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
Chinatown
(1974)
Irate Farmer
A Beautiful Mind
(2001)
White-Haired Patient
Angels & Demons
(2009)
Cardinal Beck
The 'Burbs
(1989)
Detective #2
Independence Day
(1996)
Chaplain
Mars Attacks!
(1996)
Texan Investor
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
(2000)
Elderly Timekeeper
Apollo 13
(1995)
Reverend
The Second Civil War
(1997)
Arnold Tooney, jr.
Ed Wood
(1994)
Old Man McCoy (uncredited)
Innerspace
(1987)
Supermarket Customer
The Lone Ranger
(2013)
Engineer
Far and Away
(1992)
Tomlin
Cool Hand Luke
(1967)
Sheriff
Joe Dirt
(2001)
Bomb Squad Cop
Rat Race
(2001)
Feed the Earth Spokesman
Full Filmography
Acting
Frontier Woman
(1956)
Prewitt
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
(1963)
Camp Counselor (uncredited)
Village of the Giants
(1965)
Deputy
An Eye for an Eye
(1966)
Harry
Cool Hand Luke
(1967)
Sheriff
Gentle Giant
(1967)
Tater Coughlin
The Wild Country
(1970)
Cleve
Bloody Trail
(1972)
Jake
The Red Pony
(1973)
Sheriff Bill Smith
Chinatown
(1974)
Irate Farmer
Where the Lilies Bloom
(1974)
Roy Luther
Locusts
(1974)
Aaron
Huckleberry Finn
(1975)
Pap Finn
Eat My Dust
(1976)
Clark
The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe
(1976)
Grand Theft Auto
(1977)
Ned Slinker
Another Man, Another Chance
(1977)
Wagonmaster
The Legend of Frank Woods
(1977)
Howard Blacker
Mr. No Legs
(1978)
Lou's Sidekick
Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy
(1978)
Self
Cotton Candy
(1978)
Mr. Bremmercamp
Flatbed Annie & Sweetie Pie: Lady Truckers
(1979)
Mr. Murray
The Kid from Left Field
(1979)
Harry the Bartender
Skyward
(1980)
Pilot #2
Scout's Honor
(1980)
The Captain
Smokey Bites the Dust
(1981)
Football Coach
The Miracle of Kathy Miller
(1981)
Dr. Jewell
The Executioner's Song
(1982)
Lt. Nelson
The Kid with the Broken Halo
(1982)
Coach Ramsdell
Love Letters
(1983)
Joseph Chesley
Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess
(1983)
Still Photographer
Forever and Beyond
(1983)
Technician
The Kid with the 200 I.Q.
(1983)
The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins
(1984)
Policeman
The Lonely Guy
(1984)
Minister
Splash
(1984)
McCullough
Cocoon
(1985)
St. Petersburg Dectective
Scandal Sheet
(1985)
Mr. Bell
Playing with Fire
(1985)
Fireman Goodwin
Creator
(1985)
Mr. Spencer
Gung Ho
(1986)
Mayor Conrad Zwart
Return to Mayberry
(1986)
Preacher
Two Soldiers
(1986)
Paw
A Smoky Mountain Christmas
(1986)
Dr. Jennings
Innerspace
(1987)
Supermarket Customer
Dark Before Dawn
(1988)
Logan
The 'Burbs
(1989)
Detective #2
B.O.R.N.
(1989)
Robert Morrison
Parenthood
(1989)
Dean at College
Limit Up
(1989)
Chuck Feeney
Trust Me
(1989)
Vern
Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter
(1991)
Bernie
9 1/2 Ninjas!
(1991)
Ninja Negotiator
Switched at Birth
(1991)
Frank Hill
Universal Soldier
(1992)
John Devreux
Far and Away
(1992)
Tomlin
Boris and Natasha
(1992)
Polygraph Man
I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore
(1992)
Elderly Man
Ticks
(1993)
Sheriff Parker
Snapdragon
(1993)
Priest
Fearless
(1993)
Bald Cabby
Ed and His Dead Mother
(1993)
Rev. Praxton
Ed Wood
(1994)
Old Man McCoy (uncredited)
Little Giants
(1994)
Father Kelly
The Paper
(1994)
Alicia's Doctor
Forced to Kill
(1994)
Rance
Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter
(1994)
Todd
Runaway Daughters
(1994)
Minute Man 3
Terminal Velocity
(1994)
Stunt Pilot/Chuck
Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest
(1995)
Employer
Apollo 13
(1995)
Reverend
Killing Cupid
(1995)
Zeke
The Colony
(1995)
Stan Benson
Problem Child 3
(1995)
The Janitor
Tiger Heart
(1996)
Mr. Johnson
Independence Day
(1996)
Chaplain
Ghosts of Mississippi
(1996)
Ralph Hargrove
Mars Attacks!
(1996)
Texan Investor
Sgt. Bilko
(1996)
Mr. Robbins
Where Truth Lies
(1996)
Judge Bloom
Holiday in Your Heart
(1997)
Blind Man
The Second Civil War
(1997)
Arnold Tooney, jr.
Busted
(1997)
Mayor Davies
Traveller
(1997)
Farmer
Money Talks
(1997)
Reverend
Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest
(1997)
Jarvis Bean
The Night Caller
(1998)
Hank
Psycho
(1998)
Mr. Lowery
Evasive Action
(1998)
Train Engineer
Chairman of the Board
(1998)
Rev. Hatley
Small Soldiers
(1998)
Husband
Land of the Free
(1998)
Hotel Manager
Abilene
(1999)
Arliss
Happy, Texas
(1999)
Ely
Malevolence
(1999)
Dr. Burns
Big Wind on Campus
(2000)
Grandpa Morton
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
(2000)
Elderly Timekeeper
Love & Sex
(2000)
Earl
A Crack in the Floor
(2001)
Floyd Fryed
A Beautiful Mind
(2001)
White-Haired Patient
Rat Race
(2001)
Feed the Earth Spokesman
Joe Dirt
(2001)
Bomb Squad Cop
Ping!
(2001)
Old Man
D-Tox
(2002)
Geezer
Jumping For Joy
(2002)
The Long Ride Home
(2003)
Old Man
The Missing
(2003)
Telegraph Operator
Legend of the Phantom Rider
(2003)
Doc Fisher
Toolbox Murders
(2004)
Chas Rooker
Ghost Rock
(2004)
Cash
Death and Texas
(2004)
Circuit Court Judge
The Alamo
(2004)
Governor Smith
Cinderella Man
(2005)
Announcer Al Fazin
Miracle at Sage Creek
(2005)
Doctor Babcock
Back By Midnight
(2005)
Priest
Sasquatch Mountain
(2006)
Harris Zeff
Harrison Bergeron
(2006)
Narrator
Be My Baby
(2007)
Zippy
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
(2007)
Preacher
Georgia Rule
(2007)
Dog Bite Man
Audie & the Wolf
(2008)
Dr. Maleosis
Frost/Nixon
(2008)
Ollie
Grizzly Park
(2008)
Ranger Howard
Ghost Town: The Movie
(2008)
Sheriff Tom Parker
Drillbit Taylor
(2008)
Older Man
Keith
(2008)
Old Man (uncredited)
Angels & Demons
(2009)
Cardinal Beck
Boppin' at the Glue Factory
(2009)
Walker Bill
Play the Game
(2009)
Mervin Lavine
Within
(2009)
Deli Owner
The Child Wanderers
(2010)
Old Knut
The Genesis Code
(2010)
Dr. Tolley
Once Fallen
(2010)
Harry
The Trial
(2010)
Judge Danielson
Jonah Hex
(2010)
Telegrapher
Valentine's Day
(2010)
Bistro Gardens Diner
InSight
(2011)
Cemetery Presider
Harley's Hill
(2011)
Charlie
Rosewood Lane
(2011)
Fred Crumb
Night Club
(2011)
Chuck
The Dilemma
(2011)
Burt
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2
(2011)
Preacher
Redemption: For Robbing the Dead
(2011)
Doctor
Spooky Buddies
(2011)
Mr. Johnson
Let Go
(2011)
Dimples
Nebraska
(2013)
Uncle Ray
Gone Dark
(2013)
Charles
Huff
(2013)
Scotty
The Lone Ranger
(2013)
Engineer
Second Chances
(2013)
Wilbur
Solemates
(2015)
Older Man
Kalebegiak
(2016)
José Mari
Talk Radio
(2016)
Lou
40 Nights
(2016)
Devil as an Old Man
Broken Memories
(2017)
Jasper
Chasing the Star
(2017)
Devil as an Old Man
The Christ Slayer
(2019)
Devil as Old Man
Apple Seed
(2019)
Carl
Dads
(2019)
Self
Writing
Production