Ron Howard: ''There was a time when I pretended The Andy Griffith Show didn't exist.''

It's not easy being Opie!

August 23, 2024, 10:42AM By MeTV Staff

CBS Television Distribution

If we close our eyes and picture being famous, chances are we'll envision a pretty sweet deal. There's a lot of perks to being well-known. You probably get a nicer table at restaurants. Sometimes, the meal might even be on the house. There's all the award show gift baskets, too. Plus, there's the chance to rub elbows with other famous people. It could be fun!

But what if you were famous for the wrong reasons? What if your notoriety was out of your control? For many actors, and particularly child stars, what may have started as just another job quickly becomes the thing they are most recognized for.

It can be daunting to suddenly be associated with a project on such a big scale. Jaleel White will only ever be Steve Urkel to many. How hard must it have been to de-couple the cast of Friends from the characters they played?

Ron Howard faced a similar situation growing up. As we all know, Howard was Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show, one of the most successful and treasured television programs of all time. So, what was it like navigating a career when Howard was so closely identified with the character he played as a kid? Howard lets us know what it was like in Richard Kelly's 1981 book, The Andy Griffith Show.

"I used to be afraid that I was going to be Opie for the rest of my life," said Howard.

"In fact, there was a time when I pretended The Andy Griffith Show didn't exist. The worst thing anyone could ever do would be to call me Opie."

However, as he grew up within the industry, Howard's attitude changed regarding this huge project he was so closely associated with.

"Now I get the biggest kick out of it; I love it! The show is something I've built on. It's something to be proud of."