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C. Thomas Howell
Actor, Director, Producer, Writer, Additional CreditsBorn December 7, 1966 (58 years)
Christopher Thomas Howell, usually credited as C. Thomas Howell, is an American actor and film director. He starred in the films The Outsiders as Ponyboy Curtis and in The Hitcher as Jim Halsey. He has appeared in Soul Man, Red Dawn, Secret Admirer, Gettysburg, H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds, The Day the Earth Stopped and Gods and Generals. Howell was born in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles to Christopher N. and Candice Howell. He has three siblings.
His father worked as a stunt coordinator and rodeo performer. He played the role of the Red Knight in Terry Gilliam’s The Fisher King. As a young boy, Howell wanted to be a stuntman and was a child stunt performer. He was also a rodeo star.
When Howell was young, his parents divorced. Howell graduated from Saugus High School in 1984.
In 1982, Howell made his film debut as Tyler in Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
At the age of 15 in 1981, Howell was cast in Francis Ford Coppola's The Outsiders (1983). Howell played the lead role of Ponyboy Curtis, "the soulful tagalong greaser through whose eyes we see the events of the 1960s-set film unfold." Based on S.E. Hinton's bestselling 1967 novel of the same name,the coming-of-age film went on to become a cult classic. Howell's portrayal of Ponyboy was his breakthrough role, and it earned him a Young Artist Award.
In 1984, Howell and his Outsiders co-star Patrick Swayze reunited for Grandview, U.S.A. and Red Dawn. Howell also had a pivotal role in Tank (1984). In 1985, he starred in Secret Admirer. After filming The Outsiders, Howell co-starred in his own television series Two Marriages, which ended after four episodes, but letters of support got it back on air. He later expressed disappointment in the series.
Howell was one of two final actors in the running for the lead role of Marty McFly in Back to the Future (1985); the other was Eric Stoltz. Ultimately, Michael J. Fox was cast as Marty after Stoltz was deemed wrong for the part. In 1986, Howell was a hitchhiker's target in the film The Hitcher. He also starred in the sequel, which was released in 2003. In 1986, Howell starred in Soul Man, a film in which Howell appears in Blackface. Rounding out the 1980s , Howell played the young Arturo Toscanini in Franco Zeffirelli's 1988 film Young Toscanini.
His father worked as a stunt coordinator and rodeo performer. He played the role of the Red Knight in Terry Gilliam’s The Fisher King. As a young boy, Howell wanted to be a stuntman and was a child stunt performer. He was also a rodeo star.
When Howell was young, his parents divorced. Howell graduated from Saugus High School in 1984.
In 1982, Howell made his film debut as Tyler in Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
At the age of 15 in 1981, Howell was cast in Francis Ford Coppola's The Outsiders (1983). Howell played the lead role of Ponyboy Curtis, "the soulful tagalong greaser through whose eyes we see the events of the 1960s-set film unfold." Based on S.E. Hinton's bestselling 1967 novel of the same name,the coming-of-age film went on to become a cult classic. Howell's portrayal of Ponyboy was his breakthrough role, and it earned him a Young Artist Award.
In 1984, Howell and his Outsiders co-star Patrick Swayze reunited for Grandview, U.S.A. and Red Dawn. Howell also had a pivotal role in Tank (1984). In 1985, he starred in Secret Admirer. After filming The Outsiders, Howell co-starred in his own television series Two Marriages, which ended after four episodes, but letters of support got it back on air. He later expressed disappointment in the series.
Howell was one of two final actors in the running for the lead role of Marty McFly in Back to the Future (1985); the other was Eric Stoltz. Ultimately, Michael J. Fox was cast as Marty after Stoltz was deemed wrong for the part. In 1986, Howell was a hitchhiker's target in the film The Hitcher. He also starred in the sequel, which was released in 2003. In 1986, Howell starred in Soul Man, a film in which Howell appears in Blackface. Rounding out the 1980s , Howell played the young Arturo Toscanini in Franco Zeffirelli's 1988 film Young Toscanini.
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Filmography
| 2024 | Reagan · as Caspar Weinberger |
| 2024 | Ride · as John Hawkins |
| 2023 | Obliterated (TV Series) · as Hagerty |
| 2023 | Old Dads · as Ed Cameron |
| 2023 | Crimson Point · as Frank |
| 2023 | Will Trent (TV Series) · as Warden Sturgill Hardly |
| 2022 | 1923 (TV Series) · as Anders |
| 2022 | Because We're Family · as Peter |
| 2022 | Icons Unearthed (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 2021 | The Wrong Path · as Dr. Eric Peselowe |
| 2020 | Beast Mode · as Breen Nash |
| 2019 | |
| 2019 | Dauntless: The Battle of Midway · as Captain Miles Browning |
| 2018 | Deadman Standing · as The Stranger |
| 2018 | The Good Cop (2018) (TV Series) |
| 2018 | Urban Country · as Jim Craft |
| 2018 | Detroit Under S.T.R.E.S.S. · as Narrator |
| 2018 | Dirty Dealing 3D · as Carter |
| 2018 | The Rack Pack · as Ted |
| 2018 | Rich Boy, Rich Girl · as Blake |
| 2018 | Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay · as Eobard Thawne / Professor Zoom (voice) |
| 2018 | The Terror (TV Series) · as Major Bowen |
| 2018 | Shifting Gears · as Jenkins |
| 2017 | Marvel's The Punisher (TV Series) · as Carson Wolf |
| 2017 | Dynasty (2017) (TV Series) · as Max Van Kirk |
| 2017 | A Question of Faith · as John Danielson |
| 2017 | SEAL Team (TV Series) · as Ash Spenser |
| 2017 | |
| 2017 | Disconnected · as Robert Crawford |
| 2017 | The Shadow People · as Kaine |
| 2016 | My B.F.F. · as Ben Wilkins |
| 2016 | Advance & Retreat · as Nathan Shapiro |
| 2016 | |
| 2016 | MacGyver (2016) (TV Series) · as Vasil |
| 2016 | Attack of the Killer Donuts · as Officer Roberts |
| 2016 | Animal Kingdom (2016) (TV Series) · as Paul |
| 2016 | Outcast (TV Series) · as Simon Barnes |
| 2016 | Blood Lust · as Ryan |
| 2015 | A Christmas Eve Miracle · as Jack Carter |
| 2015 | Magic Hour · as Tom Worthy |
| 2015 | Woodlawn · as George 'shorty' White |
| 2015 | The Sin Seer · as Detective Riggers |
| 2015 | Lazarus Rising · as Silent Cal |
| 2015 | Ties That Bind (TV Series) · as Mr. Witherspoon |
| 2015 | Justice League: Gods and Monsters · as Dr. Will Magnus (voice) |
| 2015 | Rivers 9 · as Sheriff Quentin |
| 2015 | Stitchers (TV Series) · as Daniel Stinger |
| 2015 | Spirit Riders · as Keith |
| 2014 | Borrowed Moments · as Jack |
| 2014 | Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce (TV Series) · as Nate |
| 2014 | A Magic Christmas · as Jack Carter |
| 2014 | Confessions of a Womanizer · as Tony |
| 2014 | Rescuing Madison · as Rad |
| 2014 | Category 5 · as Charlie Dupuis |
| 2014 | Bigfoot Wars · as Zeke |
| 2014 | Bosch (TV Series) · as Louis Degner |
| 2013 | Christmas Belle · as Rex Everhart |
| 2013 | Storm Rider · as Mitch Fielding |
| 2013 | Lost on Purpose · as Delbert Furgeson |
| 2013 | The Blacklist (TV Series) · as Earl Fagen |
| 2013 | Sleepy Hollow (TV Series) · as Sac Mick Granger |
| 2013 | Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox · as Professor Eobard 'zoom' Thawne / Reverse-Flash (voice) |
| 2013 | Ray Donovan (TV Series) · as Dr. Brogan |
| 2013 | Motive (TV Series) · as Joe Hillis |
| 2013 | The Devil's Dozen · as Cast |
| 2013 | Don't Pass Me By · as Jack |
| 2013 | An Amish Murder · as Nathan Detrick |
| 2012 | MoniKa · as Double |
| 2012 | Chilly Christmas · as Patrick Cole |
| 2012 | Revolution (TV Series) · as Bounty Hunter |
| 2012 | The Amazing Spider-Man · as Jack's Father |
| 2012 | Wedding Day · as Russ |
| 2012 | Longmire (TV Series) · as Ray Stewart |
| 2012 | Home Invasion · as Ray |
| 2012 | Escape · as Paul Jordan |
| 2011 | Restitution · as John Youngstown |
| 2011 | Grimm (TV Series) · as Weston Steward |
| 2011 | Alphas (TV Series) · as Eli Aquino |
| 2011 | Cross · as Jake |
| 2011 | CHAOS (TV Series) · as Carson Simms |
| 2011 | Camel Spiders · as Sheriff Beaumont |
| 2010 | The Walking Dead (TV Series) · as Roy |
| 2010 | Blue Bloods (TV Series) · as Alex Polanski |
| 2010 | Hawaii Five-0 (TV Series) · as Martin Cordova |
| 2010 | The Glades (TV Series) · as Peyton Robinson |
| 2010 | The Terror Experiment · as Chief Grasso |
| 2010 | Cupid's Arrow · as Professor Grimes |
| 2009 | Camouflage · as Stanley |
| 2009 | American Pie Presents: The Book of Love · as Alumnus Guy #2 |
| 2009 | The Grind · as Luke |
| 2009 | The Land That Time Forgot · as Frost Michaels |
| 2009 | The Jailhouse · as Seth Delray |
| 2009 | SouthLAnd (TV Series) · as Officer Dewey Dudek |
| 2009 | Castle (2009) (TV Series) · as John Campbell |
| 2009 | Fuel · as Shane |
| 2009 | |
| 2008 | Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood! · as David |
| 2008 | The Day the Earth Stopped · as Josh Myron |
| 2008 | Sons of Anarchy (TV Series) · as Agent Frank Eagan |
| 2008 | |
| 2008 | |
| 2008 | A Gunfighter's Pledge · as Horn |
| 2008 | Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly (TV Series) |
| 2008 | War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave · as George Herbert |
| 2008 | House of Fallen · as Thomas |
| 2008 | The Thirst: Blood War · as Jed |
| 2007 | The Haunting of Marsten Manor · as Captain Williams |
| 2007 | |
| 2006 | The Far Side of Jericho · as Little Jemmy Thornton |
| 2006 | Fighting Words · as David Settles |
| 2006 | Torchwood (TV Series) · as The Gentleman |
| 2006 | Smith (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 2006 | Psych (TV Series) · as Camden Driggs |
| 2006 | The Da Vinci Treasure · as Michael Archer |
| 2006 | Hoboken Hollow · as Clayton Connelly |
| 2005 | The Poseidon Adventure · as Doctor Ballard |
| 2005 | Criminal Minds (TV Series) · as The Reaper / George Foyet |
| 2005 | Glass Trap · as Curtis |
| 2005 | War of the Worlds · as George Herbert |
| 2005 | The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam · as Coach Fielding |
| 2005 | Crimson Force · as Capt. Baskin |
| 2005 | The Lost Angel · as Kuratha |
| 2005 | Ordinary Miracles · as Jim Powell |
| 2004 | The Hillside Strangler · as Kenneth Bianchi |
| 2004 | A Killer Within · as Addison Terrill |
| 2004 | Summerland (TV Series) · as Kyle Bale |
| 2004 | |
| 2004 | Hidalgo · as Preston Webb |
| 2004 | Nursie · as Zack |
| 2003 | The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting · as Jim Halsey |
| 2003 | Gods and Generals · as Sgt. Thomas Chamberlain |
| 2003 | Net Games · as Adam Vance |
| 2003 | Behind the Scenes: Asylum Days · as Nathan |
| 2002 | Killer Bees · as Sheriff Lyndon Harris |
| 2002 | Night of the Wolf · as Sheriff Wade Messer |
| 2001 | WillFull · as Nat Wolff |
| 2001 | |
| 2001 | Asylum Days · as Nathan Devine |
| 2001 | 24 (TV Series) · as Barry Landes |
| 2001 | XCU: Extreme Close Up · as Geoffrey Liddy |
| 2001 | Burning Down the House · as Concierge |
| 2001 | Lawless: Dead Evidence · as Dean Riley |
| 2000 | The District (TV Series) · as Chris Gunner |
| 2000 | Hot Boyz · as Officer Roberts |
| 2000 | Son of the Beach (TV Series) |
| 2000 | The Million Dollar Kid · as Valentino |
| 1999 | The Prince and the Surfer · as Dean |
| 1999 | |
| 1999 | Amazon (TV Series) · as Dr. Alex Kennedy |
| 1999 | Twice in a Lifetime (TV Series) |
| 1999 | |
| 1999 | Hitman's Run · as Tom Holly |
| 1999 | Enemy Action · as John Reed |
| 1999 | Shepherd II · as Dakota |
| 1999 | The Glass Jar · as Lanois |
| 1998 | |
| 1998 | Matter of Trust · as Michael D'angelo |
| 1998 | V.I.P. (TV Series) · as Phil Sherman |
| 1998 | Shepherd · as Boris Dakota |
| 1998 | Fatal Affair · as Malcolm 'mack' Maddox |
| 1998 | Love Boat: The Next Wave (TV Series) · as John |
| 1998 | Sealed with a Kiss · as Detective Mick Cullen |
| 1997 | Last Lives · as Aaron |
| 1997 | The Big Fall · as Blaise Rybeck |
| 1997 | Sleeping Dogs · as Sanchez Boon |
| 1997 | |
| 1997 | Laws of Deception · as Evan Marino |
| 1997 | Dead Man's Gun (TV Series) · as Henry Hubble |
| 1997 | Dilemma · as Thomas 'quin' Quinlan |
| 1997 | Dads · as Tom |
| 1996 | Pure Danger · as Johnie Dean |
| 1996 | The Sweeper · as Mark Goddard |
| 1996 | Kindred: The Embraced (TV Series) · as Det. Frank Kohanek |
| 1996 | Baby Face Nelson · as Baby Face Nelson |
| 1995 | Hourglass · as Michael Jardine |
| 1995 | Suspect Device · as Dan Jericho |
| 1995 | Mad Dogs and Englishmen · as Mike |
| 1995 | The Outer Limits (1995) (TV Series) · as Capt. Miles Davidow |
| 1995 | Payback · as Oscar Bonsetter |
| 1995 | Dangerous Indiscretion · as Jim Lomax |
| 1994 | ER (TV Series) · as Vincent Jansen |
| 1994 | Teresa's Tattoo · as Carl |
| 1994 | Natural Selection · as Ben Braden / Alex Connelly |
| 1993 | Jailbait · as Sergeant Lee Teffler |
| 1993 | Gettysburg · as Lieut. Thomas D. Chamberlain |
| 1993 | Treacherous · as Micky Stewert |
| 1993 | Acting on Impulse · as Paul Stevens |
| 1992 | That Night · as Rick |
| 1992 | Tattle Tale · as Bernard Sprat |
| 1992 | To Protect and Serve · as Egan |
| 1992 | Breaking the Rules · as Gene Michaels |
| 1992 | Nickel & Dime · as Jack Stone |
| 1991 | Michael Jackson: Black or White · as (special Appearance) |
| 1990 | Kid · as Kid |
| 1990 | Curiosity Kills · as Cat Thomas |
| 1990 | Side Out · as Monroe Clark |
| 1989 | Nightmare Classics (TV Series) · as Jenner Brading |
| 1989 | The Return of the Musketeers · as Raoul |
| 1988 | Young Toscanini · as Arturo Toscanini |
| 1987 | Into the Homeland · as Tripp Wilson |
| 1987 | A Tiger's Tale · as Bubber Drumm |
| 1986 | Soul Man · as Mark Watson |
| 1986 | The Hitcher · as Jim Halsey |
| 1985 | Secret Admirer · as Michael Ryan |
| 1985 | Moonlighting (TV Series) · as Waiter (uncredited) |
| 1984 | Red Dawn · as Robert |
| 1984 | Grandview, U.S.A. · as Tim Pearson |
| 1984 | Tank · as Billy |
| 1983 | The Hitchhiker (TV Series) · as Gerald |
| 1983 | The Outsiders · as Ponyboy Curtis |
| 1982 | E.T. · as Tyler |
Where the Wind Blows · as Nathan |