Rance Howard, actor dad of director Ron Howard, dies at 89

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Veteran Hollywood actor Rance Howard, the father of director Ron Howard, died Saturday. He was 89.

Ron Howard announced his father’s death on Twitter Saturday afternoon. He praised his father for the ability to balance ambition with great personal integrity.

“A depression-era farm boy, his passion for acting changed the course of our family history,” he wrote. “We love & miss U Dad.”

Rance Howard’s death also was confirmed by Michael Rosenberg, a spokesman for his son’s production company.

The elder Howard was the father of actor Clint Howard and grandfather of actresses Bryce Dallas Howard and Paige Howard.

Rance Howard had been married to the late Jean Speegle Howard. They met as teenagers doing a touring children’s production in Oklahoma of classic fairy tales like “Snow White” and “Cinderella.” They married on the tour dressed in their costumes, with the bride dressed as Snow White and groom as a huntsman.

The elder Howard’s acting career spanned several decades since the 1950s. He appeared in several of Ron Howard’s films, including “Apollo 13,” ”A Beautiful Mind,” ”Splash,” ”How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” ”Parenthood” and “Grand Theft Auto.”

Other film credits include “Chinatown” and the 2013 drama “Nebraska.” On television, he appeared on many series including “Seinfeld,” ”Murder, She Wrote,” ”NCIS: Los Angeles,” ”Grey’s Anatomy” and Ron Howard’s starring series, “Happy Days.”

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FILE – In this Nov. 15, 2011 file photo, Ron Howard, right, his daughter Bryce Dallas Howard and his father Rance Howard attend the premiere of "When You Find Me," inspired by Canon’s "Project Imagin8ion" contest, in New York. Director Ron Howard says his actor father Rance Howard has died at age 89. Howard announced his father’s passing Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, on Twitter. The elder Howard also was the father of actor Clint Howard and grandfather of actresses Bryce Dallas Howard and Paige Howard. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes, File)

http://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2017/11/web1_119282788-538ff1db04794e7985df74162740be87.jpgFILE – In this Nov. 15, 2011 file photo, Ron Howard, right, his daughter Bryce Dallas Howard and his father Rance Howard attend the premiere of "When You Find Me," inspired by Canon’s "Project Imagin8ion" contest, in New York. Director Ron Howard says his actor father Rance Howard has died at age 89. Howard announced his father’s passing Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, on Twitter. The elder Howard also was the father of actor Clint Howard and grandfather of actresses Bryce Dallas Howard and Paige Howard. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes, File)

FILE – In this Nov. 11, 2013 file photo, Rance Howard, left, a cast member in "Nebraska," and his wife Judy pose together at the 2013 AFI Fest premiere of the film at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. Director Ron Howard says his actor father Rance Howard has died at age 89. Howard announced his father’s passing Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, on Twitter. He appeared in several of Ron Howard’s films, including "Apollo 13," ”A Beautiful Mind," ”Splash," ”How the Grinch Stole Christmas," ”Parenthood" and "Grand Theft Auto," along with other film and television series credits. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

http://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2017/11/web1_119282788-e43d1222619c45509509ebfa63757027.jpgFILE – In this Nov. 11, 2013 file photo, Rance Howard, left, a cast member in "Nebraska," and his wife Judy pose together at the 2013 AFI Fest premiere of the film at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. Director Ron Howard says his actor father Rance Howard has died at age 89. Howard announced his father’s passing Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, on Twitter. He appeared in several of Ron Howard’s films, including "Apollo 13," ”A Beautiful Mind," ”Splash," ”How the Grinch Stole Christmas," ”Parenthood" and "Grand Theft Auto," along with other film and television series credits. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

In this May 23, 2005, file photo, Ron Howard, far right, director of the new film “Cinderella Man,” poses with his wife Cheryl, second from right, and his parents, actor/director Rance Howard and actress Jean Speegle Howard, at the premiere of the film in the Universal City section of Los Angeles. Director Ron Howard says his actor father Rance Howard has died at age 89. Howard announced his father’s passing Saturday on Twitter. He praised his father for his ability to balance ambition with great personal integrity.

http://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2017/11/web1_119282788-abea089d8b244fe8bb3d16f8c8114cff.jpgIn this May 23, 2005, file photo, Ron Howard, far right, director of the new film “Cinderella Man,” poses with his wife Cheryl, second from right, and his parents, actor/director Rance Howard and actress Jean Speegle Howard, at the premiere of the film in the Universal City section of Los Angeles. Director Ron Howard says his actor father Rance Howard has died at age 89. Howard announced his father’s passing Saturday on Twitter. He praised his father for his ability to balance ambition with great personal integrity. AP Photo | Chris Pizzello, File