Besides "The Andy Griffith Show",theTV-reunion of the series in 1986 on NBC "Return to Mayberry"(with an older Ron Howard as Opie who was married,and his TV-wife in the film was expecting),and the 1973 Universal movie "American Graffiti",does anyone remember the other TV shows he did(when he was known as Ronny Howard),like "The Big Valley","The Twilight Zone"(he played the Wilcox boy in Rod Serling's sentimental "Walking Distance"(with the soft Bernard Herrmann theme and equally soft Bernard Herrman closing),"The FBI","Dennis the Menace",and others,he 1962 film "The Music Man"(he SANG "Gary,Indiana"in that movie),the 1961 movie "Door-to Door Maniac"(with the late Johnny Cash),1980's NBC-TV movie "Act of Love"(he was Ron then,and was leaving "Happy Days" at that time),the 1976 movie which was the late John Wayne's last,"The Shootist",and his hosting "Saturday Night Live"(the cast of SNL at the time referred to him as "Opie Cunningham?"

And,I forgot:He was also on ABC's short-lived show with the late Henry Fonda called "The Smith Family",(1971-1972),as his son,and the episodes of "M*A*S*H"(in the Col.Blake years) and "The Waltons".This was BEFORE "American Graffiti" and "Happy Days".Anyone remember these?

he was also in a disney movie called smoke

He was in the movie "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" that the Bill Bixby/Brandon Cruz TV series was based on.

I think Ron did an AWESOME job in the 1981 TV movie Bitter Harvest, which I believe is one of the first projects he worked on after leaving Happy Days. Here's the story:

http://generationxmovies.blogspot.com/2009/09/bitter-harvest.html

I also liked him in the 1977 comedy/adventure flick, Grand Theft Auto. His love interest was played by Nancy Morgan (aka the first Mrs. John Ritter), and other cast members included Paul Linke (Grossman on CHiPS) and Mrs. C herself, Marion Ross. This was actually RH's first movie as a director, and he had a hand in writing the screenplay as well. He also participates in the commentary track on the 25th anniversary edition DVD.

http://thefilmnest.com/2009/05/first-features-ron-howard-grand-theft-auto/

he was also in a 1976 car chase flick called eat my dust i remember going to the drive in with my family to see that one

And,I forgot:He was also on ABC's short-lived show with the late Henry Fonda called "The Smith Family",(1971-1972),as his son,and the episodes of "M*A*S*H"(in the Col.Blake years) and "The Waltons".This was BEFORE "American Graffiti" and "Happy Days".Anyone remember these?
I remember that episode of M*A*S*H where Ron played a 16 year old who used his brothers ID to enlist in the Army so he could win a medal and impress his ex girlfriend and hopefully win her back. I also remember his episode of The Waltons where he played Jason's friend who was diagnosed with luekemia and eventually passed away.

I think Ron did an AWESOME job in the 1981 TV movie Bitter Harvest, which I believe is one of the first projects he worked on after leaving Happy Days. Here's the story:

http://generationxmovies.blogspot.com/2009/09/bitter-harvest.html

I also liked him in the 1977 comedy/adventure flick, Grand Theft Auto. His love interest was played by Nancy Morgan (aka the first Mrs. John Ritter), and other cast members included Paul Linke (Grossman on CHiPS) and Mrs. C herself, Marion Ross. This was actually RH's first movie as a director, and he had a hand in writing the screenplay as well. He also participates in the commentary track on the 25th anniversary edition DVD.

http://thefilmnest.com/2009/05/first-features-ron-howard-grand-theft-auto/
Great info I'll have to rent these they should be a hoot.

Great info I'll have to rent these they should be a hoot.
I'm not sure if Bitter Harvest is available. I saw it on TV the first time and bought it on ioffer. Then again, you may want to check your library, Amazon, etc. Bitter Harvest is a very sad and serious movie - and may be even more relevant today than it was back in 1981.

On the other hand, Grand Theft Auto is just a fun car chase movie - great for a lazy weekend afternoon. The commentary track is just as fun. :cool:

I'll look it up on my Netflix, thanks.

I'll look it up on my Netflix, thanks.
No problemo!! :cool:

he was also in a 1976 car chase flick called eat my dust i remember going to the drive in with my family to see that one
"GRAND THEFT AUTO" was a sequel to that.

"GRAND THEFT AUTO" was a sequel to that.
Wow, I didn't know that (but then again, I never saw Eat My Dust. :lol:).

I also liked him in the 1977 comedy/adventure flick, Grand Theft Auto. His love interest was played by Nancy Morgan (aka the first Mrs. John Ritter), and other cast members included Paul Linke (Grossman on CHiPS) and Mrs. C herself, Marion Ross. This was actually RH's first movie as a director, and he had a hand in writing the screenplay as well. He also participates in the commentary track on the 25th anniversary edition DVD.

Another piece of trivia is that the Grand Theft Auto film is the reason why they can't make a movie based off of the Grand Theft Auto video game series.


Trademark issues with the name prevents the release of a Grand Theft Auto movie. It also prevents FOX from releasing a video game of their own based off of the old movie; but that scenario seems unlikely anyway.


They could get around it by calling it 'GTA' but there hasn't been talk of a movie for a while.

^ I never knew that, either. Boy, you really do learn something new every day!! :cool:

^ I never knew that, either. Boy, you really do learn something new every day!! :cool:
Hey speaking of Ron HOward's movie roles, does anybody remember the science fiction movie from 1965 where he played a genise which created a sirum which made everything grow bigger. I remember watching that movie when AMC used to show those saturday night flicks, from the 60's any way, that movie was kind of funny where litttle Ron to was like the mini nutty professor, but the chicks in the film especially as giants where hot, but i liked the fighting and ron little dog who helped him, he also played in a couple of john waynes movies gun smoke the big valley and danial boone

And in 1979,Ron Howard and Cindy Williams reprised their roles in the sequel to "American Graffitti",called "More American Graffitti".Anyone remember this little-known sequel?

I do, I never saw it but I remember hearing when it came out that it wasn't very good.

And in 1979,Ron Howard and Cindy Williams reprised their roles in the sequel to "American Graffitti",called "More American Graffitti".Anyone remember this little-known sequel?
I saw it once. That was enough.

That is yet another movie that NEVER should've spawned a sequel. It wasn't necessary. Richard Dreyfuss wisely passed on it.