He’s the award-winning director behind classic films like A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13, but Ron Howard deserves recognition for being the loving dad of his four kids. The Happy Days star shares his children, Bryce Dallas Howard, Paige Howard, Jocelyn Howard and Reed Howard, with his longtime wife, Cheryl Howard.
The Hollywood legend has been married to the Angels & Demons actress since 1975. “People say, ‘How’d you do it?’ There’s no technique. There’s no tactic other than communication is really important,” Ron once explained to People of the secret behind their decades-long love story. “You have to learn to communicate and have difficult conversations in constructive ways.”
Even though Ron believes there is an “element of luck” when it comes to marriage, he insisted the duo are constantly working together to maintain their strong bond. Throughout the years juggling their careers and raising their kids, Ron and Cheryl always made their family their No. 1 priority.
Looking back, the Academy Award winner couldn’t feel more blessed to have Cheryl and the beautiful children they share together. “I felt really lucky when [Cheryl and I] first met. It’s crazy,” he gushed to the Huffington Post in 2013. “We were teenagers, it shouldn’t have worked. We got married young, that shouldn’t have worked either, and yet, it really and truly has.”
The doting dad dished their relationship was stronger than ever at the time they celebrated the 50th anniversary of their first date. Alongside a photo of the adorable couple boasting big smiles with a box of pizza, Ron marveled over the special milestone.
“November 1, 1970, Cheryl and I went on our first date. We went to see a re-release of Stanley Kramer’s It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and then got some pizza at now-defunct Barone’s in Toluca Lake. Quite a start, right?” he sweetly recalled on social media in November 2020.
To honor the 50th anniversary, Ron revealed they were celebrating with a trip to their local pizza place. “We’ll be driving in the same ‘70 Volkswagen Bug I picked Cheryl up in five decades ago,” he added. “It runs great. So do we.”
What a sweet couple!
Scroll through the gallery below to meet Ron and Cheryl’s four amazing kids.
Closer
