Rance Howard
Acting
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).
Born: November 17, 1928 · Newkirk, Oklahoma, USA
Filmography (181)
Dads
2019
Actor
Broken Memories
2017
Actor: Jasper
Max Rose
2016
Actor: Walter Prewitt
Nebraska
2013
Actor: Uncle Ray
The Lone Ranger
2013
Actor: Engineer
Second Chances
2013
Actor: Wilbur
Huff
2013
Actor: Scotty
Easy Rider: The Ride Back
2012
Actor: Andrew Jackson Ben…
Let Go
2011
Actor: Dimples
Rosewood Lane
2011
Actor: Fred Crumb
Spooky Buddies
2011
Actor: Mr. Johnson
InSight
2011
Actor: Cemetery Presider
Harley's Hill
2011
Actor: Charlie
TV
Workaholics
2011
Actor: Jerry
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2
2011
Actor: Preacher
The Dilemma
2011
Actor: Burt
Once Fallen
2010
Actor: Harry
The Trial
2010
Actor: Judge Danielson
The Genesis Code
2010
Actor: Dr. Tolley
Jonah Hex
2010
Actor: Telegrapher
Valentine's Day
2010
Actor: Bistro Gardens Din…
TV
NCIS: Los Angeles
2009
Actor: Eugene
Within
2009
Actor: Deli Owner
Angels & Demons
2009
Actor: Cardinal Beck
Play the Game
2009
Actor: Mervin Lavine
TV
Lie to Me
2009
Actor: Joe Metz
Frost/Nixon
2008
Actor: Ollie
Ghost Town: The Movie
2008
Actor: Sheriff Tom Parker
Keith
2008
Actor: Old Man (uncredite…
Grizzly Park
2008
Actor: Ranger Howard
Drillbit Taylor
2008
Actor: Older Man
Audie & the Wolf
2008
Actor: Dr. Maleosis
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
2007
Actor: Preacher
Be My Baby
2007
Actor: Zippy
Georgia Rule
2007
Actor: Dog Bite Man
Sasquatch Mountain
2006
Actor: Harris Zeff
Miracle at Sage Creek
2005
Actor: Doctor Babcock
TV
Ghost Whisperer
2005
Actor: Dirk Abrams
TV
Bones
2005
Actor: Jerold Norsky
Cinderella Man
2005
Actor: Announcer Al Fazin
TV
Grey's Anatomy
2005
Actor: Martin Carroll
Back By Midnight
2005
Actor: Priest
Toolbox Murders
2004
Actor: Chas Rooker
TV
CSI: NY
2004
Actor: Samuel Cooper
Ghost Rock
2004
Actor: Cash
The Alamo
2004
Actor: Governor Smith
The Missing
2003
Actor: Telegraph Operator
TV
Arrested Development
2003
Actor: Rance Howard
TV
Cold Case
2003
Actor: Buddie
TV
That's So Raven
2003
Actor: Murphy
TV
That '80s Show
2002
Actor: Mr. Bailey
D-Tox
2002
Actor: Geezer
A Beautiful Mind
2001
Actor: White-Haired Patie…
Ping!
2001
Actor: Old Man
Rat Race
2001
Actor: Feed the Earth Spo…
A Crack in the Floor
2001
Actor: Floyd Fryed
Joe Dirt
2001
Actor: Bomb Squad Cop
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2000
Actor: Elderly Timekeeper
TV
The Huntress
2000
Actor
TV
Son of the Beach
2000
Actor
Love & Sex
2000
Actor: Earl
Big Wind on Campus
2000
Actor: Grandpa Morton
Happy, Texas
1999
Actor: Ely
TV
Angel
1999
Actor: Marcus Roscoe
Psycho
1998
Actor: Mr. Lowery
Land of the Free
1998
Actor: Hotel Manager
TV
Two of a Kind
1998
Actor: Mr. Fillmore
The Night Caller
1998
Actor: Hank
Small Soldiers
1998
Actor: Husband
Chairman of the Board
1998
Actor: Rev. Hatley
Evasive Action
1998
Actor: Train Engineer
The Second Civil War
1997
Actor: Arnold Tooney, Jr.
Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest
1997
Actor: Jarvis Bean
Money Talks
1997
Actor: Reverend
TV
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
1997
Actor: Reginald Hannon (s…
Traveller
1997
Actor: Farmer
TV
Just Shoot Me!
1997
Actor: Blind Flower Guy
Busted
1997
Actor: Mayor Davies
Where Truth Lies
1996
Actor: Judge Bloom
Ghosts of Mississippi
1996
Actor: Ralph Hargrove
Mars Attacks!
1996
Actor: Texan Investor
TV
Clueless
1996
Actor
TV
7th Heaven
1996
Actor: Old Man in Park
Tiger Heart
1996
Actor: Mr. Johnson
Independence Day
1996
Actor: Chaplain
Sgt. Bilko
1996
Actor: Mr. Robbins
TV
Baywatch Nights
1995
Actor
The Colony
1995
Actor: Stan Benson
Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest
1995
Actor: Employer
Apollo 13
1995
Actor: Reverend
Problem Child 3
1995
Actor: The Janitor
Little Giants
1994
Actor: Father Kelly
Ed Wood
1994
Actor: Old Man McCoy
Terminal Velocity
1994
Actor: Stunt Pilot/Chuck
TV
ER
1994
Actor: Dr. Oliver Kostin
Runaway Daughters
1994
Actor: Minute Man 3
TV
Rebel Highway
1994
Actor: Minuteman
Forced to Kill
1994
Actor: Rance
The Paper
1994
Actor: Alicia's Doctor
TV
Babylon 5
1994
Actor: David Sheridan
Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter
1994
Actor: Todd
Snapdragon
1993
Actor: Priest
TV
Diagnosis: Murder
1993
Actor: Driver
Fearless
1993
Actor: Bald Cabby
Ticks
1993
Actor: Sheriff Parker
TV
The X-Files
1993
Actor: Old Man
Ed and His Dead Mother
1993
Actor: Rev. Praxton
Universal Soldier
1992
Actor: John Devreux
TV
Melrose Place
1992
Actor: Motel Manager
Far and Away
1992
Actor: Tomlin
I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore
1992
Actor: Elderly Man
Boris and Natasha
1992
Actor: Polygraph Man
9 1/2 Ninjas!
1991
Actor: Ninja Negotiator
Parenthood
1989
Actor: Dean at College
TV
Seinfeld
1989
Actor: Blind ManActor: Farmer
TV
Tales from the Crypt
1989
Actor: Des
Listen to Me
1989
Actor
TV
Baywatch
1989
Actor: JoeActor: Fireman
TV
Quantum Leap
1989
Actor: Doc Graves
TV
Coach
1989
Actor: Herman Van Dam
The 'Burbs
1989
Actor: Detective #2
TV
B.L. Stryker
1989
Actor
TV
Superboy
1988
Actor: Colonel
TV
Wiseguy
1987
Actor: Ernest Haynes
Innerspace
1987
Actor: Supermarket Custom…
TV
Married... with Children
1987
Actor: EdwinActor: Reverend
A Smoky Mountain Christmas
1986
Actor: Dr. Jennings
Return to Mayberry
1986
Actor: Preacher
Gung Ho
1986
Actor: Mayor Conrad Zwart
TV
The Long Hot Summer
1985
Actor: Wilk
Creator
1985
Actor: Mr. Spencer
Cocoon
1985
Actor: St. Petersburg Dec…
TV
Murder, She Wrote
1984
Actor: Fillmore
TV
Finder of Lost Loves
1984
Actor: Hank
Splash
1984
Actor: McCullough
The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins
1984
Actor: Policeman
The Lonely Guy
1984
Actor: Minister
Love Letters
1983
Actor: Joseph Chesley
TV
The Thorn Birds
1983
Actor: Doc Wilson
Airplane II: The Sequel
1982
Actor: Person #1 (uncredi…
The Executioner's Song
1982
Actor: Lt. Nelson
Smokey Bites the Dust
1981
Actor: Football Coach
TV
Dynasty
1981
Actor
Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy
1978
Actor
Cotton Candy
1978
Actor: Mr. BremmercampCo-Producer
TV
Battlestar Galactica
1978
Actor: Farnes
TV
Mork & Mindy
1978
Actor: Guard
Mr. No Legs
1978
Actor: Lou's Sidekick
Another Man, Another Chance
1977
Actor: Wagonmaster
Grand Theft Auto
1977
Actor: Ned SlinkerWriter+1
Eat My Dust
1976
Actor: Clark
TV
Laverne & Shirley
1976
Actor
TV
Switch
1975
Actor: Collins
TV
Little House on the Prairie
1974
Actor: Simpson
Chinatown
1974
Actor: Irate Farmer
Where the Lilies Bloom
1974
Actor: Roy Luther
TV
Happy Days
1974
Actor: Mr. Burkhart
TV
Kung Fu
1972
Actor: Sheriff Byrd
TV
ABC Afterschool Special
1972
Actor: Myron Faraday
TV
The Waltons
1972
ActorActor: Dr. McIvers
TV
The Rookies
1972
ActorWriter
TV
Nichols
1971
Actor: Deputy
The Wild Country
1970
Actor: Cleve
TV
Night Gallery
1970
Actor: Cameraman (segment…
TV
Dan August
1970
Actor: Hobbs
TV
Then Came Bronson
1969
Actor: Carl Mueller
Cool Hand Luke
1967
Actor: Sheriff
TV
Gentle Ben
1967
Actor: Henry BoomhauerWriter
TV
The Monroes
1966
Actor
An Eye for an Eye
1966
Actor: Harry
Village of the Giants
1965
Actor: Deputy
TV
The F.B.I.
1965
Actor: Ranger
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
1963
Actor: Camp Counselor (un…
TV
The Virginian
1962
Actor: Luka
TV
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
Actor
TV
The Andy Griffith Show
1960
Actor: Treasury agentActor: The Governor's Cha…+2
TV
The Flintstones
1960
Writer
TV
Bat Masterson
1958
Actor: Fletcher
TV
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
Actor: Deputy Shaker
TV
Gunsmoke
1955
Actor: Judge Alan Frankli…Actor: Frank Benton
TV
Kraft Television Theatre
1947
Actor