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C. Thomas Howell

Acting 59 years old Los Angeles, California, USA ★ 3.8
Born: December 7, 1966

Biography

Christopher Thomas Howell (born December 7, 1966), 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.

External Links

🌐 Official Website 🎬 IMDb 📷 Instagram 🐦 Twitter

Known For

The Poseidon Adventure
The Poseidon Adventure Doctor Ballard 2005
One Mile: Chapter One
One Mile: Chapter One Stanley Dixon 2026
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man Jack's Father 2012
H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds
H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds George Herbert 2005
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox Professor Zoom / Thawne (voice) 2013

Filmography

Acting Credits (209)

One Mile: Chapter Two
One Mile: Chapter Two Stanley Dixon 2026
One Mile: Chapter One
One Mile: Chapter One Stanley Dixon 2026
Where the Wind Blows
Where the Wind Blows Nathan 2025
Reagan
Reagan Caspar Weinberger 2024
Ride
Ride John Hawkins 2024
The Open Door
The Open Door Mr. Sapp 2024
Obliterated
Obliterated Hagerty 2023
Old Dads
Old Dads Ed Cameron 2023
Will Trent
Will Trent Warden Sturgill Hardly 2023
1923
1923 Anders 2022
Crimson Point
Crimson Point Frank 2022
Because We're Family
Because We're Family Peter 2022
The Wrong Path
The Wrong Path Dr. Eric Peselowe 2021
Beast Mode
Beast Mode Breen Nash 2020
Dauntless: The Battle of Midway
Dauntless: The Battle of Midway Captain Miles Browning 2019
Creepshow
Creepshow Sam Spinster 2019
Control
Control Control (voice) 2019
I Am Patrick Swayze
I Am Patrick Swayze Self 2019
The Good Cop
The Good Cop 2018
Urban Country
Urban Country Jim Craft 2018
Detroit Under S.T.R.E.S.S.
Detroit Under S.T.R.E.S.S. Narrator 2018
Dirty Dealing
Dirty Dealing Carter 2018
The Rack Pack
The Rack Pack Ted 2018
Rich Boy, Rich Girl
Rich Boy, Rich Girl Blake 2018
Deadman Standing
Deadman Standing The Stranger 2018
The Terror
The Terror Major Bowen 2018
Shifting Gears
Shifting Gears Jenkins 2018
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay Zoom (voice) 2018
Marvel's The Punisher
Marvel's The Punisher Carson Wolf 2017
LBJ
LBJ Walter Jenkins 2017
A Question of Faith
A Question of Faith John Danielson 2017
SEAL Team
SEAL Team Ash Spenser 2017
Mac Daddy's Vegas Adventure
Mac Daddy's Vegas Adventure 2017
Disconnected
Disconnected Robert Crawford 2017
The Shadow People
The Shadow People Kaine 2017
My B.F.F.
My B.F.F. Ben Wilkins 2016
Advance & Retreat
Advance & Retreat Nathan Shapiro 2016
MacGyver
MacGyver Vasil 2016
Attack of the Killer Donuts
Attack of the Killer Donuts Officer Roberts 2016
Blood Lust
Blood Lust Ryan 2016
Magic Hour
Magic Hour Tom Worthy 2015
A Christmas Eve Miracle
A Christmas Eve Miracle Jack Carter 2015
Woodlawn
Woodlawn George 'Shorty' White 2015
Lazarus Rising
Lazarus Rising Silent Cal 2015
Ties That Bind
Ties That Bind Mr. Witherspoon 2015
Rivers 9
Rivers 9 Sheriff Quentin 2015
Justice League: Gods and Monsters
Justice League: Gods and Monsters Dr. Will Magnus (voice) 2015
Stitchers
Stitchers Daniel Stinger 2015
Spirit Riders
Spirit Riders Keith 2015
Borrowed Moments
Borrowed Moments Jack 2015
Bosch
Bosch Louis Degner 2015
A Magic Christmas
A Magic Christmas Jack Carter 2014
Fruits De Mer
Fruits De Mer 2014
Confessions of a Womanizer
Confessions of a Womanizer Tony 2014
Rescuing Madison
Rescuing Madison Rad 2014
Category 5
Category 5 Charlie DuPuis 2014
Bigfoot Wars
Bigfoot Wars Zeke 2014
Christmas Belle
Christmas Belle Rex Everhart 2013
Storm Rider
Storm Rider Mitch Fielding 2013
Lost on Purpose
Lost on Purpose Delbert Furgeson 2013
The Blacklist
The Blacklist Earl Fagen 2013
Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow SAC Mick Granger 2013
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox Professor Zoom / Thawne (voice) 2013
Don't Pass Me By
Don't Pass Me By Jack 2013
An Amish Murder
An Amish Murder Nathan Detrick 2013
MoniKa
MoniKa Double 2012
Chilly Christmas
Chilly Christmas Patrick Cole 2012
The 'E.T.' Journals
The 'E.T.' Journals Self 2012
Revolution
Revolution Bounty Hunter 2012
Home Invasion
Home Invasion Ray 2012
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man Jack's Father 2012
Wedding Day
Wedding Day Russ 2012
Longmire
Longmire Ray Stewart 2012
Escape
Escape Paul Jordan 2012
Restitution
Restitution John Youngstown 2011
Grimm
Grimm Weston Steward 2011
Alphas
Alphas Eli Aquino 2011
Cross
Cross Jake 2011
Camel Spiders
Camel Spiders Sheriff Beaumont 2011
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead Roy 2010
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead Hilltop Resident 2010
Blue Bloods
Blue Bloods Alex Polanski 2010
Hawaii Five-0
Hawaii Five-0 Martin Cordova 2010
The Glades
The Glades Peyton Robinson 2010
Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood!
Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood! David 2010
The Terror Experiment
The Terror Experiment Chief Grasso 2010
Cupid's Arrow
Cupid's Arrow Professor Grimes 2010
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love Alumnus Guy #2 2009
Celebrity Ghost Stories
Celebrity Ghost Stories Self 2009
The Grind
The Grind Luke 2009
The Land That Time Forgot
The Land That Time Forgot Frost Michaels 2009
The Jailhouse
The Jailhouse Seth Delray 2009
Southland
Southland Officer Dewey Dudek 2009
Castle
Castle John Campbell 2009
Secret at Arrow Lake
Secret at Arrow Lake 2009
The Day the Earth Stopped
The Day the Earth Stopped Josh Myron 2008
A Gunfighter's Pledge
A Gunfighter's Pledge Horn 2008
Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy Agent Frank Eagan 2008
Big Game
Big Game Sully 2008
Celebracadabra
Celebracadabra 2008
Toxic
Toxic LIttle Joe 2008
House of Fallen
House of Fallen Thomas 2008
War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave
War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave George Herbert 2008
Xenophobia
Xenophobia Stone 2008
The Thirst: Blood War
The Thirst: Blood War Jed 2008
The Haunting of Marsten Manor
The Haunting of Marsten Manor Captain Williams 2007
Cold Ones
Cold Ones K.C. Corcoran 2007
Fighting Words
Fighting Words David Settles 2006
Torchwood
Torchwood The Gentleman 2006
Psych
Psych Camden Driggs 2006
The Da Vinci Treasure
The Da Vinci Treasure Michael Archer 2006
Hoboken Hollow
Hoboken Hollow Clayton Connelly 2006
The Poseidon Adventure
The Poseidon Adventure Doctor Ballard 2005
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds The Reaper / George Foyet 2005
Staying Gold: A Look Back at 'The Outsiders'
Staying Gold: A Look Back at 'The Outsiders' Self 2005
Glass Trap
Glass Trap Curtis 2005
H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds
H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds George Herbert 2005
The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam
The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam Coach Fielding 2005
Crimson Force
Crimson Force Capt. Baskin 2005
The Lost Angel
The Lost Angel Kuratha 2005
Ordinary Miracles
Ordinary Miracles Jim Powell 2005
The Hillside Strangler
The Hillside Strangler Kenneth Bianchi 2004
A Killer Within
A Killer Within Addison Terrill 2004
Summerland
Summerland Kyle Bale 2004
Zolar
Zolar Hedion 2004
Nursie
Nursie Zack 2004
Hidalgo
Hidalgo Preston Webb 2004
The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting
The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting Jim Halsey 2003
The Hitcher: How Do These Movies Get Made?
The Hitcher: How Do These Movies Get Made? 2003
Gods and Generals
Gods and Generals Sgt. Thomas Chamberlain 2003
Net Games
Net Games Adam Vance 2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Self 2003
Killer Bees
Killer Bees Sheriff Lyndon Harris 2002
WillFull
WillFull Nat Wolff 2002
Night of the Wolf
Night of the Wolf Sheriff Wade Messer 2002
Askari
Askari Joss Mckinley 2001
Asylum Days
Asylum Days Nathan Devine 2001
24
24 Barry Landes 2001
XCU: Extreme Close Up
XCU: Extreme Close Up Geoffrey Liddy 2001
Separate Ways
Separate Ways Tom Milton 2001
Burning Down the House
Burning Down the House Concierge 2001
Lawless: Dead Evidence
Lawless: Dead Evidence Dean Riley 2001
The District
The District Chris Gunner 2000
Son of the Beach
Son of the Beach 2000
The Million Dollar Kid
The Million Dollar Kid Valentino 2000
Hot Boyz
Hot Boyz Officer Roberts 2000
The Prince and the Surfer
The Prince and the Surfer Dean 1999
Amazon
Amazon Dr. Alex Kennedy 1999
Twice in a Lifetime
Twice in a Lifetime Tony Tremaine / Phil Barlow 1999
Escape from Alaska
Escape from Alaska Jack 1999
Fatal Affair
Fatal Affair Malcolm 'Mack' Maddox 1999
Red Team
Red Team J.B. Gaines 1999
Hitman's Run
Hitman's Run Tom Holly 1999
Cybermaster: Shepherd II
Cybermaster: Shepherd II Dakota 1999
Enemy Action
Enemy Action John Reed 1999
Charades
Charades Evan 1998
Matter of Trust
Matter of Trust Michael D'Angelo 1998
V.I.P.
V.I.P. Phil Sherman 1998
The Shepherd
The Shepherd Boris Dakota 1998
Sealed with a Kiss
Sealed with a Kiss Detective Mick Cullen 1998
Last Lives
Last Lives Aaron 1997
The Big Fall
The Big Fall Blaise Rybeck 1997
Sleeping Dogs
Sleeping Dogs Sanchez Boon 1997
Dead Fire
Dead Fire Tucker 1997
Laws of Deception
Laws of Deception Evan Marino 1997
Hourglass
Hourglass Michael Jardine 1997
Dilemma
Dilemma Thomas 'Quin' Quinlan 1997
Pure Danger
Pure Danger Johnie Dean 1996
The Sweeper
The Sweeper Mark Goddard 1996
Kindred: The Embraced
Kindred: The Embraced Det. Frank Kohanek 1996
Baby Face Nelson
Baby Face Nelson Baby Face Nelson 1996
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Mad Dogs and Englishmen Mike 1995
The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits Capt. Miles Davidow 1995
Dangerous Indiscretion
Dangerous Indiscretion Jim Lomax 1995
Payback
Payback Oscar Bonsetter 1995
Suspect Device
Suspect Device Dan Jericho 1995
ER
ER Vincent Jansen 1994
Teresa's Tattoo
Teresa's Tattoo Carl 1994
Natural Selection
Natural Selection Ben Braden / Alex Connelly 1994
Jailbait
Jailbait Sergeant Lee Teffler 1993
Gettysburg
Gettysburg Lieut. Thomas D. Chamberlain 1993
Treacherous
Treacherous Micky Stewert 1993
Tattle Tale
Tattle Tale Bernard Sprat 1993
Acting on Impulse
Acting on Impulse Paul Stevens 1993
To Protect and Serve
To Protect and Serve Egan 1992
Breaking the Rules
Breaking the Rules Gene Michaels 1992
That Night
That Night Rick 1992
Nickel & Dime
Nickel & Dime Jack Stone 1992
Kid
Kid Kid 1990
Curiosity Kills
Curiosity Kills Cat Thomas 1990
Far Out Man
Far Out Man Himself 1990
Side Out
Side Out Monroe Clark 1990
The Eyes of the Panther
The Eyes of the Panther Jenner Brading 1989
Nightmare Classics
Nightmare Classics Jenner Brading 1989
The Return of the Musketeers
The Return of the Musketeers Raoul 1989
Young Toscanini
Young Toscanini Arturo Toscanini 1988
A Tiger's Tale
A Tiger's Tale Bubber Drumm 1988
Into the Homeland
Into the Homeland Tripp Wilson 1987
Soul Man
Soul Man Mark Watson 1986
The Hitcher
The Hitcher Jim Halsey 1986
Secret Admirer
Secret Admirer Michael Ryan 1985
Moonlighting
Moonlighting Waiter (uncredited) 1985
Red Dawn
Red Dawn Robert 1984
Grandview, U.S.A.
Grandview, U.S.A. Tim Pearson 1984
Tank
Tank Billy 1984
The Hitchhiker
The Hitchhiker Gerald 1983
The Outsiders
The Outsiders Ponyboy Curtis 1983
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Tyler 1982
Dreadtown: The Steel Pulse Story
Dreadtown: The Steel Pulse Story Self

Directing Credits (7)

Writing Credits (3)

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