C. Thomas Howell
Photoplayd Industry Rating
Not enough rated films yet to compute a weighted score.
Roles are weighted by involvement: director 1.0, screenwriter 0.7, lead 0.8, supporting 0.4, crew 0.1.
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
Credits
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
as Jack's Father
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
as Tyler
One Mile: Chapter One (2026)
as Stanley Dixon
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay (2018)
as Zoom (voice)
Hidalgo (2004)
as Preston Webb
The Outsiders (1983)
as Ponyboy Curtis
One Mile: Chapter Two (2026)
as Stanley Dixon
Red Dawn (1984)
as Robert
The Hitcher (1986)
as Jim Halsey
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love (2009)
as Alumnus Guy #2
Reagan (2024)
as Caspar Weinberger
LBJ (2017)
as Walter Jenkins
Toxic (2008)
as LIttle Joe
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013)
as Professor Zoom / Thawne (voice)
Old Dads (2023)
as Ed Cameron
Dangerous Indiscretion (1995)
as Jim Lomax
Gettysburg (1993)
as Lieut. Thomas D. Chamberlain
Tank (1984)
as Billy
Justice League: Gods and Monsters (2015)
as Dr. Will Magnus (voice)
The Horseman (—)
Actor
I Am Patrick Swayze (2019)
as Self
The E.T. Journals (2012)
as Self
Urban Country (2018)
as Jim Craft
Soul Man (1986)
as Mark Watson
Hot Boyz (2000)
as Officer Roberts
Restitution (2011)
as John Youngstown
The Return of the Musketeers (1989)
as Raoul
The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting (2003)
as Jim Halsey
Secret Admirer (1985)
as Michael Ryan
Gods and Generals (2003)
as Sgt. Thomas Chamberlain
Ordinary Miracles (2005)
as Jim Powell
Baby Face Nelson (1996)
as Baby Face Nelson
A Question of Faith (2017)
as John Danielson
Escape (2012)
as Paul Jordan
Kid (1990)
as Kid
Where the Wind Blows (2025)
as Nathan
The Poseidon Adventure (2005)
as Doctor Ballard
Into the Homeland (1987)
as Tripp Wilson
The Grind (2009)
as Luke
A Killer Within (2004)
as Addison Terrill
Woodlawn (2015)
as George 'Shorty' White
Chilly Christmas (2012)
as Patrick Cole
Nickel & Dime (1992)
as Jack Stone
War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave (2008)
as George Herbert
H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds (2005)
as George Herbert
Payback (1995)
as Oscar Bonsetter
Natural Selection (1994)
as Ben Braden / Alex Connelly
Dauntless: The Battle of Midway (2019)
as Captain Miles Browning
The Land That Time Forgot (2009)
as Frost Michaels
WillFull (2002)
as Nat Wolff
Big Game (2008)
as Sully
Attack of the Killer Donuts (2016)
as Officer Roberts
Magic Hour (2015)
as Tom Worthy
Rich Boy, Rich Girl (2018)
as Blake
Borrowed Moments (2015)
as Jack
The Sin Seer (2015)
as Detective Riggers
Dirty Dealing (2018)
as Carter
Grandview, U.S.A. (1984)
as Tim Pearson
Category 5 (2014)
as Charlie DuPuis
That Night (1992)
as Rick
The Day the Earth Stopped (2008)
as Josh Myron
Storm Rider (2013)
as Mitch Fielding
Spirit Riders (2015)
as Keith
A Tiger's Tale (1988)
as Bubber Drumm
Camel Spiders (2011)
as Sheriff Beaumont
Cross (2011)
as Jake
Far Out Man (1990)
as C. Thomas Howell
A Christmas Eve Miracle (2015)
as Jack Carter
The Lost Angel (2005)
as Kuratha
Cupid's Arrow (2010)
as Professor Grimes
The Eyes of the Panther (1989)
as Jenner Brading
The Greatest Actress in the World (—)
Actor
The Da Vinci Treasure (2006)
as Michael Archer
Ride (2024)
as John Hawkins
MoniKa (2012)
as Double
An Amish Murder (2013)
as Nathan Detrick
Hoboken Hollow (2006)
as Clayton Connelly
Teresa's Tattoo (1994)
as Carl
The Million Dollar Kid (2000)
as Valentino
The Hillside Strangler (2004)
as Kenneth Bianchi
Acting on Impulse (1993)
as Paul Stevens
Side Out (1990)
as Monroe Clark
Don't Pass Me By (2013)
as Jack
Askari (2001)
as Joss Mckinley
Confessions of a Womanizer (2014)
as Tony
The Prince and the Surfer (1999)
as Dean
Breaking the Rules (1992)
as Gene Michaels
Escape from Alaska (1999)
as Jack
Separate Ways (2001)
as Tom Milton
The Shepherd (1998)
as Boris Dakota
House of Fallen (2008)
as Thomas
Jailbait (1993)
as Sergeant Lee Teffler
Crimson Force (2005)
as Capt. Baskin
A Magic Christmas (2014)
as Jack Carter
Deadman Standing (2018)
as The Stranger
Secret at Arrow Lake (2009)
Actor
The Sweeper (1996)
as Mark Goddard
Killer Bees (2002)
as Sheriff Lyndon Harris
Suspect Device (1995)
as Dan Jericho
Christmas Belle (2013)
as Rex Everhart
Net Games (2003)
as Adam Vance
Sleeping Dogs (1997)
as Sanchez Boon
Detroit Under S.T.R.E.S.S. (2018)
as Narrator
Mad Dogs and Englishmen (1995)
as Mike
A Gunfighter's Pledge (2008)
as Horn
To Protect and Serve (1992)
as Egan
The Terror Experiment (2010)
as Chief Grasso
The Open Door (2024)
as Mr. Sapp
Nursie (2004)
as Zack
The Hitcher: How Do These Movies Get Made? (2003)
Actor
Advance & Retreat (2016)
as Nathan Shapiro
Night of the Wolf (2002)
as Sheriff Wade Messer
Pure Danger (1996)
as Johnie Dean
Asylum Days (2001)
as Nathan Devine
Glass Trap (2005)
as Curtis
Burning Down the House (2001)
as Concierge
Curiosity Kills (1990)
as Cat Thomas
Dead Fire (1997)
as Tucker
Staying Gold: A Look Back at 'The Outsiders' (2005)
as Self
Beast Mode (2020)
as Breen Nash
Young Toscanini (1988)
as Arturo Toscanini
The Thirst: Blood War (2008)
as Jed
The Jailhouse (2009)
as Seth Delray
Red Team (1999)
as J.B. Gaines
Dilemma (1997)
as Thomas 'Quin' Quinlan
Mac Daddy's Vegas Adventure (2017)
Actor
Because We're Family (2022)
as Peter
XCU: Extreme Close Up (2001)
as Geoffrey Liddy
Lost on Purpose (2013)
as Delbert Furgeson
The Wrong Path (2021)
as Dr. Eric Peselowe
The Shadow People (2017)
as Kaine
Shifting Gears (2018)
as Jenkins
Hitman's Run (1999)
as Tom Holly
Hourglass (1997)
as Michael Jardine
Rivers 9 (2015)
as Sheriff Quentin
Home Invasion (2012)
as Ray
Cybermaster: Shepherd II (1999)
as Dakota
Lazarus Rising (2015)
as Silent Cal
Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood! (2010)
as David
Charades (1998)
as Evan
Dreadtown: The Steel Pulse Story (—)
as Self
Blood Lust (2016)
as Ryan
Treacherous (1993)
as Micky Stewert
Cold Ones (2007)
as K.C. Corcoran
The Big Fall (1997)
as Blaise Rybeck
The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam (2005)
as Coach Fielding
Sealed with a Kiss (1998)
as Detective Mick Cullen
Rescuing Madison (2014)
as Rad
Enemy Action (1999)
as John Reed
Laws of Deception (1997)
as Evan Marino
Zolar (2004)
as Hedion
Matter of Trust (1998)
as Michael D'Angelo
My B.F.F. (2016)
as Ben Wilkins
The Haunting of Marsten Manor (2007)
as Captain Williams
Crimson Point (2022)
as Frank
Fighting Words (2006)
as David Settles
Lawless: Dead Evidence (2001)
as Dean Riley
Wedding Day (2012)
as Russ
Fatal Affair (1999)
as Malcolm 'Mack' Maddox
Bigfoot Wars (2014)
as Zeke
Disconnected (2017)
as Robert Crawford
Last Lives (1997)
as Aaron
Control (2019)
as Control (voice)
The Glass Jar (1999)
as Lanois
The Rack Pack (2018)
as Ted
Fruits De Mer (2014)
Actor
Xenophobia (2008)
as Stone
Tattle Tale (1993)
as Bernard Sprat