Ron Howard never thought his marriage to his teenage sweetheart would last

Ron Howard never thought his marriage to his teenage sweetheart would last – but these 3 simple rules kept their love alive for over 50 years....

Hollywood star Ron Howard once admitted he wasn’t sure his marriage to his high-school sweetheart would actually work — yet more than five decades later, Cheryl is still by his side.

They were just teenagers when Ron first noticed Cheryl in English class at John Burroughs High School in California. Their first date came on November 1, 1970, when they went to see It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World and grabbed pizza afterward.

At the time, Ron was already building a career in Hollywood. He had become famous as Opie on The Andy Griffith Show and would later go on to become an acclaimed director.

The couple married in 1975 and went on to raise four children together — Bryce, twins Jocelyn and Paige, and their son Reed.

Looking back, Ron has admitted just how unlikely their lasting marriage seemed.

“It’s crazy — we were teenagers; it shouldn’t have worked. We got married young, that shouldn’t have worked either, and yet it really and truly has.”

And Cheryl has been much more than just a supportive wife.

Ron has a rather unusual superstition when it comes to his movies: he has made a point of including Cheryl in every film he has directed, dating all the way back to his high-school days.

Today, the couple has made it through decades of Hollywood pressure, raising four children, career changes and all the ups and downs that come with life in the spotlight.

So how did they do it?

Ron has shared three simple things he believes have helped keep their relationship strong.

1. Communicate.

Ron says couples need to be willing to have difficult conversations and learn how to solve problems together instead of letting things build up.

2. Keep growing together.

According to Ron, relationships require you to keep “practicing” — because people change, and couples have to find a way to grow alongside each other.

3. Don’t let the little things destroy the bond.

Life will always bring challenges, disagreements and difficult moments. Ron believes the key is not allowing those ups and downs to sabotage the relationship.

More than five decades after their first date, Ron still talks about Cheryl with the same appreciation.

From teenage sweethearts to one of Hollywood’s longest-lasting marriages, Ron and Cheryl’s story is a pretty beautiful reminder that lasting love isn't always about having a perfect relationship — it's about continuing to work through life together.

Maybe there really is something to those three simple rules.