Ron and Cheryl Howard’s love story is decades in the making.
The couple, who met in high school and went on their first date in 1970, have been by each other’s sides for all of life’s big moments.
Cheryl, who is a published author, and Oscar-winning director Ron expanded their family four times over with the addition of their children, daughters Bryce Dallas, Jocelyn Carlyle and Paige Carlyle, as well as son Reed Cross.
From their early days as a pair to their more recent outings, take a look back at some of the sweetest photos of the long-term couple as they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary!
Longtime Love
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Ron Howard and Cheryl Alley met while attending John Burroughs High School in Burbank, California, and had their first date in 1970.
“Nov 1 1970 Cheryl & I went on our 1st date,” Ron wrote alongside an Instagram post commemorating the 50th anniversary of the moment in 2020. “We went to see a re-release of Stanley Kramer’s It’s a Mad Mad Mad World and then got some pizza at now defunct Barnone’s in Toluca Lake. Quite a start, right?”
He added a sweet detail sharing that to celebrate, “We’ll be driving in the same ’70 VW Bug I picked Cheryl up in 5 decades ago. It runs great. So do we.”
Sporting what appears to be a signature look for a young Ron Howard, the couple is seen here in the 1970s.
Happy Days
Howard has posted a few angles of this snapshot from the early days of dating, saying that this moment of him “showing off my Super8” was captured about a month into their relationship.
“What a journey,” he wrote. “Today we’re blessed w/4 amazing kids & 6 incredible grandkids & still goin’ on some pretty great dates, too.”
Sweetheart Style
“This is from the Backwards dance where the girl asks the guy out. Cheryl made that dress from store bought pattern as I recall,” Howard wrote on this sweet ’70s throwback photo.
Black-Eyed Cheese
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Howard shared a throwback from the year before they wed, sporting a shiner but still looking pretty cute with his bride-to-be. “Me and Cheryl late ‘74. These kinda things like this used to happen even in fender benders before seat belts became law. I actually had a lap belt and still got knocked cold,” he recalled.
Wedding Bells
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After Ron Howard proposed three times, the two tied the knot in 1975 in Burbank. Special guests for their big day included the actor’s famous costars from The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days, including his TV dads Andy Griffith and Tom Bosley.
Happily Newlywed
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Three months into their marriage, Ron and Cheryl were pictured smiling from ear-to-ear while backstage at a press reception for Happy Days.
Eyes for You
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The two couldn’t keep their eyes off each other in this red carpet photo taken the same year.
Sweet Moment
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The two took their date night to the 31st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 1979.
Baby Makes Three
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In 1981 the couple expanded their family when they welcomed their first daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard — seen here with her parents in 1982. Their family continued to grow over the years with the addition of twins Paige Carlyle Howard and Jocelyn Carlyle Howard in 1985 and later son Reed Cross Howard in 1987.
Bring It In
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Ron Howard and Cheryl Howard were all smiles when they attended the third annual Carousel Ball of Hope in Denver in 1983.
Beaming with Pride
AP Photo/Bob Galbraith
And Cheryl Howard was of course on deck to celebrate her husband’s film Parenthood at the L.A. premiere in 1989.
Winner’s Circle
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The two were all dressed up in 1996 when Ron Howard won the Directors Guild of America award for Apollo 13.
Family Matters
The Howard family (eldest daughter Bryce, twins Paige and Jocelyn and son Reed) took a classic ’90s photo at Niagara Falls.
To the Nines
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The same year, the couple stepped out for the Oscars, where Ron Howard opted for a classic black tux while Cheryl Howard wore a blue gown.
Celebrating Dad
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In 2015, the entire Howard gang showed up to support their patriarch as he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Fancy Date Night
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The couple, who are now grandparents six times over, are still each other’s favorite dates decades later.
Over the years, Cheryl Howard has also “been in everything” that Ron Howard has directed since “11th grade in high school,” he’s said.
“At a certain point, I became very superstitious about making sure that she appears, that she’s at least identifiable in one frame,” Ron explained to the Television Academy, calling Cheryl his “good luck charm.” “They don’t have to be big cameos, but she’s gotta be in there.”
Five Decades Strong
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage
From high school sweethearts to grandparents, Ron Howard and Cheryl Howard have a love story for the ages.
“I met her, and there was never anybody else,” Ron, seen here with his wife in 2022, told PEOPLE in 2019. “She’s unbelievably supportive and always has been. Our compatibility has endured through all kinds of experiences.”
Forever Date
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The couple was as happy as ever to be sitting across the table from each other in London in 2021.
Cheryl and Ron Today
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Fifty years in, Ron and Cheryl continue to live happily ever after. Above, the couple is pictured at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of Eden, which Ron directed.
View Finder
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“The adventure continues,” Howard captioned this 2024 shot from Iceland.
