Background
Howard was born Harold Rance Beckenholdt in Duncan, Oklahoma, the son of Ethel Cleo (née Tomlin) and Engel Beckenholdt, a farmer. His son Ron was born while he served three years in the United States Air Force.
Howard was born Harold Rance Beckenholdt in Duncan, Oklahoma, the son of Ethel Cleo (née Tomlin) and Engel Beckenholdt, a farmer. His son Ron was born while he served three years in the United States Air Force.
Howard attended the University of Oklahoma, where he went to drama school.
He changed his name to "Rance Howard" when he became an actor. Their sons are actor/director Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard. He is also the grandfather of actresses Bryce Dallas Howard and Paige Howard.
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 television and film was playing the part of Lindstrom in the touring company of the play Mister Roberts with Henry Fonda in 1950, playing the character for about a year-and-a-half in major cities across the United States.
Later in the 1950s, Rance"s roles included his television debut in the series Kraft Theatre, on which he appeared three times in 1956-1957. 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.
Another well-known television 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 television series Driving Maine Crazy.
His television guest appearances include Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Kung Fu, The Waltons, Columbia Broadcasting System Schoolbreak Special 1986 episode "The Drug Knot", Angel, 7th Heaven, Cold Case, That"s So Raven, and two appearances on Seinfeld (both as different characters).
On The Waltons, Howard portrayed Doctor McIver in five different episodes, one of which included Ron. Howard has acted in over 100 films, including the 1967 movie Cool Hand Luke, The Music Manitoba (in an uncredited bit part playing "Oscar Jackson"), and many other films. He also appeared as Dottie and Kit"s father in A League of Their Own.
In 2013, he played Woody Grant"s brother in Nebraska.
He often takes parts as a priest or minister, county sheriff, or western marshal, and has made numerous appearances in films by Joe Dante. The exceptions are Night Shift, Willow, Backdraft, Ransom, EDtv, and The Da Vinci Code.