Filmmaker Ron Howard and his actor brother Clint Howard have collaborated on a memoir, set to come out on October 12th. The brothers both grew up in the spotlight as child actors on well-known family sitcoms in the 60s and 70s. The book, entitled The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family, will discuss the Howards’ unique family dynamic and how the two managed childhood stardom.
The release date was announced on Monday by the book’s publishing company William Morrow, an imprint of HarpersCollins Publishers. It is said that Ron Howard’s actor-filmmaker daughter Bryce Dallas Howard has written the forward to her father and uncle’s joint-memoir.
Ron Howard, who went from sitcom star to Oscar-worthy filmmaker, became a household name for his childhood role as Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show in the 1960s. He went on to play feature role on the sitcom Happy Days in the 70s and 80s, but not before starring in the George Lucas-directed, Francis Ford Coppola-produced Oscar-winning film American Graffiti.
Now, a two-time Oscar-winner himself for his 2002 film A Beautiful Mind, Howard is ready to look back on his lengthy career and early introduction to the film industry. Some of his most recent directorial projects include: Hillbilly Elegy, Pavarotti and Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Regarding The Boys, Ron Howard had this to say: “Who grows up on a soundstage hanging out with Andy Griffith and Don Knotts, or with a trained bear? And what are the ways that particular childhood forever informed the choices I would make as a husband, father and filmmaker? We’re excited to share the story of how our parents pulled this off — raising two show-business kids who had no clue that their lives were out of the ordinary while rooting them in a loving, slightly off-beat family.”
Clint Howard, who also entered Hollywood at a very young age, starred on the children’s program Gentle Ben in the late 70s. He also guest-starred on Star Trek, the original series, as child. His acting career proved long-lasting, as he has featured in a multitude of shows and films throughout his life, including Cocoon and Apollo 13 (directed by his brother).
Clint prefaced the subject of family in their memoir, stating, “Mom and dad‘s teachings are treasures to this day but I’ve realized that I took their presence for granted. Writing The Boys with my brother has been the topper of a wonderful lifetime.”
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