The others are Martin Scorsese (third), Ron Howard (fourth) and George Lucas (fifth).

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Neither Ron Howard, the Oscar-winning director who played Richie Cunningham, nor Henry Winkler, who played The Fonz, were part of the lawsuit.

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Glenn Ford stars as Tom Corbett, a newly widowed Manhattan radio executive who is beginning life alone with his young son (Ron Howard).

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Actor and director Ron Howard, who played Griffith's son, Opie Taylor, on "The Andy Griffith Show, " said he is "forever grateful" to the actor.

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Big names like Rob Reiner, Michael Douglas, Jimmy Buffett, Ron Howard and Jane Fonda have also opened their wallets to politicians in this election cycle.

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Who ever thought that Ron Howard could make a cult film?

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There was more praise for the writer on Twitter with directors Ron Howard, Wes Craven, Cameron Crowe and Darren Aronofsky leading the mass outpour of affection.

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And Forbes.com writer Dorothy Pomerantz said she would savour the experience because it might be the last time key personnel including executive producer and narrator Ron Howard and actor Jason Bateman would find time to film together.

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Hollywood hitmakers Brian Grazer and Ron Howard of Imagine Entertainment plan to turn the Rich saga into a movie, based on the 2009 book by Swiss journalist Daniel Ammann, The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich.

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