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William Morrow

The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family

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INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER“This extraordinary book is not only a chronicle of Ron’s and Clint’s early careers and their wild adventures, but also a primer on so many topics—how an actor prepares, how to survive as a kid working in Hollywood, and how to be the best parents in the world! The Boys will surprise every reader with its humanity.” — Tom Hanks"I have read dozens of Hollywood memoirs. But The Boys stands alone. A delightful, warm and fascinating story of a good life in show business.” — Malcolm GladwellHappy Days, The Andy Griffith Show, Gentle Ben—these shows captivated millions of TV viewers in the ’60s and ’70s. Join award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard and audience-favorite actor Clint Howard as they frankly and fondly share their unusual family story of navigating and surviving life as sibling child actors.“What was it like to grow up on TV?” Ron Howard has been asked this question throughout his adult life. in The Boys, he and his younger brother, Clint, examine their childhoods in detail for the first time. For Ron, playing Opie on The Andy Griffith Show and Richie Cunningham on Happy Days offered fame, joy, and opportunity—but also invited stress and bullying. For Clint, a fast start on such programs as Gentle Ben and Star Trek petered out in adolescence, with some tough consequences and lessons.With the perspective of time and success—Ron as a filmmaker, producer, and Hollywood A-lister, Clint as a busy character actor—the Howard brothers delve deep into an upbringing that seemed normal to them yet was anything but. Their Midwestern parents, Rance and Jean, moved to California to pursue their own showbiz dreams. But it was their young sons who found steady employment as actors. Rance put aside his ego and ambition to become Ron and Clint’s teacher, sage, and moral compass. Jean became their loving protector—sometimes over-protector—from the snares and traps of Hollywood.By turns confessional, nostalgic, heartwarming, and harrowing, THE BOYS is a dual narrative that lifts the lid on the Howard brothers’ closely held lives. It’s the journey of a tight four-person family unit that held fast in an unforgiving business and of two brothers who survived “child-actor syndrome” to become fulfilled adults. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks (September 20, 2022)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0063065258


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 53


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.99 x 8 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #19,174 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #95 in Rich & Famous Biographies #195 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies #760 in Memoirs (Books)


#95 in Rich & Famous Biographies:


#195 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies:


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Great memoir
I grew up in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County. Just a stone’s throw from the Hollywood studios, Hollywood Blvd, Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills and Malibu Beach. I’m a few years older than Ron Howard. Burbank, where he grew up is about a 15 min. drive from where I grew up. Over the years I’ve had occasion to spot a number of actors, whether at restaurants near my home or who have lived in my neighborhood and even on the golf course. And speaking of golf courses, now that I’m a retired person, I do some volunteer work which has included a few celebrity charity golf tournaments, where I’ve had the opportunity to chat briefly with many actors and sports figures. Once as a volunteer black jack dealer at the Malibu Country Club I had the opportunity to chat with Charles Martin Smith, who has been mentioned several times in this book. I wish that I could have read this book prior to meeting him so i would had much more to talk with him about. When I was younger I dated a girl whose entire family worked in some aspect of the movie industry. From adolescence through early adulthood, my primary care physician was the father of a very well known comedic actor. My nephew currently works as a “grip” for a movie company. What I’m trying to say is, because of where I live you can’t help but be exposed to this industry in some way. I only mention all this because I probably have a different appreciation for the events and familiarity of locations in this book than many readers. I’ve actually seen, and in some cases spoken to some people mentioned in the book. Though I’m hardly a Hollywood insider and I’m not a working actor, once when I was giving an out-of-town guest a tour of Hollywood, we stopped to observe a “location shooting” for a movie. We were approached and asked if we were interested in doing a small “walk-on”, without pay of course. That was fun and exciting for my friend. Ok, i apologize for going on so long about myself. What impressed me most about the Howard family was their work ethic and family bonds. While that had a lot to do with their respective successes, it was also the many connections made on the way up which included those with successful actors, directors and producers. This business is built on connections. It’s the ultimate cronyism and nepotism business. To become the success that he is today, Ron Howard was privileged to work with top talent in the industry and get invaluable advice. While it’s somewhat of a cliche that actors jokingly say “What I really want to do is direct”, Ron knew early on that’s where he belonged. And, since he has achieved that goal, he has created some of history’s most memorable movies. I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot about the Howard family. It’s refreshing to know that it’s possible for a child actor to achieve success as an adult in the movie industry untainted by drugs and recklessness. I want to thank Ron and Clint for their forwardness and honesty in the writing of this memoir. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2024 by Bob's Your Uncle
    • Delightful Dual Autobiography
What a joy to read! The Howard brothers grew up in a show business family, survived childhood fame, and grew up to become fine men. Both come across every bit as genuine and unpretentious as their public personas would suggest. Clint survived living in the shadow of his older, more successful brother as well as overcoming addictions to drugs and alcohol, and expresses deep love and respect for Ron—which is fully reciprocated. Reading this well paced, beautifully written, sometimes humorous book felt like visiting with old friends. Whether you’re a fan of the Howard brothers or not, this glimpse into a close, supportive, and loving nuclear family (with plenty of behind-the-scenes glimpses into show business), is time well spent. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2024 by Avid Reader
    • Enjoyed exploring Hollywood and the Howard family through this memoir
What a straightforward look into the Howard family lives. Fascinating Hollywood may not be what most of us imagine. Loved the family foundation and exemplary parenting by Ron’s and Clint’s parents.
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024 by Texascatbird
    • A unique memoir, with a back-and-forth narrative between the two brothers
The Boys follows the careers of Ron and Clint Howard, when they were two of the biggest child stars in Hollywood (Ron for Andy Griffith, of course, and Clint for Gentle Ben), and through Ron's role as Richie Cunningham in Happy Days and his directorial debut for Grand Theft Auto. This memoir had a difficult task, in that the lives of Ron and Clint are not that dramatic or sensational. They had terrific parents who were actors themselves (albeit less successful and somewhat frustrated), and whose midwestern sensibility and values guided them through the challenges of being very young and successful child actors. Clint does struggle with substance abuse, but for the most part there are not huge meltdowns or scandals. Yet the book manages to be compelling, for a number of reasons. The love of family is an obvious one. The brothers also spend a lot of time talking about the craft and business of being an actor, which is perhaps the most interesting and enlightening part of the book. For example, in Chapter 1, "The Accidental Actor", Ron describes how his father fashioned a fake boom microphone out of a bucket and a string, in order to get Ron acclimated to being around a real boom mic and not get thrown during an audition. The instruction: "Don't look at the bucket." But the best part (or design decision) of the memoir is that the brothers take turns writing different sections of the book. They have different voices and sensibilities, and different writing styles. So there's an energy to the book as they talk to each other and react to each other across the pages, and they both write with an honesty and humility that is refreshing and appealing. Of course, Ron has the more interesting career, given his roles in Andy Griffith, American Graffiti, and Happy Days, and his later career as a director. And he writes well. But Clint is the better writer. He has a strong voice and style that is straightforward and non-fussy and non-breezy, but still funny and interesting. Together, the dueling narratives push the story along and keep it always entertaining, while grounding their stories in the values that their parents fostered. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2021 by jcm4ccc
    • A Book of Honesty, Charm, and Love!
I really enjoyed reading this book! I always thought that Ron Howard and I were the same age, but have since learned that I’m 2 months older than him! I grew up in Northern California and he grew up in the South, and had a nuclear family that raised him to great heights in show business. I was the girl next door to the man I would later marry and enjoy a diverse life with, as we traveled together to see the world! But, all in all, I have always thought that Ron Howard and I were so similar, even though we don’t know each other. If you enjoy a good, well written biography, then I think that you will enjoy this book as well! There’s a bit of history here as well, and as I age, I have begun to realize that the lives of the “Baby Boomers” are now a part of that history! Overall, a very nice piece of American history! Enjoy! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2024 by C. Wyatt

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