Rance Howard dies aged 89

  • 26/11/2017
Rance Howard (left) with his son Ron Howard (right).
Rance Howard (left) with his son Ron Howard (right). Photo credit: Getty

Actor Rance Howard, father of actor and director Ron Howard, has passed away, age 89. 

The actor, whose career spanned more than 60 years, died on Saturday (local time) according to a tweet from Ron Howard on behalf of him and his brother, Clint. 

"Clint & I have been blessed to be Rance Howard's sons. Today he passed at 89," Ron wrote. "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."

Rance appeared in several of his son's films, like Splash, Cocoon, Parenthood and Apollo 13. He also worked with his son in TV, on the sitcom Happy Days, as well as in other shows like Seinfeld, Diagnosis Murder, Dallas, Murder, She Wrote, Married with Children and Babylon 5.

Rance last appeared in Broken Memories, a movie about a son struggling with his father's Alzheimer's. Although Rance was unable to attend the film's premiere earlier this month, Ron and his daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard, attended in his place, EW reports. 

Newshub.