C. Thomas Howell
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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
The Outsiders (1983)
as Ponyboy Curtis
One Mile: Chapter Two (2026)
as Stanley Dixon
The Hitcher (1986)
as Jim Halsey
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay (2018)
as Zoom (voice)
Old Dads (2023)
as Ed Cameron
Red Dawn (1984)
as Robert
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013)
as Professor Zoom / Thawne (voice)
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love (2009)
as Alumnus Guy #2
Hidalgo (2004)
as Preston Webb
Reagan (2024)
as Caspar Weinberger
The Poseidon Adventure (2005)
as Doctor Ballard
Justice League: Gods and Monsters (2015)
as Dr. Will Magnus (voice)
Gods and Generals (2003)
as Sgt. Thomas Chamberlain
Gettysburg (1993)
as Lieut. Thomas D. Chamberlain
Secret Admirer (1985)
as Michael Ryan
LBJ (2017)
as Walter Jenkins
Tank (1984)
as Billy
Soul Man (1986)
as Mark Watson
The Return of the Musketeers (1989)
as Raoul
Dirty Dealing (2018)
as Carter
A Question of Faith (2017)
as John Danielson
Payback (1995)
as Oscar Bonsetter
Woodlawn (2015)
as George 'Shorty' White
Urban Country (2018)
as Jim Craft
Cross (2011)
as Jake
Grandview, U.S.A. (1984)
as Tim Pearson
Ordinary Miracles (2005)
as Jim Powell
Dangerous Indiscretion (1995)
as Jim Lomax
Side Out (1990)
as Monroe Clark
Killer Bees (2002)
as Sheriff Lyndon Harris
Toxic (2008)
as LIttle Joe
H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds (2005)
as George Herbert
That Night (1992)
as Rick
War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave (2008)
as George Herbert
I Am Patrick Swayze (2019)
as Self
Dauntless: The Battle of Midway (2019)
as Captain Miles Browning
The Terror Experiment (2010)
as Chief Grasso
The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting (2003)
as Jim Halsey
Attack of the Killer Donuts (2016)
as Officer Roberts
Hot Boyz (2000)
as Officer Roberts
Big Game (2008)
as Sully
Nickel & Dime (1992)
as Jack Stone
The Land That Time Forgot (2009)
as Frost Michaels
The Sweeper (1996)
as Mark Goddard
Camel Spiders (2011)
as Sheriff Beaumont
Where the Wind Blows (2025)
as Nathan
Spirit Riders (2015)
as Keith
Chilly Christmas (2012)
as Patrick Cole
Natural Selection (1994)
as Ben Braden / Alex Connelly
Young Toscanini (1988)
as Arturo Toscanini
Borrowed Moments (2015)
as Jack
Escape (2012)
as Paul Jordan
Restitution (2011)
as John Youngstown
Kid (1990)
as Kid
Magic Hour (2015)
as Tom Worthy
Hoboken Hollow (2006)
as Clayton Connelly
Into the Homeland (1987)
as Tripp Wilson
An Amish Murder (2013)
as Nathan Detrick
A Gunfighter's Pledge (2008)
as Horn
The Day the Earth Stopped (2008)
as Josh Myron
Category 5 (2014)
as Charlie DuPuis
Far Out Man (1990)
as Himself
The Open Door (2024)
as Mr. Sapp
Ride (2024)
as John Hawkins
Storm Rider (2013)
as Mitch Fielding
Net Games (2003)
as Adam Vance
Pure Danger (1996)
as Johnie Dean
The Million Dollar Kid (2000)
as Valentino
Jailbait (1993)
as Sergeant Lee Teffler
MoniKa (2012)
as Double
The Lost Angel (2005)
as Kuratha
Glass Trap (2005)
as Curtis
Breaking the Rules (1992)
as Gene Michaels
Beast Mode (2020)
as Breen Nash
Dead Fire (1997)
as Tucker
The Big Fall (1997)
as Blaise Rybeck
Christmas Belle (2013)
as Rex Everhart
Home Invasion (2012)
as Ray
Curiosity Kills (1990)
as Cat Thomas
Deadman Standing (2018)
as The Stranger
The Hillside Strangler (2004)
as Kenneth Bianchi
Hitman's Run (1999)
as Tom Holly
The Grind (2009)
as Luke
Teresa's Tattoo (1994)
as Carl
Rescuing Madison (2014)
as Rad
Baby Face Nelson (1996)
as Baby Face Nelson
The 'E.T.' Journals (2012)
as Self
Secret at Arrow Lake (2009)
Actor
The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam (2005)
as Coach Fielding
House of Fallen (2008)
as Thomas
Rich Boy, Rich Girl (2018)
as Blake
A Tiger's Tale (1988)
as Bubber Drumm
Staying Gold: A Look Back at 'The Outsiders' (2005)
as Self
The Da Vinci Treasure (2006)
as Michael Archer
The Eyes of the Panther (1989)
as Jenner Brading
The Sin Seer (2015)
as Detective Riggers
A Killer Within (2004)
as Addison Terrill
Michael Jackson´s Black or White (1991)
as Special Appearance
Lost on Purpose (2013)
as Delbert Furgeson
Escape from Alaska (1999)
as Jack
Mad Dogs and Englishmen (1995)
as Mike
Sleeping Dogs (1997)
as Sanchez Boon
Acting on Impulse (1993)
as Paul Stevens
Treacherous (1993)
as Micky Stewert
Fatal Affair (1999)
as Malcolm 'Mack' Maddox
Suspect Device (1995)
as Dan Jericho
Enemy Action (1999)
as John Reed
The Shepherd (1998)
as Boris Dakota
A Christmas Eve Miracle (2015)
as Jack Carter
Cupid's Arrow (2010)
as Professor Grimes
Rivers 9 (2015)
as Sheriff Quentin
Last Lives (1997)
as Aaron
The Shadow People (2017)
as Kaine
Burning Down the House (2001)
as Concierge
The Greatest Actress in the World (—)
Actor
Wedding Day (2012)
as Russ
Blood Lust (2016)
as Ryan
Cold Ones (2007)
as K.C. Corcoran
Fighting Words (2006)
as David Settles
Dilemma (1997)
as Thomas 'Quin' Quinlan
A Magic Christmas (2014)
as Jack Carter
Don't Pass Me By (2013)
as Jack
Confessions of a Womanizer (2014)
as Tony
The Jailhouse (2009)
as Seth Delray
Nursie (2004)
as Zack
Laws of Deception (1997)
as Evan Marino
Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood! (2010)
as David
Crimson Force (2005)
as Capt. Baskin
The Thirst: Blood War (2008)
as Jed
The Hitcher: How Do These Movies Get Made? (2003)
Actor
My B.F.F. (2016)
as Ben Wilkins
Dreadtown: The Steel Pulse Story (—)
as Self
Shifting Gears (2018)
as Jenkins
Askari (2001)
as Joss Mckinley
Advance & Retreat (2016)
as Nathan Shapiro
Charades (1998)
as Evan
Hourglass (1997)
as Michael Jardine
To Protect and Serve (1992)
as Egan
Red Team (1999)
as J.B. Gaines
Matter of Trust (1998)
as Michael D'Angelo
Night of the Wolf (2002)
as Sheriff Wade Messer
The Prince and the Surfer (1999)
as Dean
Lazarus Rising (2015)
as Silent Cal
Asylum Days (2001)
as Nathan Devine
Separate Ways (2001)
as Tom Milton
The Horseman (—)
Actor
Sealed with a Kiss (1998)
as Detective Mick Cullen
XCU: Extreme Close Up (2001)
as Geoffrey Liddy
Tattle Tale (1993)
as Bernard Sprat
Bigfoot Wars (2014)
as Zeke
The Wrong Path (2021)
as Dr. Eric Peselowe
Lawless: Dead Evidence (2001)
as Dean Riley
WillFull (2002)
as Nat Wolff
Zolar (2004)
as Hedion
Because We're Family (2022)
as Peter
Crimson Point (2022)
as Frank
Cybermaster: Shepherd II (1999)
as Dakota
The Haunting of Marsten Manor (2007)
as Captain Williams
Disconnected (2017)
as Robert Crawford
The Rack Pack (2018)
as Ted
Xenophobia (2008)
as Stone
Fruits De Mer (2014)
Actor
The Glass Jar (1999)
as Lanois
Mac Daddy's Vegas Adventure (2017)
Actor
Detroit Under S.T.R.E.S.S. (2018)
as Narrator
Control (2019)
as Control (voice)