His mother, Stella (Bennett), worked in a candy factory and his father, John W. Miller, was a tire salesman who emigrated from Canada before his son's birth.

[3] He attended the University of Southern California where he played on the Trojan Football Team and was initiated into the Sigma Chi fraternity.

Miller then served in the Army and played professional football before he was knocked unconscious during a game, one where Walt Disney was in attendance.

Miller told entertainment reporter Dale Pollock in August 1984: My father-in-law saw me play in two football games when I was with the Los Angeles Rams.

Bill Orr, who was Jack L. Warner's son-in-law, called in Miller to audition as Walker's replacement, and was impressed enough to schedule a screen test.

Miller was credited as executive producer on films including Escape to Witch Mountain (1975), Freaky Friday (1976), The Rescuers (1977), Pete's Dragon (1977), The Fox and the Hound (1981), Tron (1982), and The Black Cauldron (1985).

[7] After Miller left The Walt Disney Company in 1984, he and Diane resettled in the Napa Valley which became their permanent home.

Ron and Diane established Silverado Vineyards in 1981,[8] four years after the first acreage was purchased near the small town of Yountville, California.

[8][9] As a student-athlete, Miller was introduced to 20-year-old student Diane Disney on a blind date after playing in a football game.