“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’,” said Howard, recalling a conversation he had with his parents decades before. “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.”
Explaining that he understood the message his parents were delivering, Howard adds, “I think it was pretty clear at that point that I was enjoying it, and I was good at it.”
Actually, he was great at it, and he was about to reach a level of stratospheric stardom.
Howard’s ‘Happy Days’
While starring in The Andy Griffith Show, Howard also appeared on the big screen in 1962’s The Music Man, a musical film that was a huge commercial success.
A natural talent, he then starred in 1973’s American Graffiti, which also starred Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfuss and Cindy Williams, whom he would work alongside in the future.
It was in 1974 when he was cast as Richie Cunningham in a new series created by Garry Marshall called Happy Days, which appeared on TV screens in homes across the world from 1974 to 1984.
The TV show spawned a few popular spin-offs like Laverne & Shirley, starring Williams and Marshall’s sister Penny, and Mork & Mindy with Robin Williams as Mork, the favorite Orkan.
High school sweetheart
It was in 1970 – before he won a Golden Globe for his performance as the innocent teenager on Happy Days – that Howard met the high school sweetheart, Cheryl Alley, whom he would marry in 1975.
“I met her, and there was never anybody else,” Speaking with People, the director of the Da Vinci Code continued, “She’s unbelievably supportive and always has been. Our compatibility has endured through all kinds of experiences.”
After 50 years of shared experiences, Howard, who earned an Oscar for directing A Beautiful Mind, commemorated the 50th anniversary of his first date with Cheryl on Instagram.
“Nov 1 1970 Cheryl & I went on our 1st date,” he wrote alongside a photo of himself wearing socks with images of 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 now defunct Barnone’s in Toluca Lake. Quite a start, right?”
He also shared their plans that day, “We’ll be driving in the same ‘70 VW Bug I picked Cheryl up in 5 decades ago. It runs great. So do we.”
His ‘good luck charm’
Cheryl made several cameos in Howard’s projects and even played herself on the TV comedy series Arrested Development, produced and narrated by Howard.
Speaking with the Television Academy, Ron called Cheryl his “good luck charm,” and explained that is why 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 said. “They don’t have to be big cameos, but she’s gotta be in there.”
In addition to bringing her husband some luck, Cheryl is also a published author who holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in screenwriting.
The power couple are grandparents to six children and the parents of 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, while Paige made her feature film debut in the 2009 movie Adventureland. Since she’s appeared in films The Employer and Collection.
Reed is a professional golfer and Paige’s twin sister Jocelyn is very private.
The secret to longevity
Nearing their 49th anniversary on June 7, the Emmy Award-winning producer shares that “communication” is the secret to their enduring love.
“People say, ‘How’d you do it?’ There’s no technique,” Howard tells 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.”
Vince Gill – Ain’t It Always That Way
“Ain’t It Always That Way” by Vince Gill is one of those songs that, rather than coming at you with a great boom, enters your heart slowly and stays there long after the last note dies. If you’ve ever thought back on the little ironies in life or the bittersweet quality of love, this song will seem like an old friend who really knows it.
Vince Gill’s gentle, honeyed voice carries us through the well-known highs and lows of life and love. This song is dedicated to all those who have had to confront the bittersweet reality that hopes and plans don’t always turn out the way they had hoped. But isn’t that simply the way life is?
With a genuine and moving performance, Gill expertly captures the complex facets of life’s unpredictable nature. The song seems to be a meditation on those moments when you realize that, believe it or not, the cosmos sometimes arranges things in a humorous way. This song finds its voice during those melancholy, dejected moments when you can’t help but laugh at how ridiculous everything is.
A simple yet heartfelt melody surrounds the lyrics, making it feel warm and inviting on a cold night. Because of the acoustic arrangement and Gill’s sympathetic performance, which seems like he’s speaking to you, the song feels more private and intimate.
What makes “Ain’t It Always That Way” unique is how relatable it is. Everyone has gone through moments in life when something we took for granted slips through their fingers and surprises us. But there’s a certain beauty to that unpredictable quality—a reminder that life is a journey with lots of twists and turns, and that’s okay. Rather than dwell in sorrow, the song subtly suggests the tenacity we all possess, even in the face of misfortune.
In the end, this song is a reminder that, in spite of all of its imperfections and surprises, each minute of life is precious. “Isn’t It Always That Way” offers comfort on the journey, regardless of whether you’re reflecting on missed opportunities, heartbroken relationships, or life’s inequalities.
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