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
The 'Burbs
(1989)
Detective #2
Independence Day
(1996)
Chaplain
A Beautiful Mind
(2001)
White-Haired Patient
Ed Wood
(1994)
Old Man McCoy (uncredited)
Angels & Demons
(2009)
Cardinal Beck
Mars Attacks!
(1996)
Texan Investor
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
(2000)
Elderly Timekeeper
Apollo 13
(1995)
Reverend
Universal Soldier
(1992)
John Devreux
The Lone Ranger
(2013)
Engineer
Cinderella Man
(2005)
Announcer Al Fazin
Small Soldiers
(1998)
Husband
Rat Race
(2001)
Feed the Earth Spokesman
Drillbit Taylor
(2008)
Older Man
Innerspace
(1987)
Supermarket Customer
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
Gentle Giant
(1967)
Tater Coughlin
Cool Hand Luke
(1967)
Sheriff
The Wild Country
(1970)
Cleve
Bloody Trail
(1972)
Jake
The Red Pony
(1973)
Sheriff Bill Smith
Chinatown
(1974)
Irate Farmer
Locusts
(1974)
Aaron
Where the Lilies Bloom
(1974)
Roy Luther
Huckleberry Finn
(1975)
Pap Finn
Eat My Dust
(1976)
Clark
The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe
(1976)
The Legend of Frank Woods
(1977)
Howard Blacker
Another Man, Another Chance
(1977)
Wagonmaster
Grand Theft Auto
(1977)
Ned Slinker
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 Kid with the Broken Halo
(1982)
Coach Ramsdell
The Executioner's Song
(1982)
Lt. Nelson
Airplane II: The Sequel
(1982)
Person #1 (uncredited)
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 Lonely Guy
(1984)
Minister
Splash
(1984)
McCullough
The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins
(1984)
Policeman
Creator
(1985)
Mr. Spencer
Cocoon
(1985)
St. Petersburg Dectective
Scandal Sheet
(1985)
Mr. Bell
Playing with Fire
(1985)
Fireman Goodwin
Return to Mayberry
(1986)
Preacher
A Smoky Mountain Christmas
(1986)
Dr. Jennings
Two Soldiers
(1986)
Paw
Gung Ho
(1986)
Mayor Conrad Zwart
Innerspace
(1987)
Supermarket Customer
Dark Before Dawn
(1988)
Logan
B.O.R.N.
(1989)
Robert Morrison
Limit Up
(1989)
Chuck Feeney
Parenthood
(1989)
Dean at College
Trust Me
(1989)
Vern
Listen to Me
(1989)
The 'Burbs
(1989)
Detective #2
Switched at Birth
(1991)
Frank Hill
9 1/2 Ninjas!
(1991)
Ninja Negotiator
Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter
(1991)
Bernie
Universal Soldier
(1992)
John Devreux
I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore
(1992)
Elderly Man
Boris and Natasha
(1992)
Polygraph Man
Far and Away
(1992)
Tomlin
Ticks
(1993)
Sheriff Parker
Ed and His Dead Mother
(1993)
Rev. Praxton
Snapdragon
(1993)
Priest
Fearless
(1993)
Bald Cabby
Terminal Velocity
(1994)
Stunt Pilot/Chuck
Runaway Daughters
(1994)
Minute Man 3
Little Giants
(1994)
Father Kelly
Ed Wood
(1994)
Old Man McCoy (uncredited)
Forced to Kill
(1994)
Rance
Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter
(1994)
Todd
The Paper
(1994)
Alicia's Doctor
Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest
(1995)
Employer
Problem Child 3
(1995)
The Janitor
The Colony
(1995)
Stan Benson
Killing Cupid
(1995)
Zeke
Apollo 13
(1995)
Reverend
Mars Attacks!
(1996)
Texan Investor
Tiger Heart
(1996)
Mr. Johnson
Where Truth Lies
(1996)
Judge Bloom
Sgt. Bilko
(1996)
Mr. Robbins
Ghosts of Mississippi
(1996)
Ralph Hargrove
Independence Day
(1996)
Chaplain
The Second Civil War
(1997)
Arnold Tooney, jr.
Holiday in Your Heart
(1997)
Blind Man
Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest
(1997)
Jarvis Bean
Money Talks
(1997)
Reverend
Traveller
(1997)
Farmer
Busted
(1997)
Mayor Davies
The Night Caller
(1998)
Hank
Small Soldiers
(1998)
Husband
Chairman of the Board
(1998)
Rev. Hatley
Land of the Free
(1998)
Hotel Manager
Evasive Action
(1998)
Train Engineer
Psycho
(1998)
Mr. Lowery
Happy, Texas
(1999)
Ely
Malevolence
(1999)
Dr. Burns
Abilene
(1999)
Arliss
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
(2000)
Elderly Timekeeper
Big Wind on Campus
(2000)
Grandpa Morton
Love & Sex
(2000)
Earl
A Beautiful Mind
(2001)
White-Haired Patient
A Crack in the Floor
(2001)
Floyd Fryed
Rat Race
(2001)
Feed the Earth Spokesman
Ping!
(2001)
Old Man
Joe Dirt
(2001)
Bomb Squad Cop
D-Tox
(2002)
Geezer
Jumping For Joy
(2002)
Legend of the Phantom Rider
(2003)
Doc Fisher
The Missing
(2003)
Telegraph Operator
The Long Ride Home
(2003)
Old Man
The Alamo
(2004)
Governor Smith
Death and Texas
(2004)
Circuit Court Judge
Ghost Rock
(2004)
Cash
Toolbox Murders
(2004)
Chas Rooker
Cinderella Man
(2005)
Announcer Al Fazin
Back By Midnight
(2005)
Priest
Miracle at Sage Creek
(2005)
Doctor Babcock
Sasquatch Mountain
(2006)
Harris Zeff
Harrison Bergeron
(2006)
Narrator
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
(2007)
Preacher
Be My Baby
(2007)
Zippy
Georgia Rule
(2007)
Dog Bite Man
Ghost Town: The Movie
(2008)
Sheriff Tom Parker
Drillbit Taylor
(2008)
Older Man
Grizzly Park
(2008)
Ranger Howard
Frost/Nixon
(2008)
Ollie
Audie & the Wolf
(2008)
Dr. Maleosis
Keith
(2008)
Old Man (uncredited)
Play the Game
(2009)
Mervin Lavine
Boppin' at the Glue Factory
(2009)
Walker Bill
Angels & Demons
(2009)
Cardinal Beck
Within
(2009)
Deli Owner
The Trial
(2010)
Judge Danielson
The Genesis Code
(2010)
Dr. Tolley
Once Fallen
(2010)
Harry
The Child Wanderers
(2010)
Old Knut
Valentine's Day
(2010)
Bistro Gardens Diner
Jonah Hex
(2010)
Telegrapher
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2
(2011)
Preacher
Redemption: For Robbing the Dead
(2011)
Doctor
The Dilemma
(2011)
Burt
Night Club
(2011)
Chuck
Rosewood Lane
(2011)
Fred Crumb
InSight
(2011)
Cemetery Presider
Harley's Hill
(2011)
Charlie
Let Go
(2011)
Dimples
Spooky Buddies
(2011)
Mr. Johnson
Second Chances
(2013)
Wilbur
The Lone Ranger
(2013)
Engineer
Huff
(2013)
Scotty
Nebraska
(2013)
Uncle Ray
Gone Dark
(2013)
Charles
Solemates
(2015)
Older Man
40 Nights
(2016)
Devil as an Old Man
Talk Radio
(2016)
Lou
Kalebegiak
(2016)
José Mari
Chasing the Star
(2017)
Devil as an Old Man
Broken Memories
(2017)
Jasper
The Christ Slayer
(2019)
Devil as Old Man
Apple Seed
(2019)
Carl
Dads
(2019)
Self
Writing
Production