The Courtship of Eddie’s Father movie cast is trending again in 2026, as Ron Howard, who played the lovable little Eddie at age 9, just screened his documentary Avedon at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
A How the Grinch Stole Christmas sequel with Jim Carrey and Ron Howard is now also in the works, making this the perfect moment to look back at where Howard’s extraordinary career began.
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This 1963 classic gave the world one of its greatest filmmakers before he ever sat in a director’s chair.
📌 Quick Facts: The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (1963)
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Movie | The Courtship of Eddie’s Father |
| Year | 1963 |
| Director | Vincente Minnelli |
| Producer | Joe Pasternak |
| Screenplay | John Gay |
| Based On | Mark Toby’s 1961 novel |
| Runtime | 1 hr 57 min |
| Genre | Romantic Comedy-Drama |
| IMDb Rating | 6.8/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 67% (6 Reviews) |
| Studio | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) |
| Distributor | Warner Bros. (current rights) |
What Is The Courtship of Eddie’s Father About?
Realizing that he needs a mother, and his widower father, Tom (Glenn Ford), needs a wife, precocious Eddie Corbett (Ron Howard) is determined to get his dad remarried.
While Tom dates numerous women, including the uptight aristocrat Rita Behrens (Dina Merrill), nobody seems to be a good fit for Eddie or his father.
Soon it becomes apparent that Tom’s ideal match may be closer than he thought, as he begins to develop feelings for his lovely neighbor, Elizabeth Marten (Shirley Jones).
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Complete Movie Cast & Characters
The film stars Glenn Ford as Tom Corbett, a widowed father, and Ronny Howard as the titular son.
| Actor | Character | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Glenn Ford | Tom Corbett | Widowed father; radio station manager |
| Ron Howard | Eddie Corbett | Future Oscar-winning director; age 9 during filming |
| Shirley Jones | Elizabeth Marten | Neighbor and love interest; accepted her role in part because she did not have to sing |
| Stella Stevens | Dollye Daly | Beauty queen from Montana with hidden talents |
| Dina Merrill | Rita Behrens | Society lady and fashion consultant |
| Jerry Van Dyke | Norman Jones | Tom’s best friend and disc jockey |
| Roberta Sherwood | Mrs. Livingston | Housekeeper; nightclub singer who made her film debut |
| Clint Howard | Toddler at Party | Ron Howard’s real-life younger brother; uncredited cameo |
| Rance Howard | Camp Counselor | Ron Howard’s real-life father; uncredited |
Producer Pasternak says he interviewed hundreds of children to play Eddie but as soon as he talked to Ronny Howard, “I knew he was right.”
Did anyone recognize Clint Howard as a toddler at Eddie’s birthday party scene? Or Rance Howard as a camp counselor?
The entire Howard family showed up for this one, and that’s a hidden gem most fans miss entirely.
Ron Howard: From Eddie to Oscar Winner
Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American filmmaker and actor who started his career as a child actor before transitioning to directing films.
Over his six-decade career, he has received multiple accolades, including two Academy Awards, seven Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Grammy Awards.
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| Year | Ron Howard Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1960 to 1968 | Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show |
| 1962 | The Music Man (film) |
| 1963 | The Courtship of Eddie’s Father |
| 1973 | American Graffiti |
| 1974 to 1980 | Richie Cunningham on Happy Days |
| 1977 | Directorial debut: Grand Theft Auto |
| 1995 | Apollo 13 (Director) |
| 2001 | A Beautiful Mind (Best Director & Best Picture Oscar) |
| 2026 | Avedon documentary at Cannes Film Festival |
He was also featured in such films as The Music Man (1962), The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (1963), and The Wild Country (1971).
Howard screened his documentary “Avedon” at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival as part of the official selection.
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The TV Series It Inspired (1969 to 1972)
The Courtship of Eddie’s Father is an American sitcom based on the 1963 film of the same name, which was based on a novel by Mark Toby.
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| Detail | Movie (1963) | TV Series (1969 to 1972) |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Corbett | Glenn Ford | Bill Bixby |
| Eddie Corbett | Ron Howard | Brandon Cruz |
| Mrs. Livingston | Roberta Sherwood | Miyoshi Umeki |
| Eddie’s Friend/Colleague | Jerry Van Dyke (Norman) | James Komack (Norman Tinker) |
| Tom’s Secretary | N/A | Kristina Holland (Tina Rickles) |
| Seasons | N/A (Film) | 3 Seasons, 73 Episodes |
| Network | MGM (Theatrical) | ABC |
| Theme Song | N/A | “Best Friend” by Harry Nilsson |
The series debuted on September 17, 1969, and was last broadcast on March 1, 1972.
According to Bixby, “The amazing thing is that when we’re working in a scene together, there’s never a thought of conscious acting. Our natural affection for one another is what appeals to the audience.”
Cruz told American Profile magazine, “Bill Bixby was like my second father.”
In 1995, Cruz named his own son Lincoln Bixby Cruz, which tells you everything about the bond these two shared off-screen.
That kind of real father-son connection between actors is almost impossible to manufacture, and both versions of this story captured it beautifully.
If you enjoy learning about classic TV legacies, explore our entertainment features section.
Notable Guest Stars on the TV Series
During its three-season run, many familiar actors guest-starred on the show, including: Jodie Foster, Sally Struthers, Cicely Tyson, Suzanne Pleshette, Tippi Hedren, Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, George Takei, and Willie Aames.
| Guest Star | Known For |
|---|---|
| Jodie Foster | The Silence of the Lambs, Taxi Driver |
| Sally Struthers | All in the Family |
| Cicely Tyson | Sounder, The Help |
| Tippi Hedren | The Birds, Marnie |
| Jerry Stiller | Seinfeld, The King of Queens |
| Anne Meara | Night at the Museum, Sex and the City |
| George Takei | Star Trek |
| Pat Morita | The Karate Kid, Happy Days |
| Erin Moran | Happy Days |
| Willie Aames | Eight Is Enough, Charles in Charge |
Future Happy Days stars Pat Morita and Erin Moran also made guest appearances.
Where to Watch The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (2026)
You can buy “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home as download or rent it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home online.
There aren’t any free streaming options for The Courtship of Eddie’s Father right now.
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| Platform | Availability | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Available | Rent / Purchase |
| Apple TV | Available | Rent / Purchase |
| Fandango at Home | Available | Rent / Purchase |
| Netflix | Available (Select Regions) | Subscription |
| Hulu | Available (US) | Subscription |
| Philo | Available (US) | Subscription |
| DVD / Blu-ray | Available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble | Physical |
For Indian viewers, Amazon Prime Video (rent/purchase) and Netflix (check regional availability) are the most accessible options.
For more streaming updates, visit our weekly OTT release calendar.
5 Reasons to Watch in 2026
- Ron Howard at age 9 is pure magic on screen, and he navigates his way through the more labored scenes where there are other emotions with a maturity far beyond his years
- Vincente Minnelli (Gigi) directs, using his flair for vivid colors and balancing the film’s humor with the real sense of loss a family feels over a loved one’s passing
- Glenn Ford brings a quiet, grounded decency to the role that makes you root for him from the first frame
- The film launched the TV series that gave us Bill Bixby, Jodie Foster in a guest role, and one of the most beloved theme songs in TV history
- With Ron Howard screening at Cannes in 2026 and a Grinch sequel confirmed, his entire filmography is being re-examined
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Final Verdict
The Courtship of Eddie’s Father movie cast assembled something genuinely special in 1963.
Glenn Ford carried the emotional weight of a grieving father with quiet dignity, while a 9-year-old Ron Howard stole every scene he was in.
What makes the film is the very real chemistry between Glenn Ford and Ron Howard.
It’s a father and son movie, first and foremost, and yet we end up admiring all of them.
Six decades later, the boy who played Eddie went on to win two Academy Awards, direct blockbusters like Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind, and just premiered a new film at Cannes 2026.
Every great career starts somewhere. This is where Ron Howard’s started.
Stay tuned to Movierulzmn for more classic film retrospectives, OTT updates, and entertainment news.
