Age: 72
male
Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American filmmaker and actor. Howard first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of The Twilight Zone. He gained national attention for playing young Opie Taylor, the son of Sheriff Andy Taylor (played by Andy Griffith) in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show from 1960 through 1968. During this time, he also appeared in the musical film The Music Man (1962), a critical and commercial success. He was credited as Ronny Howard in his film and television appearances from 1959 to 1973. Howard was cast in one of the lead roles in the coming-of-age film American Graffiti (1973), which received widespread acclaim and became one of the most profitable films in history. The following year, Howard became a household name for playing Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days, a role he would play from 1974 through 1984. Howard continued appearing in films during this time, such as the western film The Shootist (1976) and the comedy film Grand Theft Auto (1977), which also marked his directorial debut. In 1984, Howard left Happy Days to focus on directing, producing and occasionally writing variety films and television series. His films include the science-fiction/fantasy Cocoon (1985), the fantasy Willow (1988), the thriller Backdraft (1991), the historical docudrama Apollo 13 (1995), the Christmas comedy How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), the biographical drama A Beautiful Mind (2001), the biographical sports drama Cinderella Man (2005), the thriller The Da Vinci Code (2006), the historical drama Frost/Nixon (2008), Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), and the documentary Pavarotti (2019). For A Beautiful Mind, Howard won the Academy Award for Best Director and Academy Award for Best Picture. He was nominated again for the same awards for Frost/Nixon. In 2003, Howard was awarded the National Medal of Arts. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2013. Howard has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions in the television and motion pictures industries.
The film opens with a figure standing over a ledge and watching a young boy play. While this opening scene is taking place the word "Tatooine" flashes on the screen to show the audience the current location. The camera focuses on the figure's face, which we quickly realize is Obi-Wan Kenobi. We are to assume the young boy is a four year old Luke Skywalker. Obi-Wan has watched over Luke over the past four years; just as he promised Yoda he would. Before ascending to Tatooine, Yoda taught Obi-Wan the ways of the force ghosts. After four years of complete exile, Qui-Gon finally appears as a force ghost before Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon helps Obi-Wan complete his master training, and teaches him special apparatuses that only the legendary Jedi Masters know. He introduces Obi-Wan to the power of meditation, and how to vision fate. Qui-Gon tells Obi-Wan that there lies one last delegation between him and the new hope. The film flashes back sixteen years ago as Darth Maul is falling down the reactor shaft after his battle with Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi on the planet Naboo. Maul uses the force to reach out and grab a hanging air vent and save himself. He is able to drag his lifeless body to a nearby trash container. The trash container is later dumped on the junk planet of Lotho Minor. Maul replaces his legs with a six-legged machine and is able to walk again. The film returns back to the original setting of Tatooine. Obi-Wan is awakned during the night. He finds a teenage boy going through his things. He assumes the boy is a filthy scavenger, and appears before him; demanding him to hoult. The boy introduces himself as Ezra Bridger, a young Padawan. Ezra explains to Obi-Wan that he came to Tatooine searching for him, because he knew with his help that they could defeat the Sith. Obi-Wan is now much to wise to believe Ezra; he knows the last trained Jedi was Anakin, but Qui-Gon's voice tells Obi-Wan that he must follow the boy. He told the boy to leave, and followed him. Obi-Wan hide as he watched Ezra walk away. The hum of a lightsaber is heard behind Obi-Wan and a red glare shadows across his backside. He turns around to see Darth Maul. Ezra was sent by Maul as a ploy to get Obi-Wan out of hiding. Maul had returned to face the Jedi who bested him and changed his fate with the dark side forever. Obi-Wan and Darth Maul dueled a furious battle in the dead of the night. Obi-Wan ended the long duel with a fatal stroke to the chest of Darth Maul. The former Sith collapses in the arms of Obi-Wan. The camera focuses in as the dying Maul raises his hand upon the shoulder of his former enemy. Maul's final words are "Luke is our fate. Teach him the ways, Obi. Don't let him be like his father. Don't let him be like me...". The movie fastforwards sixteen years later. Obi-Wan Kenobi is seen standing on the ledge that over looks Owen's moisture farm. A sandcrawler arrives. Obi-Wan watches as Jawas depart the crawler along with many droid units. He recalls seeing two of the droids from his time in the council. Luke, now twenty years old, approaches the crawler. Qui-Gon appears before Obi-Wan and tells him, "My time here is through. You are ready to train a strong Jedi of the light. It is time, Obi. May the Force be with you". Obi-Wan departs back into the desert of Tatooine. As he walks away the screen slowly turns black and the credits begin to roll.
