- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJohn Richard Cox Jr.
- Height5′ 10½″ (1.79 m)
- A native Ohioan, John Howard (born John R. Cox, Jr.) had no interest in working in theater until schoolmates at Cleveland's Western Reserve University turned him on to acting. After some work on his college stage, he made his movie debut in a bit part in Paramount's One Hour Late (1934) before moving up the Hollywood ladder to featured parts and ultimately landing his own series, the Bulldog Drummond mysteries. Decades later, when offers of work began to slow down, Howard went into teaching.
Best-known for his role as Ronald Colman's brother in director Frank Capra's classic Lost Horizon (1937), Howard later said he felt he did a bad job of playing the character: "Damn it, I thought I was too brash, too uncontrolled, too unbelievable. And I've wished always that I could go back and do it again."- IMDb Mini Biography By: Tom Weaver <TomWeavr@aol.com> - American actor John Howard was usually a leading man in smaller-budgeted films and a second lead in larger pictures. He attended what is now Case Western Reserve University, where he was Phi Beta Kappa, and where he discovered a love for the theatre. He made his film debut in 1934 under his real name, John Cox, then made rapid headway as a debonair fellow in a number of programmers. His greatest fame came as the brother of Ronald Colman's character in Frank Capra's Lost Horizon (1937) and as suave detective Bulldog Drummond in a series of films starting that same year. During World War II Howard served as Executive Officer of the USS YMS-24, a minesweeper. During the invasion of southern France the ship was severely damaged by a mine that killed her captain. Howard took command and fought valiantly to save his ship and crew, even jumping into the sea to rescue a wounded sailor. For his gallantry he was awarded the Navy Cross (the second highest military award of the U.S. Navy) and the French Croix de Guerre. His return to Hollywood after the war was welcomed, unfortunately, with diminishing opportunities. The quality of his films fell and he was one of the first screen actors to commit to working in the new field of television. He continued to make occasional film appearances after the '60s, but gradually moved into academia. He became headmaster of the prestigious Highland Hall, a private high school where he taught and administered for nearly 20 years. He also gave private lessons in celestial navigation. He died in 1995, survived by his actress-ballerina wife Eva Ralf and their four children.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
- SpouseEva Ralf(August 18, 1954 - February 19, 1995) (his death, 3 children)
- Children
- ParentsLyall HowardMona Howard
- While serving on the minesweeper YMS - 24 as the XO (executive officer) his ship hit a mine. The captain was killed. John took command and in a effort to save his ship and his men; he had to jump into the sea several times. This took place off the coast of Marseille, France while the ship took part in a deception action in Aug. of 1944. He was awarded the Navy Cross by the U.S. Navy, and the Croix de Guerre by France.
- Actor best remembered as the ultimately balmy brother of Ronald Colman in Lost Horizon (1937) and as the wealthy fiance of Katharine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story (1940). Accounted well of himself as star of several "Bulldog Drummond" entries of the later 30's.
- Grandfather of Noël John Howard.
- Served with distinction in the US Navy, being awarded the Navy Cross and Croix de Guerre in WWII.
- Father of writer/director Dale Richard Howard.
- One Hour Late (1934) - $75 /week
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