C. Thomas Howell

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

209

Gender

Male

Birthday

1966-12-07 (59 years old)

Place of Birth

Los Angeles, California, USA

C. Thomas Howell

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.

Known For

  • Criminal Minds

    Criminal Minds

  • The Blacklist

    The Blacklist

  • The Walking Dead

    The Walking Dead

  • The Walking Dead

    The Walking Dead

  • Hawaii Five-0

    Hawaii Five-0

  • 24

    24

  • Castle

    Castle

  • Blue Bloods

    Blue Bloods

  • Grimm

    Grimm

  • Sons of Anarchy

    Sons of Anarchy

  • ER

    ER

  • Psych

    Psych

  • SEAL Team

    SEAL Team

  • Bosch

    Bosch

  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!

    Jimmy Kimmel Live!

  • 1923

    1923

  • Southland

    Southland

  • MacGyver

    MacGyver

  • Will Trent

    Will Trent

  • Sleepy Hollow

    Sleepy Hollow

  • Marvel's The Punisher

    Marvel's The Punisher

  • Longmire

    Longmire

  • The Outer Limits

    The Outer Limits

  • V.I.P.

    V.I.P.

  • The Terror

    The Terror

  • The Amazing Spider-Man

    The Amazing Spider-Man

  • E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

    E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

  • Torchwood

    Torchwood

  • Moonlighting

    Moonlighting

  • The District

    The District

  • Obliterated

    Obliterated

  • Storm Rider

    Storm Rider

  • The Glades

    The Glades

  • Hidalgo

    Hidalgo

  • Reagan

    Reagan

  • Twice in a Lifetime

    Twice in a Lifetime

  • Alphas

    Alphas

  • LBJ

    LBJ

  • Rivers 9

    Rivers 9

  • The Hitchhiker

    The Hitchhiker

  • Celebrity Ghost Stories

    Celebrity Ghost Stories

  • Gettysburg

    Gettysburg

  • Pure Danger

    Pure Danger

  • Urban Country

    Urban Country

  • Secret Admirer

    Secret Admirer

  • One Mile: Chapter One

    One Mile: Chapter One

  • Rescuing Madison

    Rescuing Madison

  • Cold Ones

    Cold Ones

  • Payback

    Payback

  • Fatal Affair

    Fatal Affair

  • Creepshow

    Creepshow

  • Xenophobia

    Xenophobia

  • Dangerous Indiscretion

    Dangerous Indiscretion

  • Tank

    Tank

  • Christmas Belle

    Christmas Belle

  • Treacherous

    Treacherous

  • MoniKa

    MoniKa

  • Crimson Point

    Crimson Point

  • Stitchers

    Stitchers

  • Nickel & Dime

    Nickel & Dime

  • Asylum Days

    Asylum Days

  • Chilly Christmas

    Chilly Christmas

  • Revolution

    Revolution

  • Crimson Force

    Crimson Force

  • Attack of the Killer Donuts

    Attack of the Killer Donuts

  • The Outsiders

    The Outsiders

  • Net Games

    Net Games

  • Glass Trap

    Glass Trap

  • Toxic

    Toxic

  • Son of the Beach

    Son of the Beach

  • Fruits De Mer

    Fruits De Mer

  • Wedding Day

    Wedding Day

  • Natural Selection

    Natural Selection

  • My B.F.F.

    My B.F.F.

  • Ride

    Ride

  • Curiosity Kills

    Curiosity Kills

  • Big Game

    Big Game

  • WillFull

    WillFull

  • Cybermaster: Shepherd II

    Cybermaster: Shepherd II

  • Blood Lust

    Blood Lust

  • Summerland

    Summerland

  • Grandview, U.S.A.

    Grandview, U.S.A.

  • Cupid's Arrow

    Cupid's Arrow

  • The Jailhouse

    The Jailhouse

  • Restitution

    Restitution

  • Into the Homeland

    Into the Homeland

  • Night of the Wolf

    Night of the Wolf

  • Hitman's Run

    Hitman's Run

  • American Pie Presents: The Book of Love

    American Pie Presents: The Book of Love

  • Askari

    Askari

  • I Am Patrick Swayze

    I Am Patrick Swayze

  • The Good Cop

    The Good Cop

  • Nursie

    Nursie

  • Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox

    Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox

  • Old Dads

    Old Dads

  • House of Fallen

    House of Fallen

  • Advance & Retreat

    Advance & Retreat

  • Bigfoot Wars

    Bigfoot Wars

  • Baby Face Nelson

    Baby Face Nelson

  • Red Dawn

    Red Dawn

  • Because We're Family

    Because We're Family

  • Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay

    Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay

  • Kindred: The Embraced

    Kindred: The Embraced

  • Ordinary Miracles

    Ordinary Miracles

  • Beast Mode

    Beast Mode

  • The Hitcher

    The Hitcher

  • Dilemma

    Dilemma

  • Magic Hour

    Magic Hour

  • Red Team

    Red Team

  • The Eyes of the Panther

    The Eyes of the Panther

  • Camel Spiders

    Camel Spiders

  • A Killer Within

    A Killer Within

  • Shifting Gears

    Shifting Gears

  • Justice League: Gods and Monsters

    Justice League: Gods and Monsters

  • Ties That Bind

    Ties That Bind

  • Charades

    Charades

  • Amazon

    Amazon

  • The Sweeper

    The Sweeper

  • Soul Man

    Soul Man

  • The Poseidon Adventure

    The Poseidon Adventure

  • Where the Wind Blows

    Where the Wind Blows

  • Hot Boyz

    Hot Boyz

  • Nightmare Classics

    Nightmare Classics

  • XCU: Extreme Close Up

    XCU: Extreme Close Up

  • Woodlawn

    Woodlawn

  • Kid

    Kid

  • Dirty Dealing

    Dirty Dealing

  • Gods and Generals

    Gods and Generals

  • Borrowed Moments

    Borrowed Moments

  • A Magic Christmas

    A Magic Christmas

  • Deadman Standing

    Deadman Standing

  • That Night

    That Night

  • An Amish Murder

    An Amish Murder

  • Sealed with a Kiss

    Sealed with a Kiss

  • War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave

    War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave

  • Cross

    Cross

  • The Grind

    The Grind

  • Side Out

    Side Out

  • The Land That Time Forgot

    The Land That Time Forgot

  • Rich Boy, Rich Girl

    Rich Boy, Rich Girl

  • The 'E.T.' Journals

    The 'E.T.' Journals

  • The Return of the Musketeers

    The Return of the Musketeers

  • A Question of Faith

    A Question of Faith

  • Escape

    Escape

  • The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting

    The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting

  • The Lost Angel

    The Lost Angel

  • The Hillside Strangler

    The Hillside Strangler

  • Teresa's Tattoo

    Teresa's Tattoo

  • The Big Fall

    The Big Fall

  • Dauntless: The Battle of Midway

    Dauntless: The Battle of Midway

  • H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds

    H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds

  • A Gunfighter's Pledge

    A Gunfighter's Pledge

  • Sleeping Dogs

    Sleeping Dogs

  • Breaking the Rules

    Breaking the Rules

  • The Day the Earth Stopped

    The Day the Earth Stopped

  • Dead Fire

    Dead Fire

  • One Mile: Chapter Two

    One Mile: Chapter Two

  • Category 5

    Category 5

  • Jailbait

    Jailbait

  • Acting on Impulse

    Acting on Impulse

  • Killer Bees

    Killer Bees

  • Spirit Riders

    Spirit Riders

  • Far Out Man

    Far Out Man

  • Separate Ways

    Separate Ways

  • Hourglass

    Hourglass

  • Hoboken Hollow

    Hoboken Hollow

  • The Terror Experiment

    The Terror Experiment

  • Home Invasion

    Home Invasion

  • The Thirst: Blood War

    The Thirst: Blood War

  • Escape from Alaska

    Escape from Alaska

  • Celebracadabra

    Celebracadabra

  • The Million Dollar Kid

    The Million Dollar Kid

  • The Prince and the Surfer

    The Prince and the Surfer

  • Matter of Trust

    Matter of Trust

  • The Shadow People

    The Shadow People

  • Young Toscanini

    Young Toscanini

  • Disconnected

    Disconnected

  • A Christmas Eve Miracle

    A Christmas Eve Miracle

  • Zolar

    Zolar

  • A Tiger's Tale

    A Tiger's Tale

  • Staying Gold: A Look Back at 'The Outsiders'

    Staying Gold: A Look Back at 'The Outsiders'

  • Confessions of a Womanizer

    Confessions of a Womanizer

  • Burning Down the House

    Burning Down the House

  • Lazarus Rising

    Lazarus Rising

  • Mad Dogs and Englishmen

    Mad Dogs and Englishmen

  • The Hitcher: How Do These Movies Get Made?

    The Hitcher: How Do These Movies Get Made?

  • Tattle Tale

    Tattle Tale

  • Lost on Purpose

    Lost on Purpose

  • Enemy Action

    Enemy Action

  • Fighting Words

    Fighting Words

  • Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood!

    Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood!

  • The Shepherd

    The Shepherd

  • The Wrong Path

    The Wrong Path

  • To Protect and Serve

    To Protect and Serve

  • The Da Vinci Treasure

    The Da Vinci Treasure

  • Don't Pass Me By

    Don't Pass Me By

  • Laws of Deception

    Laws of Deception

  • Dreadtown: The Steel Pulse Story

    Dreadtown: The Steel Pulse Story

  • Mac Daddy's Vegas Adventure

    Mac Daddy's Vegas Adventure

  • Suspect Device

    Suspect Device

  • The Rack Pack

    The Rack Pack

  • The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam

    The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam

  • The Open Door

    The Open Door

  • Secret at Arrow Lake

    Secret at Arrow Lake

  • Control

    Control

  • The Haunting of Marsten Manor

    The Haunting of Marsten Manor

  • Last Lives

    Last Lives

  • Lawless: Dead Evidence

    Lawless: Dead Evidence

  • Detroit Under S.T.R.E.S.S.

    Detroit Under S.T.R.E.S.S.