Just because show business was in Ron Howard's blood didn't necessarily mean he was destined to become an actor. As a child star, Howard's parents, actors themselves, worked hard to give their child as normal a life as possible.

When pressed as to why they chose to raise their budding star son as they would any other child, Rance Howard was honest.

"I guess it's because I'm in show business myself," said the The Andy Griffith Show actor during an interview with The Capital Times. "We just don't make as big a deal about Ronny being an actor as we might if I were a plumber or lawyer by profession."

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Luckily, the young Howard enjoyed acting and excelled at it. "It's the only thing I know how to do real good," said Howard.

Because of these family influences, Howard was able to enjoy fame while maintaining a relatively normal childhood. In fact, plenty of Howard's childhood friends were also fellow actors, including Donald Losby, who previously appeared in The Fugitive.

"We're real companions in racing cars," said Howard of his friendship with Losby.

Sometimes the worlds of fame and real life collided, and Howard was able to use his aptitude for writing to make a few childhood dreams become a reality.

"I save up to buy things I need," said Howard. "I like to help my dad with his scripts. If I give him a real good idea, I get $200. And I can spend a lot of it any way I want to."