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IMDbPro

Ken Howard(1944-2016)

  • Actor
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Ken Howard
A straight-laced pharmacist's uneventful life spirals out of control when he starts an affair with a trophy wife customer who takes him on a joyride involving sex, drugs and possibly murder.
Play trailer1:50
Better Living Through Chemistry (2014)
13 Videos
60 Photos
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 Crossing Jordan (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 Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon (1970), opposite Liza Minnelli. Additional films: 1776 (1972), Such Good Friends (1971), Clear and Present Danger (1994), The Net (1995), At First Sight (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 (2005), for Dreamworks, co-starring Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning. He starred with Sylvester Stallone in 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), The Colbys (1985) and Dynasty (1981). He guest-starred in numerous prime-time shows: Boston Legal (2004), Dirty Sexy Money (2007), Eli Stone (2008), Cold Case (2003), Brothers & Sisters (2006), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999), Arli$$ (1996), The West Wing (1999), Conviction (2006), Ghost Whisperer (2005), George Lopez (2002) and Showtime's Huff (2004), opposite his dear friend, Blythe Danner. He had a recurring role on Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000) and The Practice (1997). He starred in Sacrifices of the Heart (2007) for the Hallmark Channel. Miniseries include Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: JonBenét and the City of Boulder (2000), The Thorn Birds (1983), Rage of Angels (1983), OP Center (1995), Mastergate (1992), He's Not Your Son (1984), The Country Girl (1982), Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Smart Story (1991), Memories of Midnight (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.
BornMarch 28, 1944
DiedMarch 23, 2016(71)
BornMarch 28, 1944
DiedMarch 23, 2016(71)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
    • 2 wins & 1 nomination total

Photos60

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+ 55
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Known for

Sylvester Stallone in Rambo (2008)
Rambo
7.0
  • Arthur Marsh
  • 2008
George Clooney in Michael Clayton (2007)
Michael Clayton
7.2
  • Don Jeffries
  • 2007
1776 (1972)
1776
7.6
  • Thomas Jefferson (VA)
  • 1972
Leonardo DiCaprio in J. Edgar (2011)
J. Edgar
6.5
  • Harlan Fiske Stone
  • 2011

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor



  • Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy (2015)
    Joy
    6.6
    • Mop Executive
    • 2015
  • The Wedding Ringer (2015)
    The Wedding Ringer
    6.6
    • Ed Palmer
    • 2015
  • The McCarthys (2014)
    The McCarthys
    6.4
    TV Series
    • Coach Colwell
    • 2014
  • Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall in The Judge (2014)
    The Judge
    7.4
    • Judge Warren
    • 2014
  • Jane Fonda, Ray Liotta, Sam Rockwell, Michelle Monaghan, and Olivia Wilde in Better Living Through Chemistry (2014)
    Better Living Through Chemistry
    6.2
    • Walter Bishop
    • 2014
  • A.C.O.D. (2013)
    A.C.O.D.
    5.7
    • Gary
    • 2013
  • Alec Baldwin, Jane Krakowski, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, and Jack McBrayer in 30 Rock (2006)
    30 Rock
    8.3
    TV Series
    • Hank Hooper
    • 2011–2013
  • Just an American
    5.7
    • Dr. Sullivan
    • 2012
  • A Fighting Man (2012)
    A Fighting Man
    9.0
    Short
    • George
    • 2012
  • Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynahan, Donnie Wahlberg, and Will Estes in Blue Bloods (2010)
    Blue Bloods
    7.7
    TV Series
    • Malcolm LaRoche
    • 2012
  • Counter Culture (2012)
    Counter Culture
    3.6
    TV Movie
    • Ken
    • 2012
  • Eileen Davidson, Bryton James, Joshua Morrow, Gina Tognoni, Justin Hartley, Melissa Claire Egan, and Peter Bergman in The Young and the Restless (1973)
    The Young and the Restless
    5.3
    TV Series
    • George Summers
    • 2012
  • The Council of Dads
    6.0
    TV Movie
    • Burt Wells
    • 2011
  • Leonardo DiCaprio in J. Edgar (2011)
    J. Edgar
    6.5
    • Harlan Fiske Stone
    • 2011
  • Kyra Sedgwick, G.W. Bailey, Tony Denison, Robert Gossett, J.K. Simmons, Jon Tenney, and Corey Reynolds in The Closer (2005)
    The Closer
    7.8
    TV Series
    • Wes Durant
    • 2011

Soundtrack



  • 1776 (1972)
    1776
    7.6
    • performer: "But, Mr. Adams", "The Egg"
    • 1972

Videos13

HBO Films in Production: Grey Gardens
Interview 1:44
HBO Films in Production: Grey Gardens
Trailer
Trailer 2:00
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:00
Trailer
Theatrical Trailer
Trailer 1:50
Theatrical Trailer
Trailer #1
Trailer 0:31
Trailer #1
Smother: Theatrical Trailer
Trailer 2:37
Smother: Theatrical Trailer
Haunting at the Beacon
Trailer 1:35
Haunting at the Beacon

Personal details

Edit
  • Official site
    • SAG-AFTRA
  • Height
    • 6′ 6¾″ (2.00 m)
  • Born
    • March 28, 1944
    • El Centro, California, USA
  • Died
    • March 23, 2016
    • Valencia, California, USA(undisclosed)
  • Spouses
      Linda Fetters HowardFebruary 12, 1992 - March 23, 2016 (his death)
  • Parents
      Kenneth Joseph Howard Sr.
  • Relatives
    • Don Howard(Sibling)
  • Other works
    Book-on-tape narration to "Up Country" by Nelson DeMille
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Interviews
    • 9 Articles
    • 4 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Howard was elected president of the Screen Actors Guild in September 2009 for a two-year term, then was re-elected in 2011, for a second two-year term.
  • Trademark
      Towering height and menacing frame

FAQ

Powered by Alexa
  • When did Ken Howard die?
    March 23, 2016
  • How did Ken Howard die?
    Undisclosed
  • How old was Ken Howard when he died?
    71 years old
  • Where did Ken Howard die?
    Valencia, California, USA
  • When was Ken Howard born?
    March 27, 1944

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