Ron Howard, the acclaimed director behind movies like "A Beautiful Mind" and "Apollo 13,"
is known for his ability to capture powerful performances on screen. But how did he react
when the performer was his own daughter, and the role required her to bare it all?
While the performance in question didn't appear in a feature film,
Howard was shocked when he learned that his daughter,
Bryce Dallas Howard, was going to perform nude in an experimental play back in her college days.
Join us as we discuss how Ron reacted to Bryce's 'au natural' onstage appearance
and what he had to say about it in retrospect. We'll also be taking some
time to talk about Ron Howard's family life, marriage with his wife Cheryl,
and even one of his biggest regrets in life. So, be sure to stick around to witness a
side of this esteemed Hollywood director that you likely have never seen before.
FactsVerse Presents: Ron Howard Reacts to Watching His Daughter Perform Nude
A 'Complete Assault' On His Psyche
In a recent interview with Graham Bensinger on his show, In Depth, celebrated filmmaker Ron
Howard shared a humorous yet slightly traumatic experience he had while watching his daughter
Bryce Dallas Howard perform in what he referred to as a "bold" experimental college play.
Ron recalled sitting next to his father, not knowing that the entire cast would
be fully nude for most of the show. Within minutes, Ron's psyche was as
he jokingly put it "completely assaulted" by the audacious and daring performance.
Despite this, Ron's father saw the experience as a testament to
Bryce's bravery and artistic talent. Ron himself was proud of Bryce's abilities,
but also fearful of the challenges she may face as a woman in the ever-challenging world of acting.
Although Ron and his wife Cheryl had a rule against their children starting
acting until they were 18, Ron recognized Bryce's talent at a young age and knew she
had what it takes to succeed in the industry. Ron told Bensinger that he
first saw this spark within in her when she would stand in on sets at 13 years of age.
Bryce Dallas Howard has since become a well-known figure in Hollywood with
prominent roles in movies such as The Village, The Help, Rocketman, and the Jurassic World
franchise. In addition to acting, she has also taken on the role of director, having completed
the documentary Dads and currently working on the highly-anticipated Flight of the Navigator remake.
After enrolling in an undergraduate program at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts
in 1999, Bryce temporarily left her studies to pursue her passion for acting. She eventually
graduated from the same program in 2020, although she made a conscious decision to keep her famous
last name a secret during her studies so as not to be overshadowed by her father's success.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Bryce expressed her desire to
forge her own path in the industry and be recognized for her own talent and hard work.
The 'Classroom Surprise' That Prompted A Move
Growing up in Los Angeles with a famous father can be challenging,
and for Bryce Dallas Howard and her family, it proved to be a complicated experience. During
that same interview with "In Depth with Graham Bensinger," the "Jurassic World" actress shared
an incident from her preschool days that led to her parents' decision to move out of the city.
According to Bryce, someone gave her a script to take home to her dad,
thinking he might be interested in making the movie. However, it didn't have the desired effect,
and her parents realized that they didn't want to raise their children
in an environment that was too focused on the entertainment industry. They wanted their kids to
have a broader perspective on life and not simply always be forced to live in Hollywood-mode 24/7.
Ron Howard, who was also part of the interview,
said that Los Angeles can be emotionally constricting and reductive, and that his
wife didn't want their children subjected to the city's culture on a regular basis.
At one point in the interview, Ron recalled how he and his wife were hearing stories
about kindergartners taunting each other while saying things like "My dad's hotter than your
dad!". The last thing they wanted was to raise their children in this sort of environment,
as in their eyes, it didn't really reflect the real world. Because of this,
the Howards eventually moved their family to Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1985.
Bryce recalls that her parents were protective and didn't expose her to premieres or other
high-profile events. Instead, they focused on creating a childhood that wasn't solely defined
by their privilege. Bryce's memories of her early childhood are limited, but she does fondly
remember the farm they had on the East Coast, where she was surrounded by nature and pets.
Bryce's mother was strict but for a good reason; she and her husband believed that their children
should learn to take care of themselves once they turned 18. The Howard's didn't want them
to merely rely on their parents' money and were determined to make their own way in the world.
Later in the interview with Bensinger, Ron Howard expressed pride and contentment in his children,
with no trace of regret. He attributed their positive traits to his wife's influence,
which instilled in them a profound comprehension of genuine value.
According to him, his kids possess exceptional qualities such as creativity,
integrity, and resourcefulness, which makes him incredibly proud.
High School Sweethearts
Ron Howard's successful career in the entertainment industry has been supported
by his wife Cheryl Howard. In their high school days at John Burroughs High School
in Burbank, California, Ron and Cheryl first met and started their love story.
In November 2020, Ron celebrated the 50th
anniversary of their first date by sharing a throwback photo of
himself wearing socks emblazoned with Cheryl's face on them on Instagram.
"On November 1, 1970, Cheryl and I went on our first date," he wrote. "We watched a re-release
of Stanley Kramer's 'It's a Mad Mad Mad World' and then got some pizza at Barnone's in Toluca Lake"
In 1975, Ron and Cheryl tied the knot in Burbank, California,
surrounded by loved ones, including famous co-stars like Andy Griffith and Tom Bosley.
When reflecting on their lasting union, Ron attributed their success to the importance of
communication. He emphasized the value of having constructive conversations and learning how to
effectively communicate with each other. Ron also acknowledged that some luck is involved,
as couples either grow together or they don't, and it can't always be forced.
While Ron Howard is a well-known and respected filmmaker who got his
start in Hollywood at the age of 5 when he joined the cast of the Andy Griffith Show,
his wife too has carved out quite a name for herself in the entertainment industry as well.
Cheryl Howard is an actress and writer who has appeared in several movies directed by
her husband, such as The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and Hillbilly Elegy. She
also played herself in an episode of Arrested Development in 2018. A few of her other notable
acting credits include Willow, Night Shift, The Paper, Ransom, and A Beautiful Mind.
In 2005, she published her own novel, In The Face of Jinn,
inspired by stories she heard as a child and her travels to the Middle East. She
has a B.A. degree in Psychology and a Masters of Fine Arts degree in screenwriting and has
also written several articles for magazines such as Vanity Fair and Harper's Bazaar.
Ron's Biggest Regret
Ron Howard's mother was Jean Speegle Howard who was an actress in movies and television.
While she was a very talented actress and really could have gone far with her career,
Jean always put her family first - at all costs. Because of this,
she gave up acting while she was raising Ron and his siblings.
According to Clint Howard, Ron's Brother,
their mother started smoking cigarettes when she was 15. Throughout her life,
she neglected to treat herself very well and eventually the effects of poor living and
heavy long-term cigarette smoking began to take a serious toll on her body. By the time she was
middle-aged, she was experiencing severe health problems that really slowed her down. Sadly,
Jean died on September 2, 2000, in Burbank, California of heart and respiratory illness.
When Howard sat down for that interview with Graham Bensinger, he discussed what he believes
is his biggest regret in life, not treating his mother very well and misunderstanding her.
As a teenager, not realizing what sort of sacrifices she had made for him, Ron
recalls teasing her and being very dismissive of her. While Ron's father had what he called
'incredible self-discipline', he recognized that his mom wasn't taking very good care of
her health. Instead of being understanding of her, Ron says that he disrespected her. It wasn't until
later when he started to have kids of his own, that he began to see her suffer from even more
serious illness. It was then that he began to realize just how much of a "warrior" she was.
After having conversations with his father, Ron understand just how profoundly his mother
had affected the course of both of their lives and just how much of her heart and
soul she poured into her family. He also said that he wished he had
been more patient with her and that he had taken more time to appreciate her efforts.
To sum up his regrets, Ron told Bensinger that he 'misunderstood' his mother and "underestimated
her". While he eventually was able to articulate his gratitude for all that she had done,
it was a case of too little too late, as before he knew it, she was gone.
With that, we're going to go ahead and wrap things up, but before you go, we'd love to hear from you.
Did you know that Ron Howard once sat through a play in which his daughter Bryce Dallas Howard
performed fully nude and that when he was growing up his mother sacrificed her own acting career
to ensure that her kids had the best chance of finding success in the entertainment industry? Let
us know in the comments. And as always thanks for watching!