Ron Howard’s wife, Cheryl, narrowly escaped a frightening moment during her 71st birthday celebration.
On December 23, the acclaimed director shared a video from the party, capturing Cheryl blowing out candles on her birthday cake as Ron held it. In a sudden twist, one of the candles briefly set Cheryl’s hair on fire. Cheryl quickly jumped back in shock as family members rushed in to help extinguish the flame.
Ron Howard’s wife’s hair catches fire as she blows out birthday candles
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The incident, though alarming, transitioned into a good-natured moment. In the video, Ron can be heard assessing the damage, saying, “It burnt her hair a little bit.” Ron Howard’s wife, staying lighthearted, asked, “Can you believe that? Did you get it on camera?”
As family members surrounded Cheryl to check on her, others began laughing and comforting children who had witnessed the mishap. Ron himself joined in the laughter, clapping as the camera captured the family’s reaction to the dramatic yet ultimately harmless event. Ron, who has been married to Cheryl since 1975, reflected on the incident in his Instagram caption, writing, “Nearly had a serious mishap at Cheryl’s family b-day party last night. Whew! #AllsWellThatEndsWell and wishing all a safe and wonderful holiday and 2025.”
The Howard family reacts
The video shared by Ron also features reactions from the couple’s children — Bryce Dallas Howard, 43, twins Jocelyn and Paige, 39, and son Reed, 37. Bryce’s husband, Seth Gabel, is seen in the footage with his hands over his face, visibly stunned.
Cheryl, ever the jokester, commented on the situation in the video: “You know what? My hair was a little dry.” A family member inspecting her hair remarked, “It’s a little singed,” to which Bryce reassured everyone, “It’s fine.” Paige Howard took to the comments section to express her love and relief, writing, “Gosh I love her so much. That was truly scary. What a way to start her new year off with a bang. So glad she is a-okay and in great spirits (per usual).” She humorously added in another comment, “FOR SURE the hottest one outta the whole Howard clan! lol.”
Despite the near mishap, the Howard family turned the moment into a memory filled with love and humor, exemplifying their close bond. Ron’s post wrapped up with a heartfelt wish for the holidays, proving that even unexpected moments can bring a family closer together.