Education
Howard was educated at Whitgift School, South Croydon.
Howard was educated at Whitgift School, South Croydon.
Born John Richard Cox, Junior. in Cleveland, Ohio, he was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of what is now Case Western Reserve University. At college he discovered a love for the theater, and took part in student productions. Eventually, Howard became a contract player for Paramount, working in a dozen pictures before getting his first big role as Ronald Colman"s younger brother in Lost Horizon.
He soon took over for Colman in the Bulldog Drummond series of films, starring in seven of the features (1937-1939), and maintaining the film version of the detective.
Howard"s next major assignment was as Katharine Hepburn"s fiancé in The Philadelphia Story (1940), competing for her attention with both Cary Grant and James Stewart. Military service
He served in the Navy during World World War II, eventually as Executive Officer aboard a minesweeper United States Ship YMS-24 where he participated in landing operations at Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, and deception operations against Sardinia and Southern France.
When his vessel struck a mine off the French coast in August, 1944, killing the captain and severely damaging the ship, Howard took over command and fought to save his ship and crew, even jumping into the sea to save several wounded sailors. Return to acting
Upon his return to Hollywood, Howard was given the lead in smaller projects, but limited to supporting roles in feature pictures.
Even his performance as Laraine Day"s husband in The High and the Mighty (1954) did not generate any opportunities to break the pattern.
Howard then played the lead in two American television series Doctor Hudson"s Secret Journal and later Adventures of the Sea Hawk in 1958. Howard became one of the first screen actors to commit to working in the new field of television and continued to make occasional film appearances until the mid-1970s. Early in 1961, he guest starred as Captain Chilcoath in the episode "Rebellion at Blazing Rock" of the 17-week National Broadcasting Company series, The Americans. change to education
In time, Howard moved into academia.
He taught English at Highland Hall Waldorf School for more than twenty years and helped to start the high school program at the institution.
He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
41st United Kingdom Parliament. 42nd United Kingdom Parliament]
In 1955, Howard was elected Member of Parliament for Southampton Test, defeating Labour high-flyer Tony Crosland.