to keep doing this one.”

Howard understood their message clearly and adds, “I think it was pretty obvious at that point that I was enjoying it, and I was good at it.”

In fact, he was more than good—he was on the brink of superstardom.

Howard’s ‘Happy Days’

While still starring on The Andy Griffith Show, Howard appeared in the 1962 hit musical film The Music Man.

A natural talent, he later starred in 1973’s American Graffiti, sharing the screen with Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfuss, and Cindy Williams, future colleagues.

In 1974, he was cast as Richie Cunningham in Garry Marshall’s new series Happy Days, which became a global sensation from 1974 to 1984.

The show also inspired several popular spin-offs, including Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy.

High School Sweetheart

In 1970, before earning a Golden Globe for his portrayal of the innocent Richie Cunningham, Howard met Cheryl Alley, his high school sweetheart. The couple married in 1975.

“I met her, and there was never anybody else,” Howard told People. “She’s unbelievably supportive and always has been. Our compatibility has endured through all kinds of experiences.”

After 50 years together, Howard, who won an Oscar for directing A Beautiful Mind, celebrated the 50th anniversary of their first date on Instagram.

“Nov 1 1970 Cheryl & I went on our 1st date,” he wrote, sharing a photo of himself in socks adorned with Cheryl’s face. “We went to see a re-release of It’s a Mad Mad Mad World and then had pizza at the now-defunct Barnone’s in Toluca Lake. Quite a start, right?”

He also mentioned their plans for the day: “We’ll be driving in the same ‘70 VW Bug I picked Cheryl up in 5 decades ago. It runs great. So do we.”

His ‘Good Luck Charm’

Cheryl has made several cameos in Howard’s projects, even playing herself on Arrested Development, which Howard produced and narrated.

Speaking with the Television Academy, Ron referred to Cheryl as his “good luck charm,” explaining why she appears in every film he makes.

“At a certain point, I became very superstitious about making sure that she’s at least identifiable in one frame,” he said. “They don’t have to be big cameos, but she’s gotta be in there.”

Besides bringing her husband luck, Cheryl is also a published author with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in screenwriting.

The couple has four children—daughter Bryce, twins Paige and Jocelyn, and son Reed—and six grandchildren.

Bryce, a well-known actress, has appeared in films like Jurassic World and The Help. Paige debuted in the 2009 film Adventureland and has since starred in The Employer and Collection. Reed is a professional golfer, while Jocelyn leads a private life.

The Secret to Longevity

As their 49th anniversary approaches on June 7, the Emmy-winning producer shares that “communication” is the key to their lasting love.

“People ask, ‘How’d you do it?’ There’s no technique,” Howard told People. “There’s no tactic, other than communication is really important. You have to learn to communicate and have difficult conversations in constructive ways. Beyond that, there’s an element of luck because people either grow together or they don’t, and I don’t think you can force that.”

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