Acting · Newkirk, Oklahoma, USA · Born November 17, 1928
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).
MovieDads
2019
as Self
MovieThe Christ Slayer
2019
as Devil as Old Man
MovieApple Seed
2019
as Carl
MovieChasing the Star
2017
as Devil as an Old Man
MovieBroken Memories
2017
as Jasper
MovieKalebegiak
2016
as José Mari
MovieMax Rose
2016
as Walter Prewitt
Movie40 Nights
2016
as Devil as an Old Man
MovieTalk Radio
2016
as Lou
MovieSolemates
2015
as Older Man
Gone Dark
2013
as Charles
MovieNebraska
2013
as Uncle Ray
MovieThe Lone Ranger
2013
as Engineer
MovieSecond Chances
2013
as Wilbur
MovieHuff
2013
as Scotty
MovieEasy Rider: The Ride Back
2012
as Andrew Jackson Bennett
MovieLet Go
2011
as Dimples
MovieRedemption: For Robbing the Dead
2011
as Doctor
MovieRosewood Lane
2011
as Fred Crumb
MovieSpooky Buddies
2011
as Mr. Johnson
MovieInSight
2011
as Cemetery Presider
MovieHarley's Hill
2011
as Charlie
MovieNight Club
2011
as Chuck
TVWorkaholics
2011
as Jerry
MovieBeverly Hills Chihuahua 2
2011
as Preacher
MovieThe Dilemma
2011
as Burt
MovieOnce Fallen
2010
as Harry
MovieThe Trial
2010
as Judge Danielson
MovieThe Genesis Code
2010
as Dr. Tolley
MovieJonah Hex
2010
as Telegrapher
MovieThe Child Wanderers
2010
as Old Knut
MovieValentine's Day
2010
as Bistro Gardens Diner
TVNCIS: Los Angeles
2009
as Eugene
MovieWithin
2009
as Deli Owner
MovieAngels & Demons
2009
as Cardinal Beck
MoviePlay the Game
2009
as Mervin Lavine
TVLie to Me
2009
as Joe Metz
MovieBoppin' at the Glue Factory
2009
as Walker Bill
MovieFrost/Nixon
2008
as Ollie
MovieGhost Town: The Movie
2008
as Sheriff Tom Parker
MovieKeith
2008
as Old Man (uncredited)
MovieGrizzly Park
2008
as Ranger Howard
MovieDrillbit Taylor
2008
as Older Man
MovieAudie & the Wolf
2008
as Dr. Maleosis
MovieWalk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
2007
as Preacher
MovieBe My Baby
2007
as Zippy
MovieGeorgia Rule
2007
as Dog Bite Man
TVTwenty Good Years
2006
as Henry
MovieSasquatch Mountain
2006
as Harris Zeff
Harrison Bergeron
2006
as Narrator
MovieSister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story
2006
as James Kennedy
MovieMiracle at Sage Creek
2005
as Doctor Babcock
TVGhost Whisperer
2005
as Dirk Abrams
TVBones
2005
as Jerold Norsky
MovieCinderella Man
2005
as Announcer Al Fazin
TVGrey's Anatomy
2005
as Martin Carroll
MovieBack By Midnight
2005
as Priest
MovieToolbox Murders
2004
as Chas Rooker
TVCSI: NY
2004
as Samuel Cooper
MovieGhost Rock
2004
as Cash
MovieThe Alamo
2004
as Governor Smith
MovieDeath and Texas
2004
as Circuit Court Judge
MovieThe Missing
2003
as Telegraph Operator
TVArrested Development
2003
as Rance Howard
TVCold Case
2003
as Buddie
MovieThe Long Ride Home
2003
as Old Man
MovieLegend of the Phantom Rider
2003
as Doc Fisher
TVThat's So Raven
2003
as Murphy
MovieJumping for Joy
2002
TVThat '80s Show
2002
as Mr. Bailey
MovieD-Tox
2002
as Geezer
MovieA Beautiful Mind
2001
as White-Haired Patient
MoviePing!
2001
as Old Man
MovieRat Race
2001
as Feed the Earth Spokesman
MovieA Crack in the Floor
2001
as Floyd Fryed
MovieJoe Dirt
2001
as Bomb Squad Cop
MovieHow the Grinch Stole Christmas
2000
as Elderly Timekeeper
TVThe Huntress
2000
TVSon of the Beach
2000
MovieLove & Sex
2000
as Earl
MovieBig Wind on Campus
2000
as Grandpa Morton
MovieHappy, Texas
1999
as Ely
TVAngel
1999
as Marcus Roscoe
MovieAbilene
1999
as Arliss
MovieMalevolence
1999
as Dr. Burns
MoviePsycho
1998
as Mr. Lowery
MovieLand of the Free
1998
as Hotel Manager
TVTwo of a Kind
1998
as Mr. Fillmore
MovieThe Night Caller
1998
as Hank
MovieSmall Soldiers
1998
as Husband
MovieChairman of the Board
1998
as Rev. Hatley
MovieEvasive Action
1998
as Train Engineer
MovieHoliday in Your Heart
1997
as Blind Man
MovieThe Second Civil War
1997
as Arnold Tooney, Jr.
MovieMurder, She Wrote: South by Southwest
1997
as Jarvis Bean
MovieMoney Talks
1997
as Reverend
TVBeyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
1997
as Reginald Hannon (segment "The Viewing")
MovieTraveller
1997
as Farmer
TVJust Shoot Me!
1997
as Blind Flower Guy
MovieBusted
1997
as Mayor Davies
MovieWhere Truth Lies
1996
as Judge Bloom
MovieGhosts of Mississippi
1996
as Ralph Hargrove
MovieMars Attacks!
1996
as Texan Investor
TVClueless
1996
TV7th Heaven
1996
as Old Man in Park
MovieTiger Heart
1996
as Mr. Johnson
MovieIndependence Day
1996
as Chaplain
MovieSgt. Bilko
1996
as Mr. Robbins
TVBaywatch Nights
1995
MovieThe Colony
1995
as Stan Benson
MovieChildren of the Corn III: Urban Harvest
1995
as Employer
MovieKilling Cupid
1995
as Zeke
MovieApollo 13
1995
as Reverend
MovieProblem Child 3
1995
as The Janitor
MovieLittle Giants
1994
as Father Kelly
MovieEd Wood
1994
as Old Man McCoy
MovieTerminal Velocity
1994
as Stunt Pilot/Chuck
TVER
1994
as Dr. Oliver Kostin
MovieRunaway Daughters
1994
as Minute Man 3
TVRebel Highway
1994
as Minuteman
MovieForced to Kill
1994
as Rance
MovieThe Paper
1994
as Alicia's Doctor
TVBabylon 5
1994
as David Sheridan
MovieBigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter
1994
as Todd
MovieSnapdragon
1993
as Priest
TVDiagnosis: Murder
1993
as Driver
MovieFearless
1993
as Bald Cabby
MovieTicks
1993
as Sheriff Parker
TVThe X-Files
1993
as Old Man
MovieEd and His Dead Mother
1993
as Rev. Praxton
MovieUniversal Soldier
1992
as John Devreux
TVMelrose Place
1992
as Motel Manager
MovieFar and Away
1992
as Tomlin
MovieI Don't Buy Kisses Anymore
1992
as Elderly Man
MovieBoris and Natasha
1992
as Polygraph Man
TVSwitched at Birth
1991
as Frank Hill
MovieLucy & Desi: Before the Laughter
1991
as Bernie
Movie9 1/2 Ninjas!
1991
as Ninja Negotiator
MovieTrust Me
1989
as Vern
MovieLimit Up
1989
as Chuck Feeney
MovieB.O.R.N.
1989
as Robert Morrison
MovieParenthood
1989
as Dean at College
TVSeinfeld
1989
as Blind Man
TVTales from the Crypt
1989
as Des
MovieListen to Me
1989
TVBaywatch
1989
as Joe
TVQuantum Leap
1989
as Doc Graves
TVCoach
1989
as Herman Van Dam
MovieThe 'Burbs
1989
as Detective #2
TVB.L. Stryker
1989
TVSuperboy
1988
as Colonel
MovieDark Before Dawn
1988
as Logan
TVWiseguy
1987
as Ernest Haynes
MovieInnerspace
1987
as Supermarket Customer
TVMarried... with Children
1987
as Edwin
MovieA Smoky Mountain Christmas
1986
as Dr. Jennings
MovieReturn to Mayberry
1986
as Preacher
MovieTwo Soldiers
1986
as Paw
MovieGung Ho
1986
as Mayor Conrad Zwart
Gary Coleman: For Safety's Sake
1986
as Captain Truck
TVThe Long Hot Summer
1985
as Wilk
MovieCreator
1985
as Mr. Spencer
MovieCocoon
1985
as St. Petersburg Dectective
TVA Death in California
1985
as Ralph Lee
MoviePlaying with Fire
1985
as Fireman Goodwin
MovieScandal Sheet
1985
as Mr. Bell
TVMurder, She Wrote
1984
as Fillmore
TVFinder of Lost Loves
1984
as Hank
MovieSplash
1984
as McCullough
MovieThe Fantastic World of D.C. Collins
1984
as Policeman
MovieThe Lonely Guy
1984
as Minister
MovieRita Hayworth: The Love Goddess
1983
as Still Photographer
MovieForever and Beyond
1983
as Technician
MovieLove Letters
1983
as Joseph Chesley
TVThe Thorn Birds
1983
as Doc Wilson
MovieThe Kid with the 200 I.Q.
1983
as Bus Driver
MovieAirplane II: The Sequel
1982
as Person #1 (uncredited)
MovieThe Executioner's Song
1982
as Lt. Nelson
MovieThe Kid with the Broken Halo
1982
as Coach Ramsdell
MovieThe Miracle of Kathy Miller
1981
as Dr. Jewell
MovieSmokey Bites the Dust
1981
as Football Coach
TVDynasty
1981
MovieSkyward
1980
as Pilot #2
MovieScout's Honor
1980
as The Captain
MovieThe Kid from Left Field
1979
as Harry the Bartender
MovieFlatbed Annie & Sweetie Pie: Lady Truckers
1979
as Mr. Murray
MovieSteve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy
1978
as Self
MovieCotton Candy
1978
as Mr. Bremmercamp
TVBattlestar Galactica
1978
as Farnes
TVMork & Mindy
1978
as Guard
MovieMr. No Legs
1978
as Lou
MovieHuckleberry Finn
1978
as Pap Finn
MovieAnother Man, Another Chance
1977
as Wagonmaster
MovieGrand Theft Auto
1977
as Ned Slinker
MovieThe Legend of Frank Woods
1977
as Howard Blacker
MovieThe New Daughters of Joshua Cabe
1976
MovieEat My Dust
1976
as Clark
TVLaverne & Shirley
1976
TVSwitch
1975
as Collins
MovieLocusts
1974
as Aaron
TVLittle House on the Prairie
1974
as Simpson
MovieChinatown
1974
as Irate Farmer
MovieWhere the Lilies Bloom
1974
as Roy Luther
TVHappy Days
1974
as Mr. Burkhart
MovieThe Red Pony
1973
as Sheriff Bill Smith
TVKung Fu
1972
as Sheriff Byrd
TVABC Afterschool Special
1972
as Myron Faraday
TVThe Waltons
1972
TVThe Rookies
1972
MovieBloody Trail
1972
as Jake
TVNichols
1971
as Deputy
MovieThe Wild Country
1970
as Cleve
TVNight Gallery
1970
as Cameraman (segment "The Boy Who Predicted Earthquakes")
TVDan August
1970
as Hobbs
TVThen Came Bronson
1969
as Carl Mueller
MovieCool Hand Luke
1967
as Sheriff
MovieGentle Giant
1967
as Tater Coughlin
TVGentle Ben
1967
as Henry Boomhauer
TVThe Monroes
1966
MovieAn Eye for an Eye
1966
as Harry
MovieVillage of the Giants
1965
as Deputy
TVThe F.B.I.
1965
as Ranger
MovieThe Courtship of Eddie's Father
1963
as Camp Counselor (uncredited)
TVThe Virginian
1962
as Luka
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
TVThe Andy Griffith Show
1960
as Treasury agent
TVBat Masterson
1958
as Fletcher
TVDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Deputy Shaker
MovieFrontier Woman
1956
as Prewitt
TVGunsmoke
1955
as Judge Alan Franklin
TVThe Danny Thomas Show
1953
as TV Crewman
TVKraft Television Theatre
1947
