Ron Howard is one of the highest-grossing directors in cinema history, having transitioned from his early days in front of the camera to behind it.
Despite becoming a household name in his 20s in Happy Days and The Andy Griffith Show, he gave it up acting to focus on directing.
However, he now says there's an acting gig he'd go back to "in a heartbeat" and it might surprise you.
© Disney General Entertainment ConFrom actor to director
The last time Ron played a fictional character in a movie was when he reprised his role of Steve Bolander in 1979's More American Graffiti.
Ron also hasn't played anyone other than himself on TV since 2016, when he featured in The Odd Couple.
Although he claims to have hung up his acting shoes, there's one role he'd be willing to revisit.
Fighting it out
© Getty ImagesRon played a semi-fictionalized version of himself on AppleTV+ series, The Studio, in which he acted out an epic tantrum, and fake brawl with Seth Rogen's character.
"If I could make room in my schedule and I were asked, I’d be there in a heartbeat for these guys," he told People. "They were hilarious and fun to be with."
© ERIN SIMKIN/NETFLIXRon loved playing the opposite of who he is, having built a reputation as a nice guy in the movie-making business in real life.
Speaking of his on-screen persona, he added: "Even if the jerk is inspired by you, it's still a character, and it's very cathartic. Because I would never say or do those things."
Leaving Happy Days
© Disney General Entertainment ConIt's been more than 40 years since Ron wrapped his leading role as Richie Cunningham on Happy Days.
He began his directing career between the show's third and fourth season and bowed out of Happy Days in 1980. He returned as a guest star for the 11th and final season.
Ron recently credited his co-star, Henry Winkler, for supporting his descision to further his career.
"I was working on my dream of directing throughout the Happy Days run. On the weekends, I was renting 16-millimeter sound equipment, and making short films. I directed my first movie for Roger Corman, Grand Theft Auto, on hiatus from Happy Days in season 3, I think," he said.
Ron said he left the show "with a contract in hand" for various directing projects and then he moved on to Night Shift with Brian Grazer.
It starred Henry, Michael Keaton and Shelley Long. "Henry was always so supportive of that," Ron recalled. "When Henry said yes to Night Shift, that's what got that movie greenlit. He played a hand in helping my dream ultimately come true, which was to be a studio, Hollywood, feature director."
