American actor John Howard was usually a leading man in smaller-budgeted films and a second lead in larger pictures. He attended what is now Case Western Reserve University, where he was Phi Beta Kappa, and where he discovered a love for the theatre. He made his film debut in 1934 under his real name, John Cox, then made rapid headway as a debonair fellow in a number of programmers. His greatest fame came as the brother of Ronald Colman's character in Frank Capra's Lost Horizon (1937) and as suave detective Bulldog Drummond in a series of films starting that same year. During World War II Howard served as Executive Officer of the USS YMS-24, a minesweeper. During the invasion of southern France the ship was severely damaged by a mine that killed her captain. Howard took command and fought valiantly to save his ship and crew, even jumping into the sea to rescue a wounded sailor. For his gallantry he was awarded the Navy Cross (the second highest military award of the U.S. Navy) and the French Croix de Guerre.

His return to Hollywood after the war was welcomed, unfortunately, with diminishing opportunities. The quality of his films fell and he was one of the first screen actors to commit to working in the new field of television. He continued to make occasional film appearances after the 1960s, but gradually moved into academia. He became headmaster of the prestigious Highland Hall, a private high school where he taught and administered for nearly 20 years. He also gave private lessons in celestial navigation. He died in 1995, survived by his actress-ballerina wife, Eva Ralf, and their four children.