Most people know Ron Howard as the director behind A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13, or as Richie Cunningham from Happy Days. But Reed Cross Howard, the son of Ron Howard, built his identity far from film sets and Hollywood red carpets. He picked up a golf club instead of a script, and turned that choice into a career as a professional golfer.
Born on April 12, 1987, Reed grew up in a household where creativity and ambition were the norm. His father, actor Ron Howard, and mother, Cheryl Howard, raised four children who each took their own path. Reed’s path led to fairways, tournaments, and a life deliberately lived outside the spotlight his famous dad created. His zodiac sign is Aries, and that drive shows in how he pursued his sport.
This article covers Reed Cross Howard’s early life and education, his golf career, his family, and how he manages a public profile while keeping things grounded. You’ll also find a quick profile summary, answers to common questions, and the key facts fans are searching for.
Quick Answer: Who Is Reed Cross Howard?
Reed Cross Howard is the son of director and actor Ron Howard and his wife Cheryl Howard. Born on April 12, 1987, Reed chose a different career from his family and became a professional golfer. He is married to Ashley Gioffre and has a daughter named Aspen Leigh.
- Reed Cross Howard: Profile Summary
- Early Life and Family Background
- Education: Heritage Academy to Pepperdine
- Reed Cross Howard's Golf Career
- Personal Life: Marriage and Fatherhood
- Ron Howard's Son in the Spotlight
- Reed's Online Presence and Social Media
- Reed Cross Howard's Net Worth
- Frequently Asked Questions
- A Different Life, Lived on His Own Terms
Reed Cross Howard: Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Reed Cross Howard |
| Date of Birth | April 12, 1987 |
| Age | 36 years old (as of 2023) |
| Middle Name | Cross |
| Father | Ron Howard (director, actor) |
| Mother | Cheryl Howard |
| Siblings | Bryce Dallas Howard, Jocelyn Carlyle Howard-Charbeneau, Paige Carlyle Howard |
| Wife | Ashley Gioffre |
| Daughter | Aspen Leigh Howard |
| Height | 5 feet 10 inches |
| Profession | Professional golfer |
| Education | Heritage Academy; Pepperdine University |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Hair | Red hair (like his father) |
| Social Media | Instagram (@reedchoward) and YouTube channel |
Early Life and Family Background
Reed Cross Howard was born into a family that Hollywood already knew well. His father, actor Ron Howard, had been a child actor on The Andy Griffith Show before becoming one of the most respected directors in the film industry. His mother, Cheryl Howard, married Ron in 1975, and the two built a family of four children. Reed is the only son in the family, making him a standout among his three sisters.
His sisters are Bryce Dallas Howard, the actress known for Jurassic World; Jocelyn Carlyle Howard-Charbeneau; and Paige Carlyle Howard. Growing up, the family split time between Los Angeles and Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills area, away from the core of the entertainment industry. That distance from Hollywood’s daily churn may have shaped Reed’s interest in sport rather than screen work.
The Middle Name “Cross” and What It Means
The middle name “Cross” carries personal significance for the Howard family. Ron and Cheryl Howard chose it as a nod to their Christian faith. Reed has spoken about his upbringing in terms that reflect a grounded household, one where faith and family came before fame. That foundation appears consistently in how he conducts himself publicly today.
Education: Heritage Academy to Pepperdine
Reed completed his early education at Heritage Academy, a school that places strong emphasis on character alongside academics. After that, he enrolled at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, where he played golf at the collegiate level. Pepperdine has a respected golf program, and competing there gave Reed a pathway toward professional play. He also later attended the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB), which further sharpened his athletic focus.
Unlike his sister Bryce Dallas Howard, who stepped into acting and carried on part of the family’s entertainment legacy, Reed chose a different career path from the start. He never pursued acting seriously, and there’s no record of him seeking roles or working on film sets. Golf was his focus, and he committed to it through his college years.
Reed Cross Howard’s Golf Career
Reed is a professional golfer who has played in regional and mini-tour events throughout his career. He played golf at the college level before turning professional, and his game reflects years of dedicated practice. Standing at 5 feet 10 inches, he has the build and athletic foundation that suits competitive play on the course.
He’s associated with Steadhead Golf, a golf-related brand and community he’s been involved with publicly. Reed also maintains an active presence on Instagram and YouTube under the handle reedchoward, where he shares golf content, course updates, and glimpses of his life away from the spotlight. His YouTube channel gives fans a more personal look at his game, his preparation, and his family.
Tournament Play and Competitive Record
Reed has competed in multiple professional tournaments across various circuits. While he hasn’t broken into the PGA Tour’s top tier, his status as a professional golf player is genuine and documented. He’s one of many athletes who built a career at the regional professional level, where competition is real and prize money, though modest, reflects serious play. His tournament appearances from 2007 to 2008 and beyond show consistent participation in the sport.
How He Compares to His Famous Family
His father Ron Howard has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His sister Bryce Dallas Howard is a globally recognized actress. Reed’s achievements look different by design. He never tried to match the entertainment industry’s scale. Instead, he built credibility in his own sport, on his own terms, without his father’s name doing the heavy lifting. That choice says something real about who he is.
Personal Life: Marriage and Fatherhood
Reed is married to Ashley Gioffre, and the two tied the knot in May 2022. Ashley Howard, as she’s now known, keeps a relatively low profile, though the couple appears together occasionally on social media. Their relationship reflects the same private-but-present approach that Reed takes to most of his personal life. He shares enough to keep fans informed, but not so much that it becomes a performance.
The couple has a daughter named Aspen Leigh Howard. The girl named Aspen Leigh arrived after their wedding, and Reed has shared family moments online with noticeable warmth. Ron Howard shares his son’s pride in fatherhood, and the extended Howard family has welcomed Aspen Leigh into a close-knit group that includes her aunts Jocelyn, Paige, and Bryce.
Reed has been photographed at events with his family over the years. One notable public sighting came at a basketball game between the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers, where the Howard family showed up together. Those kinds of appearances are rare enough to make news, given how carefully the family guards its privacy.
Ron Howard’s Son in the Spotlight
Being the son of Ron Howard comes with automatic public curiosity. Ron and Cheryl have been married for nearly five decades, and their family is considered one of Hollywood’s most stable. Actor Ron earned his reputation through decades of work, from his days as a child actor through to directing Oscar-winning films. Reed grew up watching that work ethic up close. He absorbed the discipline without choosing the same industry.
Ron Howard and family have appeared at public events together over the years, including a Taylor Swift concert that drew media attention in 2023. These glimpses into their family life show a group that genuinely enjoys each other’s company. Arrested Development director Ron Howard, who narrated the show for years, has spoken publicly about how proud he is of all his children’s choices, including Reed’s path into golf.
Ron Howard’s longtime collaborator and family friend Seth Gabel, who married into the Howard family by wedding Bryce’s friend, has also been part of the extended circle. Family friend Timmy Abou Nasr has appeared in Howard family content as well, pointing to a tight community around this household.
Reed’s Online Presence and Social Media
Reed maintains accounts on Instagram and YouTube under the handle reedchoward. His content leans toward golf instruction, course walkthroughs, and personal updates. The YouTube channel in particular has attracted viewers interested in both his golf content and the curiosity that comes with his family name. In 2022, his profile grew noticeably as more fans discovered him through searches for Ron Howard’s children.
His Instagram presence is focused on golf and family, not celebrity culture. You won’t find him chasing brand deals or posting for engagement. Reed also keeps a presence in the Banksville area, a small community where he’s been connected through his golf activities. That local rootedness contrasts sharply with the global reach of his father’s Hollywood career.
Reed Cross Howard’s Net Worth
Reed Cross Howard’s net worth is estimated in the range of $1 million to $3 million, though exact figures are hard to confirm for athletes competing at the regional professional level. His income comes from tournament play, brand affiliations, and his Steadhead Golf work. Ron Howard’s own net worth is reported to be around $200 million, which means Reed was born comfortable, but he has built his own income stream through his sport rather than relying on inheritance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Reed Cross Howard?
Reed Cross Howard is a professional golfer and the only son of Hollywood director Ron Howard and his wife Cheryl Howard. He was born on April 12, 1987, and chose golf over entertainment as his career.
What is Reed Cross Howard’s middle name?
His middle name is Cross. Ron and Cheryl Howard chose it as a reflection of their Christian faith. It appears in all formal references to him.
Who is Reed Cross Howard married to?
Reed is married to Ashley Gioffre. They tied the knot in May 2022 and have a daughter together named Aspen Leigh Howard.
What college did Reed Cross Howard attend?
Reed attended Heritage Academy for secondary school, then enrolled at Pepperdine University for collegiate golf. He also attended the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB).
Is Reed Cross Howard on social media?
Yes. He’s active on Instagram and YouTube under the handle reedchoward. His content focuses on golf and occasional family moments rather than celebrity lifestyle posts.
A Different Life, Lived on His Own Terms
Reed Cross Howard built something genuinely his own. Born into a family carrying one of Hollywood’s most recognized names, he stepped away from that world and became a professional golfer on the strength of his own work. He studied at Heritage Academy and Pepperdine University, competed in professional tournaments, married Ashley in 2022, and became a father to daughter Aspen Leigh. At 36 years old, he has a career, a family, and a presence online that reflects his priorities clearly.
What makes Reed worth following isn’t just his connection to Ron Howard. It’s the fact that he looked at a different life and chose it with full awareness of what he was walking away from. That kind of deliberate choice, made quietly and consistently over years, is its own kind of achievement. If you want to follow his journey, find him on Instagram and YouTube at reedchoward.
Other Articles
No Comment! Be the first one.