Rance Howard

Acting

The MovieWise Take

Refining cinematic analysis...

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

A Beautiful Mind

White-Haired Patient

Grey's Anatomy

Martin Carroll

Independence Day

Chaplain

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Elderly Timekeeper

Angels & Demons

Cardinal Beck

The Lone Ranger

Engineer

Mars Attacks!

Texan Investor

Apollo 13

Reverend

Full Filmography

Year	Title	Role
2019	Dads MOVIE	Self
2019	The Christ Slayer MOVIE	Devil as Old Man
2019	Apple Seed MOVIE	Carl
2017	Chasing the Star MOVIE	Devil as an Old Man
2017	Broken Memories MOVIE	Jasper
2016	Kalebegiak MOVIE	José Mari
2016	Max Rose MOVIE	Walter Prewitt
2016	40 Nights MOVIE	Devil as an Old Man
2016	Talk Radio MOVIE	Lou
2015	Solemates MOVIE	Older Man
2013	Gone Dark MOVIE	Charles
2013	Nebraska MOVIE	Uncle Ray
2013	The Lone Ranger MOVIE	Engineer
2013	Second Chances MOVIE	Wilbur
2013	Huff MOVIE	Scotty
2012	Easy Rider: The Ride Back MOVIE	Andrew Jackson Bennett
2011	Let Go MOVIE	Dimples
2011	Redemption: For Robbing the Dead MOVIE	Doctor
2011	Rosewood Lane MOVIE	Fred Crumb
2011	Spooky Buddies MOVIE	Mr. Johnson
2011	InSight MOVIE	Cemetery Presider
2011	Harley's Hill MOVIE	Charlie
2011	Night Club MOVIE	Chuck
2011	Workaholics TV	Jerry
2011	Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 MOVIE	Preacher
2011	The Dilemma MOVIE	Burt
2010	Once Fallen MOVIE	Harry
2010	The Trial MOVIE	Judge Danielson
2010	The Genesis Code MOVIE	Dr. Tolley
2010	Jonah Hex MOVIE	Telegrapher
2010	The Child Wanderers MOVIE	Old Knut
2010	Valentine's Day MOVIE	Bistro Gardens Diner
2009	NCIS: Los Angeles TV	Eugene
2009	Within MOVIE	Deli Owner
2009	Angels & Demons MOVIE	Cardinal Beck
2009	Play the Game MOVIE	Mervin Lavine
2009	Lie to Me TV	Joe Metz
2009	Boppin' at the Glue Factory MOVIE	Walker Bill
2008	Frost/Nixon MOVIE	Ollie
2008	Ghost Town: The Movie MOVIE	Sheriff Tom Parker
2008	Keith MOVIE	Old Man (uncredited)
2008	Grizzly Park MOVIE	Ranger Howard
2008	Drillbit Taylor MOVIE	Older Man
2008	Audie & the Wolf MOVIE	Dr. Maleosis
2007	Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story MOVIE	Preacher
2007	Be My Baby MOVIE	Zippy
2007	Georgia Rule MOVIE	Dog Bite Man
2006	Twenty Good Years TV	Henry
2006	Sasquatch Mountain MOVIE	Harris Zeff
2006	Harrison Bergeron MOVIE	Narrator
2006	Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story MOVIE	James Kennedy
2005	Miracle at Sage Creek MOVIE	Doctor Babcock
2005	Ghost Whisperer TV	Dirk Abrams
2005	Bones TV	Jerold Norsky
2005	Cinderella Man MOVIE	Announcer Al Fazin
2005	Grey's Anatomy TV	Martin Carroll
2005	Back By Midnight MOVIE	Priest
2004	Toolbox Murders MOVIE	Chas Rooker
2004	CSI: NY TV	Samuel Cooper
2004	Ghost Rock MOVIE	Cash
2004	The Alamo MOVIE	Governor Smith
2004	Death and Texas MOVIE	Circuit Court Judge
2003	The Missing MOVIE	Telegraph Operator
2003	Arrested Development TV	Rance Howard
2003	Cold Case TV	Buddie
2003	The Long Ride Home MOVIE	Old Man
2003	Legend of the Phantom Rider MOVIE	Doc Fisher
2003	That's So Raven TV	Murphy
2002	Jumping for Joy MOVIE	Self
2002	That '80s Show TV	Mr. Bailey
2002	D-Tox MOVIE	Geezer
2001	A Beautiful Mind MOVIE	White-Haired Patient
2001	Ping! MOVIE	Old Man
2001	Rat Race MOVIE	Feed the Earth Spokesman
2001	A Crack in the Floor MOVIE	Floyd Fryed
2001	Joe Dirt MOVIE	Bomb Squad Cop
2000	How the Grinch Stole Christmas MOVIE	Elderly Timekeeper
2000	The Huntress TV	Self
2000	Son of the Beach TV	Self
2000	Love & Sex MOVIE	Earl
2000	Big Wind on Campus MOVIE	Grandpa Morton
1999	Happy, Texas MOVIE	Ely
1999	Angel TV	Marcus Roscoe
1999	Abilene MOVIE	Arliss
1999	Malevolence MOVIE	Dr. Burns
1998	Psycho MOVIE	Mr. Lowery
1998	Land of the Free MOVIE	Hotel Manager
1998	Two of a Kind TV	Mr. Fillmore
1998	The Night Caller MOVIE	Hank
1998	Small Soldiers MOVIE	Husband
1998	Chairman of the Board MOVIE	Rev. Hatley
1998	Evasive Action MOVIE	Train Engineer
1997	Holiday in Your Heart MOVIE	Blind Man
1997	The Second Civil War MOVIE	Arnold Tooney, Jr.
1997	Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest MOVIE	Jarvis Bean
1997	Money Talks MOVIE	Reverend
1997	Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction TV	Reginald Hannon (segment "The Viewing")
1997	Traveller MOVIE	Farmer
1997	Just Shoot Me! TV	Blind Flower Guy
1997	Busted MOVIE	Mayor Davies
1996	Where Truth Lies MOVIE	Judge Bloom
1996	Ghosts of Mississippi MOVIE	Ralph Hargrove
1996	Mars Attacks! MOVIE	Texan Investor
1996	Clueless TV	Self
1996	7th Heaven TV	Old Man in Park
1996	Tiger Heart MOVIE	Mr. Johnson
1996	Independence Day MOVIE	Chaplain
1996	Sgt. Bilko MOVIE	Mr. Robbins
1995	Baywatch Nights TV	Self
1995	The Colony MOVIE	Stan Benson
1995	Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest MOVIE	Employer
1995	Killing Cupid MOVIE	Zeke
1995	Apollo 13 MOVIE	Reverend
1995	Problem Child 3 MOVIE	The Janitor
1994	Little Giants MOVIE	Father Kelly
1994	Ed Wood MOVIE	Old Man McCoy
1994	Terminal Velocity MOVIE	Stunt Pilot/Chuck
1994	ER TV	Dr. Oliver Kostin
1994	Runaway Daughters MOVIE	Minute Man 3
1994	Rebel Highway TV	Minuteman
1994	Forced to Kill MOVIE	Rance
1994	The Paper MOVIE	Alicia's Doctor
1994	Babylon 5 TV	David Sheridan
1994	Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter MOVIE	Todd
1993	Snapdragon MOVIE	Priest
1993	Diagnosis: Murder TV	Driver
1993	Fearless MOVIE	Bald Cabby
1993	Ticks MOVIE	Sheriff Parker
1993	The X-Files TV	Old Man
1993	Ed and His Dead Mother MOVIE	Rev. Praxton
1992	Universal Soldier MOVIE	John Devreux
1992	Melrose Place TV	Motel Manager
1992	Far and Away MOVIE	Tomlin
1992	I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore MOVIE	Elderly Man
1992	Boris and Natasha MOVIE	Polygraph Man
1991	Switched at Birth TV	Frank Hill
1991	Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter MOVIE	Bernie
1991	9 1/2 Ninjas! MOVIE	Ninja Negotiator
1989	Trust Me MOVIE	Vern
1989	Limit Up MOVIE	Chuck Feeney
1989	B.O.R.N. MOVIE	Robert Morrison
1989	Parenthood MOVIE	Dean at College
1989	Seinfeld TV	Blind Man
1989	Seinfeld TV	Farmer
1989	Tales from the Crypt TV	Des
1989	Listen to Me MOVIE	Self
1989	Baywatch TV	Joe
1989	Baywatch TV	Fireman
1989	Quantum Leap TV	Doc Graves
1989	Coach TV	Herman Van Dam
1989	The 'Burbs MOVIE	Detective #2
1989	B.L. Stryker TV	Self
1988	Superboy TV	Colonel
1988	Dark Before Dawn MOVIE	Logan
1987	Wiseguy TV	Ernest Haynes
1987	Innerspace MOVIE	Supermarket Customer
1987	Married... with Children TV	Edwin
1987	Married... with Children TV	Reverend
1986	A Smoky Mountain Christmas MOVIE	Dr. Jennings
1986	Return to Mayberry MOVIE	Preacher
1986	Two Soldiers MOVIE	Paw
1986	Gung Ho MOVIE	Mayor Conrad Zwart
1986	Gary Coleman: For Safety's Sake MOVIE	Captain Truck
1985	The Long Hot Summer TV	Wilk
1985	Creator MOVIE	Mr. Spencer
1985	Cocoon MOVIE	St. Petersburg Dectective
1985	A Death in California TV	Ralph Lee
1985	Playing with Fire MOVIE	Fireman Goodwin
1985	Scandal Sheet MOVIE	Mr. Bell
1984	Murder, She Wrote TV	Fillmore
1984	Finder of Lost Loves TV	Hank
1984	Splash MOVIE	McCullough
1984	The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins MOVIE	Policeman
1984	The Lonely Guy MOVIE	Minister
1983	Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess MOVIE	Still Photographer
1983	Forever and Beyond MOVIE	Technician
1983	Love Letters MOVIE	Joseph Chesley
1983	The Thorn Birds TV	Doc Wilson
1983	The Kid with the 200 I.Q. MOVIE	Bus Driver
1982	Airplane II: The Sequel MOVIE	Person #1 (uncredited)
1982	The Executioner's Song MOVIE	Lt. Nelson
1982	The Kid with the Broken Halo MOVIE	Coach Ramsdell
1981	The Miracle of Kathy Miller MOVIE	Dr. Jewell
1981	Smokey Bites the Dust MOVIE	Football Coach
1981	Dynasty TV	Self
1980	Skyward MOVIE	Pilot #2
1980	Scout's Honor MOVIE	The Captain
1979	The Kid from Left Field MOVIE	Harry the Bartender
1979	Flatbed Annie & Sweetie Pie: Lady Truckers MOVIE	Mr. Murray
1978	Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy MOVIE	Self
1978	Cotton Candy MOVIE	Mr. Bremmercamp
1978	Battlestar Galactica TV	Farnes
1978	Mork & Mindy TV	Guard
1978	Mr. No Legs MOVIE	Lou's Sidekick
1978	Huckleberry Finn MOVIE	Pap Finn
1977	Another Man, Another Chance MOVIE	Wagonmaster
1977	Grand Theft Auto MOVIE	Ned Slinker
1977	The Legend of Frank Woods MOVIE	Howard Blacker
1976	The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe MOVIE	Self
1976	Eat My Dust MOVIE	Clark
1976	Laverne & Shirley TV	Self
1975	Switch TV	Collins
1974	Locusts MOVIE	Aaron
1974	Little House on the Prairie TV	Simpson
1974	Chinatown MOVIE	Irate Farmer
1974	Where the Lilies Bloom MOVIE	Roy Luther
1974	Happy Days TV	Mr. Burkhart
1973	The Red Pony MOVIE	Sheriff Bill Smith
1972	Kung Fu TV	Sheriff Byrd
1972	ABC Afterschool Special TV	Myron Faraday
1972	The Waltons TV	Self
1972	The Waltons TV	Dr. McIvers
1972	The Rookies TV	Self
1972	Bloody Trail MOVIE	Jake
1971	Nichols TV	Deputy
1970	The Wild Country MOVIE	Cleve
1970	Night Gallery TV	Cameraman (segment "The Boy Who Predicted Earthquakes")
1970	Dan August TV	Hobbs
1969	Then Came Bronson TV	Carl Mueller
1967	Cool Hand Luke MOVIE	Sheriff
1967	Gentle Giant MOVIE	Tater Coughlin
1967	Gentle Ben TV	Henry Boomhauer
1966	The Monroes TV	Self
1966	An Eye for an Eye MOVIE	Harry
1965	Village of the Giants MOVIE	Deputy
1965	The F.B.I. TV	Ranger
1963	The Courtship of Eddie's Father MOVIE	Camp Counselor (uncredited)
1962	The Virginian TV	Luka
1961	The Mike Douglas Show TV	Self
1960	The Andy Griffith Show TV	Treasury agent
1960	The Andy Griffith Show TV	The Governor's Chauffeur
1960	The Andy Griffith Show TV	Bus Driver
1958	Bat Masterson TV	Fletcher
1956	Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre TV	Deputy Shaker
1956	Frontier Woman MOVIE	Prewitt
1955	Gunsmoke TV	Judge Alan Franklin
1955	Gunsmoke TV	Frank Benton
1953	The Danny Thomas Show TV	TV Crewman
1947	Kraft Television Theatre TV	Self

Quick Facts

Rance Howard

The MovieWise Take

Biography

Known For

Full Filmography

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