Ron Howard calls wife ‘good luck charm,’ shares secret to 49-year marriage

Ron Howard has been a familiar name for almost his entire 70-year life, maintaining a non-stop career in film and television since he was a toddler.

Beyond his remarkable career, the award-winning star has also demonstrated impressive longevity in his personal life, being married to his wife Cheryl for nearly half a century.

Keep reading to discover more about Howard, his decades-long career, and his enduring marriage!

Born on March 1, 1954, in Duncan, Oklahoma, Ronald Howard was destined for Hollywood greatness.

At just 18 months old, Howard made his film debut in “Frontier Woman,” and by the age of two, he had already performed on stage in “The Seven Year Itch.”

His journey to stardom began with his role as the freckle-faced redhead on “The Andy Griffith Show” from 1960 to 1968.

During his time playing Opie, the son of Griffith’s character, Howard had the unwavering support of his parents, both of whom were in the entertainment industry.

Recalling a conversation with his parents, Howard said, “Remember how we always said, ‘You can do it if you want, but you don’t have to?’ Well, if you start this, you can’t quit. You don’t have to do other parts on other shows if you don’t want, but you’d have to keep doing this one.”

Howard understood his parents’ message and embraced his talent, which he clearly enjoyed and excelled at.

Howard’s ‘Happy Days’ While starring in “The Andy Griffith Show,” Howard also appeared in the successful 1962 musical film “The Music Man.”

His natural talent continued to shine in 1973’s “American Graffiti,” which featured Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfuss, and Cindy Williams.

In 1974, Howard was cast as Richie Cunningham in Garry Marshall’s “Happy Days,” which aired from 1974 to 1984, becoming a worldwide hit.

The show inspired popular spin-offs like “Laverne & Shirley” and “Mork & Mindy,” featuring Robin Williams as Mork, the beloved Orkan.

High school sweetheart Before his Golden Globe-winning performance in “Happy Days,” Howard met his high school sweetheart, Cheryl Alley, in 1970. They married in 1975.

“I met her, and there was never anybody else,” Howard told People. “She’s unbelievably supportive and always has been. Our compatibility has endured through all kinds of experiences.”

Celebrating 50 years together, Howard, who won an Oscar for directing “A Beautiful Mind,” marked the anniversary of their first date on Instagram.

“Nov 1 1970 Cheryl & I went on our 1st date,” he wrote, sharing a photo of himself wearing socks featuring Cheryl’s face. “We went to see a re-release of Stanley Kramer’s ‘It’s a Mad Mad Mad World’ and then got some pizza at the now-defunct Barnone’s in Toluca Lake. Quite a start, right?”

He added that they planned to drive in the same ‘70 VW Bug he picked Cheryl up in 50 years ago, which still runs great, just like their relationship.

His ‘good luck charm’ Cheryl has made several cameos in Howard’s projects, even appearing as herself on “Arrested Development,” a series produced and narrated by Howard.

Speaking with the Television Academy, Howard called Cheryl his “good luck charm,” ensuring she appears in every film he makes.

“At a certain point, I became very superstitious about making sure that she appears, that she’s at least identifiable in one frame,” he explained. “They don’t have to be big cameos, but she’s gotta be in there.”

Cheryl, a published author with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in screenwriting, has been a source of luck and support for Howard.

The couple are grandparents to six children and parents to four: daughter Bryce, twins Paige and Jocelyn, and son Reed.

Bryce, a recognizable actor, is known for roles in movies like “Jurassic World” and “The Help.” Paige made her feature film debut in 2009’s “Adventureland” and has since appeared in “The Employer” and “Collection.” Reed is a professional golfer, while Jocelyn, Paige’s twin, remains very private.

The secret to longevity Approaching their 49th anniversary on June 7, the Emmy Award-winning producer shared that “communication” is the secret to their enduring love.

“People say, ‘How’d you do it?’ There’s no technique,” Howard told People. “There’s no tactic, other than communication is really important. You have to learn to communicate and have difficult conversations in constructive ways. Beyond that, there’s an element of luck because people either grow together or they don’t, and I don’t think you can force that.”