Rance Howard, the father of Ron and Clint Howard, has passed away at the age of 89. The news was broken by Ron Howard in a touching Twitter post about his father, a longtime actor and collaborator with his sons in Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Cocoon, and several other films. He’s also appeared in countless other television and film roles, memorably appearing on Seinfeld as an angry farmer who chases Newman away from his daughter with a shotgun and on classic sci-fi series Babylon 5.
Clint & I have been blessed to be Rance Howard’s sons. Today he passed at 89. He stood especially tall 4 his ability to balance ambition w/great personal integrity. A depression-era farm boy, his passion for acting changed the course of our family history. We love & miss U Dad.
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) November 25, 2017
Howard’s words, while brief, sparked an outpouring of sympathy and tributes to the director’s father from a number of notable actors and directors who shared the screen with him. This includes Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski and director Joe Dante.
My dad loved his #Babylon5 appearances. Many thanks https://t.co/i9BqwzZsep
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) November 26, 2017
He loved working for the Joe. You were one of his favorite directors. Many thanks https://t.co/mQa9du909g
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) November 26, 2017
Bryce Dallas Howard followed her father’s example and shared a poem that her grandfather could “recite from the heart,” giving some of the family’s possible perspective on their loss:
My grandfather, the patriarch of our family’s favorite poem, he could recite it from heart. I think I’ll do the same now. pic.twitter.com/48oxLsKXte
— Bryce Dallas Howard (@BryceDHoward) November 26, 2017
Numerous other actors and creators in Hollywood were quick to share their own reflections on Rance’s career and their interactions with him, including former Howard collaborator Russell Crowe and actress Adrienne Barbeau:
https://twitter.com/abarbeau/status/934574290548047873
https://twitter.com/WEarlBrown/status/934552399884140544
Sad news – one of the true gentlemen in this business Rance Howard has passed away. Ron and Clint Howard’s Dad – Scott and I got to know him as Old Man McCoy in “Ed Wood” and from eating lunch daily at the Tallyrand Restaurant in Burbank. A real sweetheart. R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/Iduso4hhOB
— Larry Karaszewski (@Karaszewski) November 26, 2017
I was fortunate to play your father's son in a film. What a gentle & kind soul. He was a prince. My condolences
— donal logue (@donallogue) November 25, 2017
Hey @RealRonHoward my deepest condolences . He was a fine man indeed was Rance Howard . Fine man , fine actor .
Being in his company was always a pleasure. https://t.co/yYYZgeViBq— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) November 25, 2017
Actor #RanceHoward passed away today. With an impressive 274 credits to his name, I’ll still always remember him as the detective in one of my all-time favorites #Cocoon. I was lucky & honored to be part of a Disney project with Mr. Howard a few years back. May He rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/L5IDpa4m4N
— Jon Donahue (@JonDonahue) November 26, 2017
You’ve certainly seen Rance Howard in numerous roles over the years and he definitely fits the bill as a “that guy” sort of actor. But as his family and friends show with their sympathetic messages, he was much more than just a bit player in films.
