Ron Howard has opened up about the deeply personal experience behind making How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
In a new chat with Vulture, Ron, 71, reflected on the beloved holiday classic as part of the outlet’s sprawling oral history of the film.
In doing so, he explained why he chose to dedicate the movie to his late mother, Jean Speegle Howard.
Howard shared that during production, his family was never far from his mind.
“We were filming on the Universal lot, and she was at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Burbank, so I could get to her,” he recalled.
“And my dad and brother, who both had roles in the movie, were popping over to visit as well,” he added.
The Oscar-winning director explained that the dedication at the end of the film was a heartfelt tribute to his mother’s enduring love for the holiday season.
“I dedicated the movie to her because she just loved Christmas,” Howard said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Jean Speegle Howard passed away in September 2000 at the age of 73, several months before the film’s release later that year.
