Ron Howard's early role was as Opie in the television series 'The Andy Griffith Show'. He played the son of Sheriff Andy Taylor, a widower raising his son alone in the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina. The show ran from 1960 to 1968 and was one of the most popular shows of its time. Ron Howard was only six years old when he was cast in the role of Opie and went on to become a successful actor, director, and producer.