Ron Howard is considered one of the most efficient and versatile directors in the movie industry, with a career spanning over four decades. He started as an actor, most notably playing Opie Taylor in The Andy Griffith Show and Richie Cunningham in Happy Days, but his passion for filmmaking led him to direct his first feature, the 1977 film Grand Theft Auto, a low-budget comedy produced by Roger Corman. Though it was modest, the movie marked the commencement of his directing career.
Recently, the 71-year-old reflected on his filmmaking journey, revealing that his transition from acting to directing was made easy by the contribution of his longtime friend and Happy Days co-star.
Ron Howard says Henry Winkler played a significant role in his directorial career
During an appearance at an FYC event for The Studio at the Hollywood Athletic Club in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 21, Howard shared with PEOPLE how Henry Winkler, who portrayed the character of Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli, alongside his own character, Richie Cunningham, on the ABC sitcom Happy Days, played a pivotal role in the launching of his directorial career.
He explained that when Winkler agreed to join the cast of Night Shift, the 1982 comedy film directed by him, his involvement helped convince Studios to approve the project, an endorsement that helped him realize his dream of becoming a Hollywood feature director.
Ron Howard speaks on his journey to becoming a successful director
Howard revealed that he had always aspired to become a director, a dream he began actively pursuing during his time on Happy Days. This led him to direct Grand Theft Auto during a break in the show’s third season, thus taking a significant step toward his goal.
The actor noted that by 1980, when he stepped away from Happy Days, he had bagged a contract to produce and direct television movies, laying the groundwork for his future in filmmaking. His career took a pivotal turn when he teamed up with producing partner Brian Grazer in Night Shift. Their collaboration became an enduring partnership as they co-founded Imagine Entertainment, a production company that would become a Hollywood powerhouse just four years after their first project.