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Rance Howard
ACTOR

Rance Howard

Known for Grey's Anatomy · The X-Files · Bones

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…

Snapshot 2026-10-15

Born
Nov 17, 1928
Died
Nov 25, 2017
Birthplace
Newkirk, Oklahoma, USA
Known For
Acting

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).

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Known For

TVGrey's Anatomy
Grey's AnatomyMartin Carroll · 2005
★ 8.2
TVThe X-Files
The X-FilesOld Man · 1993
★ 8.4
TVBones
BonesJerold Norsky · 2005
★ 8.2
TVSeinfeld
SeinfeldBlind Man · 1989
★ 8.2
TVGhost Whisperer
Ghost WhispererDirk Abrams · 2005
★ 8.1
TVArrested Development
Arrested DevelopmentRance Howard · 2003
★ 7.9
TVMarried... with Children
Married... with ChildrenEdwin · 1987
★ 7.7
TVNCIS: Los Angeles
NCIS: Los AngelesEugene · 2009
★ 7.5

Filmography

Movies

Frontier WomanPrewitt
1956
The Courtship of Eddie's FatherCamp Counselor (uncredited)
1963
Village of the GiantsDeputy
1965
An Eye for an EyeHarry
1966
Cool Hand LukeSheriff
1967
Gentle GiantTater Coughlin
1967
The Wild CountryCleve
1970
Bloody TrailJake
1972
The Red PonySheriff Bill Smith
1973
ChinatownIrate Farmer
1974
LocustsAaron
1974
Where the Lilies BloomRoy Luther
1974
Eat My DustClark
1976
II
Image in a BottleThe Doctor
1976
The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe
1976
Another Man, Another ChanceWagonmaster
1977
Grand Theft AutoNed Slinker
1977
Grand Theft AutoWriter
1977
Grand Theft AutoAssociate Producer
1977
The Legend of Frank WoodsHoward Blacker
1977
Cotton CandyMr. Bremmercamp
1978
Cotton CandyCo-Producer
1978
Huckleberry FinnPap Finn
1978
Mr. No LegsLou
1978
Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy GuySelf
1978
Flatbed Annie & Sweetie Pie: Lady TruckersMr. Murray
1979
The Kid from Left FieldHarry the Bartender
1979
Scout's HonorThe Captain
1980
SkywardPilot #2
1980
Smokey Bites the DustFootball Coach
1981
The Miracle of Kathy MillerDr. Jewell
1981
Through the Magic PyramidProducer
1981
Through the Magic PyramidWriter
1981
Airplane II: The SequelPerson #1 (uncredited)
1982
The Executioner's SongLt. Nelson
1982
The Kid with the Broken HaloCoach Ramsdell
1982
Forever and BeyondTechnician
1983
Love LettersJoseph Chesley
1983
Rita Hayworth: The Love GoddessStill Photographer
1983
The Kid with the 200 I.Q.Bus Driver
1983
SplashMcCullough
1984
The Fantastic World of D.C. CollinsPoliceman
1984
The Lonely GuyMinister
1984
CocoonSt. Petersburg Dectective
1985
CreatorMr. Spencer
1985
Playing with FireFireman Goodwin
1985
Scandal SheetMr. Bell
1985
A Smoky Mountain ChristmasDr. Jennings
1986
GC
Gary Coleman: For Safety's SakeCaptain Truck
1986
Gung HoMayor Conrad Zwart
1986
Return to MayberryPreacher
1986
Two SoldiersPaw
1986
InnerspaceSupermarket Customer
1987
Dark Before DawnLogan
1988
B.O.R.N.Robert Morrison
1989
Limit UpChuck Feeney
1989
Listen to Me
1989
ParenthoodDean at College
1989
The 'BurbsDetective #2
1989
Trust MeVern
1989
9 1/2 Ninjas!Ninja Negotiator
1991
Lucy & Desi: Before the LaughterBernie
1991
Boris and NatashaPolygraph Man
1992
Far and AwayTomlin
1992
I Don't Buy Kisses AnymoreElderly Man
1992
Universal SoldierJohn Devreux
1992
Ed and His Dead MotherRev. Praxton
1993
FearlessBald Cabby
1993
SnapdragonPriest
1993
TicksSheriff Parker
1993
Bigfoot: The Unforgettable EncounterTodd
1994
Ed WoodOld Man McCoy
1994
Forced to KillRance
1994
Little GiantsFather Kelly
1994
Runaway DaughtersMinute Man 3
1994
Terminal VelocityStunt Pilot/Chuck
1994
The PaperAlicia's Doctor
1994
Apollo 13Reverend
1995
Children of the Corn III: Urban HarvestEmployer
1995
Killing CupidZeke
1995
Problem Child 3The Janitor
1995
The ColonyStan Benson
1995
Ghosts of MississippiRalph Hargrove
1996
Independence DayChaplain
1996
Mars Attacks!Texan Investor
1996
Sgt. BilkoMr. Robbins
1996
Tiger HeartMr. Johnson
1996
Where Truth LiesJudge Bloom
1996
BustedMayor Davies
1997
Holiday in Your HeartBlind Man
1997
Money TalksReverend
1997
Murder, She Wrote: South by SouthwestJarvis Bean
1997
The Lay of the LandDr. Brown
1997
The Second Civil WarArnold Tooney, Jr.
1997
TravellerFarmer
1997
Chairman of the BoardRev. Hatley
1998
Evasive ActionTrain Engineer
1998
Land of the FreeHotel Manager
1998
PsychoMr. Lowery
1998
Small SoldiersHusband
1998
The Night CallerHank
1998
AbileneArliss
1999
Happy, TexasEly
1999
MalevolenceDr. Burns
1999
Big Wind on CampusGrandpa Morton
2000
How the Grinch Stole ChristmasElderly Timekeeper
2000
Love & SexEarl
2000
A Beautiful MindWhite-Haired Patient
2001
A Crack in the FloorFloyd Fryed
2001
Joe DirtBomb Squad Cop
2001
Ping!Old Man
2001
Rat RaceFeed the Earth Spokesman
2001
D-ToxGeezer
2002
Jumping for Joy
2002
Legend of the Phantom RiderDoc Fisher
2003
The Long Ride HomeOld Man
2003
The MissingTelegraph Operator
2003
Death and TexasCircuit Court Judge
2004
Ghost RockCash
2004
The AlamoGovernor Smith
2004
Toolbox MurdersChas Rooker
2004
Back By MidnightPriest
2005
Cinderella ManAnnouncer Al Fazin
2005
Miracle at Sage CreekDoctor Babcock
2005
HB
Harrison BergeronNarrator
2006
Sasquatch MountainHarris Zeff
2006
Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson StoryJames Kennedy
2006
Be My BabyZippy
2007
Georgia RuleDog Bite Man
2007
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox StoryPreacher
2007
Audie & the WolfDr. Maleosis
2008
Drillbit TaylorOlder Man
2008
Frost/NixonOllie
2008
Ghost Town: The MovieSheriff Tom Parker
2008
Grizzly ParkRanger Howard
2008
KeithOld Man (uncredited)
2008
Angels & DemonsCardinal Beck
2009
Boppin' at the Glue FactoryWalker Bill
2009
Play the GameMervin Lavine
2009
WithinDeli Owner
2009
Jonah HexTelegrapher
2010
Once FallenHarry
2010
The Child WanderersOld Knut
2010
The Genesis CodeDr. Tolley
2010
The TrialJudge Danielson
2010
Valentine's DayBistro Gardens Diner
2010
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2Preacher
2011
Harley's HillCharlie
2011
InSightCemetery Presider
2011
Let GoDimples
2011
Night ClubChuck
2011
Redemption: For Robbing the DeadDoctor
2011
Rosewood LaneFred Crumb
2011
Spooky BuddiesMr. Johnson
2011
The DilemmaBurt
2011
Easy Rider: The Ride BackAndrew Jackson Bennett
2012
GD
Gone DarkCharles
2013
HuffScotty
2013
NebraskaUncle Ray
2013
Second ChancesWilbur
2013
The Lone RangerEngineer
2013
Chez UpshawHarry
2015
SolematesOlder Man
2015
40 NightsDevil as an Old Man
2016
KalebegiakJosé Mari
2016
Max RoseWalter Prewitt
2016
Talk RadioLou
2016
Broken MemoriesJasper
2017
Chasing the StarDevil as an Old Man
2017
Apple SeedCarl
2019
DadsSelf
2019
The Christ SlayerDevil as Old Man
2019

Television

Kraft Television Theatre2 eps
1947
The Danny Thomas ShowTV Crewman · 1 eps
1953
GunsmokeJudge Alan Franklin · 1 eps
1955
GunsmokeFrank Benton · 1 eps
1955
Dick Powell's Zane Grey TheatreDeputy Shaker · 1 eps
1956
Bat MastersonFletcher · 1 eps
1958
The Andy Griffith ShowTreasury agent · 2 eps
1960
The Andy Griffith ShowBus Driver · 1 eps
1960
The Andy Griffith ShowThe Governor's Chauffeur · 1 eps
1960
The Andy Griffith ShowWriter
1960
The FlintstonesWriter
1960
The Mike Douglas ShowSelf · 1 eps
1961
The VirginianLuka · 1 eps
1962
The F.B.I.Ranger · 1 eps
1965
The Monroes3 eps
1966
Gentle BenHenry Boomhauer · 56 eps
1967
Gentle BenWriter
1967
Then Came BronsonCarl Mueller · 1 eps
1969
Dan AugustHobbs · 1 eps
1970
Night GalleryCameraman (segment "The Boy Who Predicted Earthquakes") · 1 eps
1970
NicholsDeputy · 1 eps
1971
ABC Afterschool SpecialMyron Faraday · 1 eps
1972
Kung FuSheriff Byrd · 1 eps
1972
The Rookies1 eps
1972
The RookiesWriter
1972
The Waltons2 eps
1972
The WaltonsDr. McIvers · 3 eps
1972
Happy DaysMr. Burkhart · 3 eps
1974
Little House on the PrairieSimpson · 1 eps
1974
SwitchCollins · 1 eps
1975
Laverne & Shirley1 eps
1976
Battlestar GalacticaFarnes · 1 eps
1978
Mork & MindyGuard · 1 eps
1978
Dynasty1 eps
1981
The Thorn BirdsDoc Wilson · 1 eps
1983
Finder of Lost LovesHank · 1 eps
1984
Murder, She WroteFillmore · 1 eps
1984
A Death in CaliforniaRalph Lee · 2 eps
1985
The Long Hot SummerWilk · 2 eps
1985
Married... with ChildrenEdwin · 1 eps
1987
Married... with ChildrenReverend · 1 eps
1987
WiseguyErnest Haynes · 1 eps
1987
SuperboyColonel · 1 eps
1988
B.L. Stryker1 eps
1989
BaywatchJoe · 1 eps
1989
BaywatchFireman · 1 eps
1989
CoachHerman Van Dam · 1 eps
1989
Quantum LeapDoc Graves · 1 eps
1989
SeinfeldBlind Man · 1 eps
1989
SeinfeldFarmer · 2 eps
1989
Tales from the CryptDes · 1 eps
1989
Switched at BirthFrank Hill · 2 eps
1991
Melrose PlaceMotel Manager · 1 eps
1992
Diagnosis: MurderDriver · 1 eps
1993
The X-FilesOld Man · 1 eps
1993
Babylon 5David Sheridan · 3 eps
1994
ERDr. Oliver Kostin · 1 eps
1994
Rebel HighwayMinuteman · 1 eps
1994
Baywatch Nights1 eps
1995
7th HeavenOld Man in Park · 1 eps
1996
Clueless2 eps
1996
Beyond Belief: Fact or FictionReginald Hannon (segment "The Viewing") · 1 eps
1997
Just Shoot Me!Blind Flower Guy · 1 eps
1997
Two of a KindMr. Fillmore · 2 eps
1998
AngelMarcus Roscoe · 1 eps
1999
Son of the Beach1 eps
2000
The Huntress1 eps
2000
That '80s ShowMr. Bailey · 1 eps
2002
Arrested DevelopmentRance Howard · 1 eps
2003
Cold CaseBuddie · 1 eps
2003
That's So RavenMurphy · 1 eps
2003
CSI: NYSamuel Cooper · 1 eps
2004
BonesJerold Norsky · 2 eps
2005
Ghost WhispererDirk Abrams · 1 eps
2005
Grey's AnatomyMartin Carroll · 1 eps
2005
Twenty Good YearsHenry · 1 eps
2006
Lie to MeJoe Metz · 1 eps
2009
NCIS: Los AngelesEugene · 1 eps
2009
WorkaholicsJerry · 1 eps
2011

Photos

Rance Howard photo
Rance Howard photo
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