Rance Howard
Known for Acting · 232 credits
- Born
- 1928-11-17
- Died
- 2017-11-25
- Place of birth
- Newkirk, Oklahoma, USA
- Also known as
- Harold Engle Beckenholdt
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
TV Shows (68)
Grey's Anatomy
2005
as Martin Carroll
Bones
2005
as Jerold Norsky
Seinfeld
1989
as Blind Man / Farmer
NCIS: Los Angeles
2009
as Eugene
The X-Files
1993
as Old Man
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
ER
1994
as Dr. Oliver Kostin
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Fillmore
CSI: NY
2004
as Samuel Cooper
The Andy Griffith Show
1960
as Treasury agent / The Governor's Chauffeur / Bus Driver
Diagnosis: Murder
1993
as Driver
Ghost Whisperer
2005
as Dirk Abrams
Babylon 5
1994
as David Sheridan
Married... with Children
1987
as Edwin / Reverend
Melrose Place
1992
as Motel Manager
Cold Case
2003
as Buddie
Little House on the Prairie
1974
as Simpson
Dynasty
1981
Baywatch
1989
as Joe / Fireman
Arrested Development
2003
as Rance Howard
Coach
1989
as Herman Van Dam
Quantum Leap
1989
as Doc Graves
Angel
1999
as Marcus Roscoe
The Waltons
1972
as Dr. McIvers
The Virginian
1962
as Luka
Happy Days
1974
as Mr. Burkhart
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Deputy Shaker
Lie to Me
2009
as Joe Metz
The F.B.I.
1965
as Ranger
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
1997
as Reginald Hannon (segment "The Viewing")
Just Shoot Me!
1997
as Blind Flower Guy
Tales from the Crypt
1989
as Des
7th Heaven
1996
as Old Man in Park
Laverne & Shirley
1976
That's So Raven
2003
as Murphy
The Rookies
1972
Night Gallery
1970
as Cameraman (segment "The Boy Who Predicted Earthquakes")
Gunsmoke
1955
as Judge Alan Franklin / Frank Benton
Bat Masterson
1958
as Fletcher
Workaholics
2011
as Jerry
Wiseguy
1987
as Ernest Haynes
Switch
1975
as Collins
Baywatch Nights
1995
ABC Afterschool Special
1972
as Myron Faraday
Mork & Mindy
1978
as Guard
Battlestar Galactica
1978
as Farnes
Kraft Television Theatre
1947
The Danny Thomas Show
1953
as TV Crewman
Clueless
1996
Son of the Beach
2000
Finder of Lost Loves
1984
as Hank
Then Came Bronson
1969
as Carl Mueller
The Huntress
2000
The Thorn Birds
1983
as Doc Wilson
Nichols
1971
as Deputy
Rebel Highway
1994
as Minuteman
Gentle Ben
1967
as Henry Boomhauer
Superboy
1988
as Colonel
Two of a Kind
1998
as Mr. Fillmore
The Monroes
1966
Movies (164)
Independence Day
1996
as Chaplain
A Beautiful Mind
2001
as White-Haired Patient
Apollo 13
1995
as Reverend
Mars Attacks!
1996
as Texan Investor
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2000
as Elderly Timekeeper
Angels & Demons
2009
as Cardinal Beck
Small Soldiers
1998
as Husband
Cool Hand Luke
1967
as Sheriff
Chinatown
1974
as Irate Farmer
Universal Soldier
1992
as John Devreux
Splash
1984
as McCullough
Innerspace
1987
as Supermarket Customer
The Lone Ranger
2013
as Engineer
Cinderella Man
2005
as Announcer Al Fazin
Rat Race
2001
as Feed the Earth Spokesman
Drillbit Taylor
2008
as Older Man
Nebraska
2013
as Uncle Ray
The Missing
2003
as Telegraph Operator
Airplane II: The Sequel
1982
as Person #1 (uncredited)
Psycho
1998
as Mr. Lowery
The 'Burbs
1989
as Detective #2
Far and Away
1992
as Tomlin
Jonah Hex
2010
as Telegrapher
Ed Wood
1994
as Old Man McCoy
Parenthood
1989
as Dean at College
D-Tox
2002
as Geezer
Valentine's Day
2010
as Bistro Gardens Diner
Cocoon
1985
as St. Petersburg Dectective
Frost/Nixon
2008
as Ollie
Joe Dirt
2001
as Bomb Squad Cop
Where Truth Lies
1996
as Judge Bloom
The Alamo
2004
as Governor Smith
Fearless
1993
as Bald Cabby
Love & Sex
2000
as Earl
Money Talks
1997
as Reverend
Problem Child 3
1995
as The Janitor
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
2007
as Preacher
The Dilemma
2011
as Burt
Georgia Rule
2007
as Dog Bite Man
The Paper
1994
as Alicia's Doctor
Gung Ho
1986
as Mayor Conrad Zwart
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2
2011
as Preacher
Skyward
1980
as Pilot #2
Dads
2019
as Self
Little Giants
1994
as Father Kelly
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
1963
as Camp Counselor (uncredited)
Sgt. Bilko
1996
as Mr. Robbins
Let Go
2011
as Dimples
Listen to Me
1989
Creator
1985
as Mr. Spencer
Terminal Velocity
1994
as Stunt Pilot/Chuck
Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest
1995
as Employer
Evasive Action
1998
as Train Engineer
Traveller
1997
as Farmer
Ticks
1993
as Sheriff Parker
Spooky Buddies
2011
as Mr. Johnson
The Trial
2010
as Judge Danielson
The Executioner's Song
1982
as Lt. Nelson
Abilene
1999
as Arliss
Flatbed Annie & Sweetie Pie: Lady Truckers
1979
as Mr. Murray
Rosewood Lane
2011
as Fred Crumb
Ghosts of Mississippi
1996
as Ralph Hargrove
InSight
2011
as Cemetery Presider
Return to Mayberry
1986
as Preacher
Grizzly Park
2008
as Ranger Howard
Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy
1978
as Self
Second Chances
2013
as Wilbur
Toolbox Murders
2004
as Chas Rooker
Keith
2008
as Old Man (uncredited)
Once Fallen
2010
as Harry
The Second Civil War
1997
as Arnold Tooney, Jr.
Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest
1997
as Jarvis Bean
Smokey Bites the Dust
1981
as Football Coach
Boris and Natasha
1992
as Polygraph Man
Ping!
2001
as Old Man
Back By Midnight
2005
as Priest
Cotton Candy
1978
as Mr. Bremmercamp
Snapdragon
1993
as Priest
Love Letters
1983
as Joseph Chesley
Ed and His Dead Mother
1993
as Rev. Praxton
The Lonely Guy
1984
as Minister
Chairman of the Board
1998
as Rev. Hatley
Where the Lilies Bloom
1974
as Roy Luther
Kalebegiak
2016
as José Mari
Ghost Rock
2004
as Cash
The Long Ride Home
2003
as Old Man
Happy, Texas
1999
as Ely
Land of the Free
1998
as Hotel Manager
Tiger Heart
1996
as Mr. Johnson
The Wild Country
1970
as Cleve
Grand Theft Auto
1977
as Ned Slinker
Easy Rider: The Ride Back
2012
as Andrew Jackson Bennett
Another Man, Another Chance
1977
as Wagonmaster
Miracle at Sage Creek
2005
as Doctor Babcock
Busted
1997
as Mayor Davies
Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess
1983
as Still Photographer
Night Club
2011
as Chuck
Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter
1994
as Todd
The Red Pony
1973
as Sheriff Bill Smith
40 Nights
2016
as Devil as an Old Man
Play the Game
2009
as Mervin Lavine
The Genesis Code
2010
as Dr. Tolley
Limit Up
1989
as Chuck Feeney
A Smoky Mountain Christmas
1986
as Dr. Jennings
The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe
1976
The Christ Slayer
2019
as Devil as Old Man
Runaway Daughters
1994
as Minute Man 3
Village of the Giants
1965
as Deputy
An Eye for an Eye
1966
as Harry
Huckleberry Finn
1978
as Pap Finn
The Kid with the 200 I.Q.
1983
as Bus Driver
Eat My Dust
1976
as Clark
Holiday in Your Heart
1997
as Blind Man
Scandal Sheet
1985
as Mr. Bell
A Crack in the Floor
2001
as Floyd Fryed
The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins
1984
as Policeman
Death and Texas
2004
as Circuit Court Judge
Chasing the Star
2017
as Devil as an Old Man
Gentle Giant
1967
as Tater Coughlin
Sasquatch Mountain
2006
as Harris Zeff
About Rance Howard
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 rece… With 232 credits spanning from 1947 to 2019, Rance Howard has appeared in 164 films and 68 TV shows.
Fans searching for Rance Howard movies, Rance Howard filmography, or the latest projects starring Rance Howard can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Rance Howard Movies
- Independence Day (1996) — as Chaplain
- A Beautiful Mind (2001) — as White-Haired Patient
- Apollo 13 (1995) — as Reverend
- Mars Attacks! (1996) — as Texan Investor
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) — as Elderly Timekeeper
Where to Watch Rance Howard Films
Most Rance Howard movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Rance Howard, check our movies catalogue and browse page.