Rance Howard

Biography

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).

Known For

Grey's Anatomy

Bones

Seinfeld

NCIS: Los Angeles

The X-Files

The Andy Griffith Show

All Movies (164)

Dads2019 · as Self
The Christ Slayer2019 · as Devil as Old Man
Apple Seed2019 · as Carl
Chasing the Star2017 · as Devil as an Old Man
Broken Memories2017 · as Jasper
Kalebegiak2016 · as José Mari
Max Rose2016 · as Walter Prewitt
40 Nights2016 · as Devil as an Old Man
Talk Radio2016 · as Lou
Solemates2015 · as Older Man
Gone Dark2013 · as Charles
Nebraska2013 · as Uncle Ray
The Lone Ranger2013 · as Engineer
Second Chances2013 · as Wilbur
Huff2013 · as Scotty
Easy Rider: The Ride Back2012 · as Andrew Jackson Bennett
Let Go2011 · as Dimples
Redemption: For Robbing the Dead2011 · as Doctor
Rosewood Lane2011 · as Fred Crumb
Spooky Buddies2011 · as Mr. Johnson
InSight2011 · as Cemetery Presider
Harley's Hill2011 · as Charlie
Night Club2011 · as Chuck
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 22011 · as Preacher
The Dilemma2011 · as Burt
Once Fallen2010 · as Harry
The Trial2010 · as Judge Danielson
The Genesis Code2010 · as Dr. Tolley
Jonah Hex2010 · as Telegrapher
The Child Wanderers2010 · as Old Knut
Valentine's Day2010 · as Bistro Gardens Diner
Within2009 · as Deli Owner
Angels & Demons2009 · as Cardinal Beck
Play the Game2009 · as Mervin Lavine
Boppin' at the Glue Factory2009 · as Walker Bill
Frost/Nixon2008 · as Ollie
Ghost Town: The Movie2008 · as Sheriff Tom Parker
Keith2008 · as Old Man (uncredited)
Grizzly Park2008 · as Ranger Howard
Drillbit Taylor2008 · as Older Man
Audie & the Wolf2008 · as Dr. Maleosis
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story2007 · as Preacher
Be My Baby2007 · as Zippy
Georgia Rule2007 · as Dog Bite Man
Sasquatch Mountain2006 · as Harris Zeff
Harrison Bergeron2006 · as Narrator
Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story2006 · as James Kennedy
Miracle at Sage Creek2005 · as Doctor Babcock
Cinderella Man2005 · as Announcer Al Fazin
Back By Midnight2005 · as Priest
Toolbox Murders2004 · as Chas Rooker
Ghost Rock2004 · as Cash
The Alamo2004 · as Governor Smith
Death and Texas2004 · as Circuit Court Judge
The Missing2003 · as Telegraph Operator
The Long Ride Home2003 · as Old Man
Legend of the Phantom Rider2003 · as Doc Fisher
Jumping for Joy2002
D-Tox2002 · as Geezer
A Beautiful Mind2001 · as White-Haired Patient
Ping!2001 · as Old Man
Rat Race2001 · as Feed the Earth Spokesman
A Crack in the Floor2001 · as Floyd Fryed
Joe Dirt2001 · as Bomb Squad Cop
How the Grinch Stole Christmas2000 · as Elderly Timekeeper
Love & Sex2000 · as Earl
Big Wind on Campus2000 · as Grandpa Morton
Happy, Texas1999 · as Ely
Abilene1999 · as Arliss
Malevolence1999 · as Dr. Burns
Psycho1998 · as Mr. Lowery
Land of the Free1998 · as Hotel Manager
The Night Caller1998 · as Hank
Small Soldiers1998 · as Husband
Chairman of the Board1998 · as Rev. Hatley
Evasive Action1998 · as Train Engineer
Holiday in Your Heart1997 · as Blind Man
The Second Civil War1997 · as Arnold Tooney, Jr.
Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest1997 · as Jarvis Bean
Money Talks1997 · as Reverend
Traveller1997 · as Farmer
Busted1997 · as Mayor Davies
Where Truth Lies1996 · as Judge Bloom
Ghosts of Mississippi1996 · as Ralph Hargrove
Mars Attacks!1996 · as Texan Investor
Tiger Heart1996 · as Mr. Johnson
Independence Day1996 · as Chaplain
Sgt. Bilko1996 · as Mr. Robbins
The Colony1995 · as Stan Benson
Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest1995 · as Employer
Killing Cupid1995 · as Zeke
Apollo 131995 · as Reverend
Problem Child 31995 · as The Janitor
Little Giants1994 · as Father Kelly
Ed Wood1994 · as Old Man McCoy
Terminal Velocity1994 · as Stunt Pilot/Chuck
Runaway Daughters1994 · as Minute Man 3
Forced to Kill1994 · as Rance
The Paper1994 · as Alicia's Doctor
Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter1994 · as Todd
Snapdragon1993 · as Priest
Fearless1993 · as Bald Cabby
Ticks1993 · as Sheriff Parker
Ed and His Dead Mother1993 · as Rev. Praxton
Universal Soldier1992 · as John Devreux
Far and Away1992 · as Tomlin
I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore1992 · as Elderly Man
Boris and Natasha1992 · as Polygraph Man
Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter1991 · as Bernie
9 1/2 Ninjas!1991 · as Ninja Negotiator
Trust Me1989 · as Vern
Limit Up1989 · as Chuck Feeney
B.O.R.N.1989 · as Robert Morrison
Parenthood1989 · as Dean at College
Listen to Me1989
The 'Burbs1989 · as Detective #2
Dark Before Dawn1988 · as Logan
Innerspace1987 · as Supermarket Customer
A Smoky Mountain Christmas1986 · as Dr. Jennings
Return to Mayberry1986 · as Preacher
Two Soldiers1986 · as Paw
Gung Ho1986 · as Mayor Conrad Zwart
Gary Coleman: For Safety's Sake1986 · as Captain Truck
Creator1985 · as Mr. Spencer
Cocoon1985 · as St. Petersburg Dectective
Playing with Fire1985 · as Fireman Goodwin
Scandal Sheet1985 · as Mr. Bell
Splash1984 · as McCullough
The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins1984 · as Policeman
The Lonely Guy1984 · as Minister
Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess1983 · as Still Photographer
Forever and Beyond1983 · as Technician
Love Letters1983 · as Joseph Chesley
The Kid with the 200 I.Q.1983 · as Bus Driver
Airplane II: The Sequel1982 · as Person #1 (uncredited)
The Executioner's Song1982 · as Lt. Nelson
The Kid with the Broken Halo1982 · as Coach Ramsdell
The Miracle of Kathy Miller1981 · as Dr. Jewell
Smokey Bites the Dust1981 · as Football Coach
Skyward1980 · as Pilot #2
Scout's Honor1980 · as The Captain
The Kid from Left Field1979 · as Harry the Bartender
Flatbed Annie & Sweetie Pie: Lady Truckers1979 · as Mr. Murray
Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy1978 · as Self
Cotton Candy1978 · as Mr. Bremmercamp
Mr. No Legs1978 · as Lou
Huckleberry Finn1978 · as Pap Finn
Another Man, Another Chance1977 · as Wagonmaster
Grand Theft Auto1977 · as Ned Slinker
The Legend of Frank Woods1977 · as Howard Blacker
The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe1976
Eat My Dust1976 · as Clark
Locusts1974 · as Aaron
Chinatown1974 · as Irate Farmer
Where the Lilies Bloom1974 · as Roy Luther
The Red Pony1973 · as Sheriff Bill Smith
Bloody Trail1972 · as Jake
The Wild Country1970 · as Cleve
Cool Hand Luke1967 · as Sheriff
Gentle Giant1967 · as Tater Coughlin
An Eye for an Eye1966 · as Harry
Village of the Giants1965 · as Deputy
The Courtship of Eddie's Father1963 · as Camp Counselor (uncredited)
Frontier Woman1956 · as Prewitt

All TV Shows (75)

Workaholics2011 · as Jerry
NCIS: Los Angeles2009 · as Eugene
Lie to Me2009 · as Joe Metz
Twenty Good Years2006 · as Henry
Ghost Whisperer2005 · as Dirk Abrams
Bones2005 · as Jerold Norsky
Grey's Anatomy2005 · as Martin Carroll
CSI: NY2004 · as Samuel Cooper
Arrested Development2003 · as Rance Howard
Cold Case2003 · as Buddie
That's So Raven2003 · as Murphy
That '80s Show2002 · as Mr. Bailey
The Huntress2000
Son of the Beach2000
Angel1999 · as Marcus Roscoe
Two of a Kind1998 · as Mr. Fillmore
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction1997 · as Reginald Hannon (segment "The Viewing")
Just Shoot Me!1997 · as Blind Flower Guy
Clueless1996
7th Heaven1996 · as Old Man in Park
Baywatch Nights1995
ER1994 · as Dr. Oliver Kostin
Rebel Highway1994 · as Minuteman
Babylon 51994 · as David Sheridan
Diagnosis: Murder1993 · as Driver
The X-Files1993 · as Old Man
Melrose Place1992 · as Motel Manager
Switched at Birth1991 · as Frank Hill
Seinfeld1989 · as Blind Man
Seinfeld1989 · as Farmer
Tales from the Crypt1989 · as Des
Baywatch1989 · as Joe
Baywatch1989 · as Fireman
Quantum Leap1989 · as Doc Graves
Coach1989 · as Herman Van Dam
B.L. Stryker1989
Superboy1988 · as Colonel
Wiseguy1987 · as Ernest Haynes
Married... with Children1987 · as Edwin
Married... with Children1987 · as Reverend
The Long Hot Summer1985 · as Wilk
A Death in California1985 · as Ralph Lee
Murder, She Wrote1984 · as Fillmore
Finder of Lost Loves1984 · as Hank
The Thorn Birds1983 · as Doc Wilson
Dynasty1981
Battlestar Galactica1978 · as Farnes
Mork & Mindy1978 · as Guard
Laverne & Shirley1976
Switch1975 · as Collins
Little House on the Prairie1974 · as Simpson
Happy Days1974 · as Mr. Burkhart
Kung Fu1972 · as Sheriff Byrd
ABC Afterschool Special1972 · as Myron Faraday
The Waltons1972
The Waltons1972 · as Dr. McIvers
The Rookies1972
Nichols1971 · as Deputy
Night Gallery1970 · as Cameraman (segment "The Boy Who Predicted Earthquakes")
Dan August1970 · as Hobbs
Then Came Bronson1969 · as Carl Mueller
Gentle Ben1967 · as Henry Boomhauer
The Monroes1966
The F.B.I.1965 · as Ranger
The Virginian1962 · as Luka
The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self
The Andy Griffith Show1960 · as Treasury agent
The Andy Griffith Show1960 · as Bus Driver
The Andy Griffith Show1960 · as The Governor's Chauffeur
Bat Masterson1958 · as Fletcher
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre1956 · as Deputy Shaker
Gunsmoke1955 · as Judge Alan Franklin
Gunsmoke1955 · as Frank Benton
The Danny Thomas Show1953 · as TV Crewman
Kraft Television Theatre1947