Ken Howard(1944-2016)
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Ken Howard was elected the National President of The Screen Actors
Guild on September 24, 2009. He was a working member of SAG for
over forty years. The Tony and two-time Emmy Award-winning actor, most
recently received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie playing Phelan Beale in critically-acclaimed Grey Gardens (2009). The
Emmy and Golden Globe-winning film starred Golden Globe-winner
Drew Barrymore and fellow
Emmy-winner Jessica Lange.
He starred opposite Jimmy Smits in the CBS drama Cane (2007) as "Joe Samuels". Howard portrayed the world-wise retired Detective Lieutenant "Max Cavanaugh" on NBC's Preuve à l'appui (2001) and is perhaps best known for his performance as a street-savvy teacher in the classic drama The White Shadow (1978). He taught master classes at the American Repertory Theatre Institute and was an instructor at Harvard University and Harvard Law School. His teaching experience helped form the basis for his book, ACT NATURAL: How to Speak to Any Audience, published by Random House in 2003.
In 1968, two years into the three-year program at the Yale School of Drama, he accepted a small role on Broadway in Neil Simon's "Promises, Promises". He originated the role of Thomas Jefferson in the Tony-winning musical 1776 (1972), directed by Peter H. Hunt, receiving a Theatre World Award. Howard earned his Tony for his work as a young gym coach at a Catholic Boys' school in "Child's Play". He starred on Broadway in "Seesaw", "The Norman Conquests", "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue" and the national tour of "Equus". In 2008, Howard starred in the one-man play, "According to Tip". His award-winning performance as Tip O'Neill was critically acclaimed.
His feature-film debut was in Dis-moi que tu m'aimes, Junie Moon (1970), opposite Liza Minnelli. Additional films: 1776 (1972), Des amis comme les miens (1971), Danger immédiat (1994), Traque sur internet (1995), Premier regard (1999), 2:13 (2009), A Numbers Game (2010) and The Beacon (2009). He delighted movie audiences in 2005 with his work in FOX 2000's In Her Shoes (2005), with Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette and Shirley MacLaine, and in Dreamer: Inspiré d'une histoire vraie (2005), for Dreamworks, co-starring Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning. He starred with Sylvester Stallone in John Rambo (2008) (aka "Rambo IV"), Michael Clayton (2007) with George Clooney and Smother (2008) opposite Diane Keaton. He became firmly established in the public's mind as "Coach Ken Reeves" on MTM's prestigious The White Shadow (1978), a series which he co-created, based on his own experiences as the only white player on his high school basketball team. "White Shadow" fans can revisit the critically-acclaimed series of seasons 1 and 2 on DVD. He co-starred on the series It's Not Easy (1982), Dynastie II: Les Colby (1985) and Dynastie (1981). He guest-starred in numerous prime-time shows: Boston Justice (2004), Dirty Sexy Money (2007), Eli Stone (2008), Cold Case : Affaires classées (2003), Brothers & Sisters (2006), New York - Unité spéciale (1999), Arliss (1996), À la Maison Blanche (1999), Conviction (2006), Ghost Whisperer (2005), Une famille du tonnerre (2002) and Showtime's Huff (2004), opposite his dear friend, Blythe Danner. He had a recurring role on Larry et son nombril (2000) and The practice: Bobby Donnell & associés (1997). He starred in Le coeur n'oublie pas (2007) for the Hallmark Channel. Miniseries include Enfance volée (2000), Les oiseaux se cachent pour mourir (1983), La fureur des anges (1983), OP Center (1995), Mastergate (1992), He's Not Your Son (1984), The Country Girl (1982), Le crime de Pamela Smart (1991), Mémoire de minuit (1991). Howard's first Emmy Award was for the on-camera narration of "Facts for Boys: The Body Human". His voice can be heard on more than 30 best-selling books on tape. A kidney transplant success (the gift of longtime friend and stunt-woman Jeannie Epper), Howard was appointed Chancellor of the National Kidney Foundation, and worked with their efforts to encourage people to donate their organs. He was a member of the Board of the Los Angeles Alzheimer's Committee and, along with his wife, Linda, served as Board members of Shambala Animal Preserve. He was also the national spokesperson for the Onyx and Breezy Foundation. Howard resided in Los Angeles, with his wife, retired stunt-woman Linda Fetters Howard Howard, and their recently rescued dogs, Harley Hoops and Hannah Henrietta.
He starred opposite Jimmy Smits in the CBS drama Cane (2007) as "Joe Samuels". Howard portrayed the world-wise retired Detective Lieutenant "Max Cavanaugh" on NBC's Preuve à l'appui (2001) and is perhaps best known for his performance as a street-savvy teacher in the classic drama The White Shadow (1978). He taught master classes at the American Repertory Theatre Institute and was an instructor at Harvard University and Harvard Law School. His teaching experience helped form the basis for his book, ACT NATURAL: How to Speak to Any Audience, published by Random House in 2003.
In 1968, two years into the three-year program at the Yale School of Drama, he accepted a small role on Broadway in Neil Simon's "Promises, Promises". He originated the role of Thomas Jefferson in the Tony-winning musical 1776 (1972), directed by Peter H. Hunt, receiving a Theatre World Award. Howard earned his Tony for his work as a young gym coach at a Catholic Boys' school in "Child's Play". He starred on Broadway in "Seesaw", "The Norman Conquests", "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue" and the national tour of "Equus". In 2008, Howard starred in the one-man play, "According to Tip". His award-winning performance as Tip O'Neill was critically acclaimed.
His feature-film debut was in Dis-moi que tu m'aimes, Junie Moon (1970), opposite Liza Minnelli. Additional films: 1776 (1972), Des amis comme les miens (1971), Danger immédiat (1994), Traque sur internet (1995), Premier regard (1999), 2:13 (2009), A Numbers Game (2010) and The Beacon (2009). He delighted movie audiences in 2005 with his work in FOX 2000's In Her Shoes (2005), with Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette and Shirley MacLaine, and in Dreamer: Inspiré d'une histoire vraie (2005), for Dreamworks, co-starring Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning. He starred with Sylvester Stallone in John Rambo (2008) (aka "Rambo IV"), Michael Clayton (2007) with George Clooney and Smother (2008) opposite Diane Keaton. He became firmly established in the public's mind as "Coach Ken Reeves" on MTM's prestigious The White Shadow (1978), a series which he co-created, based on his own experiences as the only white player on his high school basketball team. "White Shadow" fans can revisit the critically-acclaimed series of seasons 1 and 2 on DVD. He co-starred on the series It's Not Easy (1982), Dynastie II: Les Colby (1985) and Dynastie (1981). He guest-starred in numerous prime-time shows: Boston Justice (2004), Dirty Sexy Money (2007), Eli Stone (2008), Cold Case : Affaires classées (2003), Brothers & Sisters (2006), New York - Unité spéciale (1999), Arliss (1996), À la Maison Blanche (1999), Conviction (2006), Ghost Whisperer (2005), Une famille du tonnerre (2002) and Showtime's Huff (2004), opposite his dear friend, Blythe Danner. He had a recurring role on Larry et son nombril (2000) and The practice: Bobby Donnell & associés (1997). He starred in Le coeur n'oublie pas (2007) for the Hallmark Channel. Miniseries include Enfance volée (2000), Les oiseaux se cachent pour mourir (1983), La fureur des anges (1983), OP Center (1995), Mastergate (1992), He's Not Your Son (1984), The Country Girl (1982), Le crime de Pamela Smart (1991), Mémoire de minuit (1991). Howard's first Emmy Award was for the on-camera narration of "Facts for Boys: The Body Human". His voice can be heard on more than 30 best-selling books on tape. A kidney transplant success (the gift of longtime friend and stunt-woman Jeannie Epper), Howard was appointed Chancellor of the National Kidney Foundation, and worked with their efforts to encourage people to donate their organs. He was a member of the Board of the Los Angeles Alzheimer's Committee and, along with his wife, Linda, served as Board members of Shambala Animal Preserve. He was also the national spokesperson for the Onyx and Breezy Foundation. Howard resided in Los Angeles, with his wife, retired stunt-woman Linda Fetters Howard Howard, and their recently rescued dogs, Harley Hoops and Hannah Henrietta.
