RON’S LIFE AS A DAD
THE HOLLYWOOD HEAVYWEIGHT OPENS UP ABOUT HIS LIFE BEYOND A MOVIE SET
When it comes to fathers, Bryce Dallas Howard feels like she won the lottery. The actress, 39, is the oldest daughter of Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, 66. “My whole life I’ve watched him modelling how to operate in the world,” she says. “He does it in a way that is focused on having personal integrity and is rooted in kindness.” Bryce, who rose to fame in films like The Help and Jurassic World, set out to celebrate amazing fathers in her directorial debut, Dads, now airing on Apple TV+. The documentary follows six fathers from around the globe and features interviews with celebrities including Will Smith, Jimmy Fallon, Kenan Thompson, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and Patton Oswalt about the ups and downs of raising children.
“I always tell people who are getting ready to have a kid that you’re going to find yourself routinely exerting yourself in ways that prior to this would have crushed you,” says Ron, who is a producer on the film. “If your job caused it, you’d quit. But you learn that you actually have the capacity to do this, and it’s empowering to acknowledge it and embrace it.”
Ron – who is also dad to son Reed, 33, and twin daughters Jocelyn and Paige, 35, with his wife of 45 years, Cheryl – says he too was lucky to have a great father, actor Rance Howard. “I’m just trying to follow the path that my dad laid down for me,” he says. “He was the kind of guy that decided to parent in a different, more encouraging, positive and loving way.”
Bryce – who’s mum to Theo, 13, and Beatrice, 8, with her husband, actor Seth Gabel, 38 – credits her dad for helping her become the mother, actress and director she is today. “He was always so present and included me and my siblings in everything,” she says of his influence. “He was never like, ‘No, you can’t come to set.’ I got to always be with him and see how he navigated things. I learned from it all.”