Ron Howard and Cheryl Howard relationship: How they met, wedding, children and everything you need to know | Love Stories

Ron Howard has achieved phenomenal success in Hollywood in the decades he has been in the industry.

Having started his acting career as a child star in the 1950s, going on to land one of his most iconic roles as Richie Cunningham in beloved sitcom Happy Days, the 71-year-old has gone on to forge a path for himself as one of Hollywood’s top directors.

By his side throughout most of his life – and career – has been his beloved wife Cheryl Howard, 71, an actress and novelist.

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In 2025, they’ll celebrate 50 years of marriage – a milestone many couples could only dream of.

‘There was never anybody else’

The pair are high school sweethearts, having met as students in California, and have been together since they were 16 years old.

“I met her, and there was never anybody else,” Ron told People in 2019.

They went on their very first date in November 1970, with Ron picking Cheryl up in a mint green Volkswagen Beetle and taking her to watch a film and grab pizza.

“It runs great. So do we,” he once said about the bug, and their enduring relationship, in an Instagram post

Five years later after their first date, in June 1975, the pair cemented their love by tying the knot in Burbank, California.

Their guests included late American actor Tom Bosley, who also appeared alongside Ron on Happy Days. Ron had landed his part in the show a year prior in 1974.

Ron and Cheryl’s union saw them welcome four children – two are fraternal twins – with their brood including actors Bryce Dallas Howard, 44, and Paige Howard, 40.

Third proposal’s the charm

Despite now having one of the most rock-solid marriages in Hollywood, Cheryl was headstrong and made Ron propose three times before actually saying yes.

“They’ve been together since they were 16, and she’s just kept him so honest and real,” their daughter Bryce said during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore show last year.

Describing her mother as “a force of nature,” the Jurassic World star added, “While they had an incredible relationship in high school and everything, he proposed three times and she said no two of them.”

“Because she was like, ‘I wanna go to school first. I’m not ready to be on your train yet.'”

Cheryl, although rarely speaking out in interviews, reveals in the author bio page on her website what drew her and her husband together when they first met.

“I believe it was his passion for story that really drew us together,” she said.

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The secret to a 50-year romance

The pair not only managed to forge a successful relationship and marriage over the years, but a strong family life as well, amid their busy careers.

Their daughter Paige previously gushed about her family, calling mum Cheryl “the helm of our ship”.

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“Even just trying to put words to how much we all love you brings tears to my eyes,” she said.

“You are the stars, the sun, and the moon to us all, sweet mama. We love you infinitely and eternally.”

Ron told People last month that “communication” is one of the most important things in a marriage, and a bit of “luck” helps with it enduring over the years too.

But “growing together” is also top of his list.

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“It’s a good idea to obviously put yourself out there and be caring and loving and be considerate and all of those things, but you really have to grow together,” he candidly told the publication, saying he feels “supremely fortunate”.

“And we’ve had that good fortune of our chemistry staying strong, our interests having grown and evolved, but somehow remaining compatible.” 

“Our journey has been one of many blessings & lessons experienced both together & as individuals,” he also shared with fans on Instagram previously.

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Last year, as they marked their anniversary, Ron revealed with fans that he was keeping the romance alive in the sweetest way: by taking his wife for a spin in the same car he picked her up in for their very first date all those years ago.

“Yesterday we started our Anniversary celebration with a spin in our #1970 #VWBug. It’s the car I picked Cheryl up with on our first date,” he wrote.

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