Actor Justin Hartley has revealed his regret at never actually meeting director Ron Howard, despite Howard filming a cameo appearance on This Is Us. Howard, once known to British audiences as Richie Cunningham in Happy Days, has become one of Hollywood's most successful and award-laden directors, making the near-miss a notable disappointment for an actor who clearly admires him.

Hartley told the LA Times that Howard's cameo consisted only of a phone call to his character, meaning the two never shared a room, even though Hartley had offered to come in on his day off to meet him. Howard, whose films have grossed a combined $4.3 billion including hits such as Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vinci Code, is now preparing six new projects following the disappointing 2024 box office performance of Eden, including a new Grinch film with Jim Carrey and the war drama Alone at Dawn starring Anne Hathaway and Adam Driver.