C. Thomas Howell
Acting • Born 1966-12-07
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.
Filmography
209 credits
The Outsiders
Movie • 1983
Ponyboy Curtis
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Movie • 1982
Tyler
Net Games
Movie • 2003
Adam Vance
Red Dawn
Movie • 1984
Robert
Hidalgo
Movie • 2004
Preston Webb
Fatal Affair
Movie • 1999
Malcolm 'Mack' Maddox
The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting
Movie • 2003
Jim Halsey
A Killer Within
Movie • 2004
Addison Terrill
The Land That Time Forgot
Movie • 2009
Frost Michaels
Tank
Movie • 1984
Billy
Big Game
Movie • 2008
Sully
Acting on Impulse
Movie • 1993
Paul Stevens
The Hillside Strangler
Movie • 2004
Kenneth Bianchi
Secret Admirer
Movie • 1985
Michael Ryan
My B.F.F.
Movie • 2016
Ben Wilkins
Far Out Man
Movie • 1990
Himself
Soul Man
Movie • 1986
Mark Watson
The Hitcher
Movie • 1986
Jim Halsey
Toxic
Movie • 2008
LIttle Joe
That Night
Movie • 1992
Rick
Glass Trap
Movie • 2005
Curtis
H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds
Movie • 2005
George Herbert
The Poseidon Adventure
Movie • 2005
Doctor Ballard
Killer Bees
Movie • 2002
Sheriff Lyndon Harris
The Grind
Movie • 2009
Luke
WillFull
Movie • 2002
Nat Wolff
Sleeping Dogs
Movie • 1997
Sanchez Boon
The Return of the Musketeers
Movie • 1989
Raoul
Last Lives
Movie • 1997
Aaron
Hoboken Hollow
Movie • 2006
Clayton Connelly
Gods and Generals
Movie • 2003
Sgt. Thomas Chamberlain
The Day the Earth Stopped
Movie • 2008
Josh Myron
Fighting Words
Movie • 2006
David Settles
War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave
Movie • 2008
George Herbert
The Terror Experiment
Movie • 2010
Chief Grasso
The Shepherd
Movie • 1998
Boris Dakota
Side Out
Movie • 1990
Monroe Clark
Camel Spiders
Movie • 2011
Sheriff Beaumont
Escape from Alaska
Movie • 1999
Jack
Payback
Movie • 1995
Oscar Bonsetter
Grandview, U.S.A.
Movie • 1984
Tim Pearson
The Da Vinci Treasure
Movie • 2006
Michael Archer
A Tiger's Tale
Movie • 1988
Bubber Drumm
Restitution
Movie • 2011
John Youngstown
The Eyes of the Panther
Movie • 1989
Jenner Brading
Ordinary Miracles
Movie • 2005
Jim Powell
MoniKa
Movie • 2012
Double
The Sweeper
Movie • 1996
Mark Goddard
Kid
Movie • 1990
Kid
A Gunfighter's Pledge
Movie • 2008
Horn
Dilemma
Movie • 1997
Thomas 'Quin' Quinlan
Xenophobia
Movie • 2008
Stone
Lawless: Dead Evidence
Movie • 2001
Dean Riley
Chilly Christmas
Movie • 2012
Patrick Cole
Hitman's Run
Movie • 1999
Tom Holly
Dead Fire
Movie • 1997
Tucker
Hourglass
Movie • 1997
Michael Jardine
The Prince and the Surfer
Movie • 1999
Dean
Home Invasion
Movie • 2012
Ray
An Amish Murder
Movie • 2013
Nathan Detrick
Breaking the Rules
Movie • 1992
Gene Michaels
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
Movie • 2013
Professor Zoom / Thawne (voice)
Teresa's Tattoo
Movie • 1994
Carl
Askari
Movie • 2001
Joss Mckinley
Asylum Days
Movie • 2001
Nathan Devine
Red Team
Movie • 1999
J.B. Gaines
Charades
Movie • 1998
Evan
Suspect Device
Movie • 1995
Dan Jericho
Pure Danger
Movie • 1996
Johnie Dean
Lost on Purpose
Movie • 2013
Delbert Furgeson
Storm Rider
Movie • 2013
Mitch Fielding
Baby Face Nelson
Movie • 1996
Baby Face Nelson
Cybermaster: Shepherd II
Movie • 1999
Dakota
Treacherous
Movie • 1993
Micky Stewert
Enemy Action
Movie • 1999
John Reed
Sealed with a Kiss
Movie • 1998
Detective Mick Cullen
Nursie
Movie • 2004
Zack
Burning Down the House
Movie • 2001
Concierge
Don't Pass Me By
Movie • 2013
Jack
Young Toscanini
Movie • 1988
Arturo Toscanini
Christmas Belle
Movie • 2013
Rex Everhart
Confessions of a Womanizer
Movie • 2014
Tony
Curiosity Kills
Movie • 1990
Cat Thomas
The Amazing Spider-Man
Movie • 2012
Jack's Father
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Movie • 1995
Mike
Crimson Point
Movie • 2022
Frank
Bigfoot Wars
Movie • 2014
Zeke
Dangerous Indiscretion
Movie • 1995
Jim Lomax
Because We're Family
Movie • 2022
Peter
Dirty Dealing
Movie • 2018
Carter
Category 5
Movie • 2014
Charlie DuPuis
House of Fallen
Movie • 2008
Thomas
Old Dads
Movie • 2023
Ed Cameron
Secret at Arrow Lake
Movie • 2009
Jailbait
Movie • 1993
Sergeant Lee Teffler
Borrowed Moments
Movie • 2015
Jack
Woodlawn
Movie • 2015
George 'Shorty' White
Justice League: Gods and Monsters
Movie • 2015
Dr. Will Magnus (voice)
Wedding Day
Movie • 2012
Russ
Laws of Deception
Movie • 1997
Evan Marino
Rivers 9
Movie • 2015
Sheriff Quentin
The Big Fall
Movie • 1997
Blaise Rybeck
The Jailhouse
Movie • 2009
Seth Delray
LBJ
Movie • 2017
Walter Jenkins
Ride
Movie • 2024
John Hawkins
Spirit Riders
Movie • 2015
Keith
Hot Boyz
Movie • 2000
Officer Roberts
Crimson Force
Movie • 2005
Capt. Baskin
Dreadtown: The Steel Pulse Story
Movie
Self
Blood Lust
Movie • 2016
Ryan
Where the Wind Blows
Movie • 2025
Nathan
Natural Selection
Movie • 1994
Ben Braden / Alex Connelly
Escape
Movie • 2012
Paul Jordan
Rescuing Madison
Movie • 2014
Rad
Cupid's Arrow
Movie • 2010
Professor Grimes
Attack of the Killer Donuts
Movie • 2016
Officer Roberts
Advance & Retreat
Movie • 2016
Nathan Shapiro
Matter of Trust
Movie • 1998
Michael D'Angelo
Magic Hour
Movie • 2015
Tom Worthy
One Mile: Chapter One
Movie • 2026
Stanley Dixon
One Mile: Chapter Two
Movie • 2026
Stanley Dixon
Cross
Movie • 2011
Jake
Nickel & Dime
Movie • 1992
Jack Stone
The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam
Movie • 2005
Coach Fielding
The Shadow People
Movie • 2017
Kaine
To Protect and Serve
Movie • 1992
Egan
Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood!
Movie • 2010
David
A Question of Faith
Movie • 2017
John Danielson
Fruits De Mer
Movie • 2014
Tattle Tale
Movie • 1993
Bernard Sprat
Cold Ones
Movie • 2007
K.C. Corcoran
Disconnected
Movie • 2017
Robert Crawford
Rich Boy, Rich Girl
Movie • 2018
Blake
Beast Mode
Movie • 2020
Breen Nash
Urban Country
Movie • 2018
Jim Craft
Shifting Gears
Movie • 2018
Jenkins
Separate Ways
Movie • 2001
Tom Milton
Detroit Under S.T.R.E.S.S.
Movie • 2018
Narrator
Deadman Standing
Movie • 2018
The Stranger
The Rack Pack
Movie • 2018
Ted
Zolar
Movie • 2004
Hedion
A Magic Christmas
Movie • 2014
Jack Carter
Mac Daddy's Vegas Adventure
Movie • 2017
Dauntless: The Battle of Midway
Movie • 2019
Captain Miles Browning
The Haunting of Marsten Manor
Movie • 2007
Captain Williams
The 'E.T.' Journals
Movie • 2012
Self
I Am Patrick Swayze
Movie • 2019
Self
The Hitcher: How Do These Movies Get Made?
Movie • 2003
The Thirst: Blood War
Movie • 2008
Jed
Gettysburg
Movie • 1993
Lieut. Thomas D. Chamberlain
Night of the Wolf
Movie • 2002
Sheriff Wade Messer
Control
Movie • 2019
Control (voice)
Into the Homeland
Movie • 1987
Tripp Wilson
The Lost Angel
Movie • 2005
Kuratha
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love
Movie • 2009
Alumnus Guy #2
Lazarus Rising
Movie • 2015
Silent Cal
The Wrong Path
Movie • 2021
Dr. Eric Peselowe
XCU: Extreme Close Up
Movie • 2001
Geoffrey Liddy
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay
Movie • 2018
Zoom (voice)
Reagan
Movie • 2024
Caspar Weinberger
The Open Door
Movie • 2024
Mr. Sapp
Staying Gold: A Look Back at 'The Outsiders'
Movie • 2005
Self
A Christmas Eve Miracle
Movie • 2015
Jack Carter
The Million Dollar Kid
Movie • 2000
Valentino
Son of the Beach
TV • 2000
The District
TV • 2000
Chris Gunner
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TV • 2003
Self
24
TV • 2001
Barry Landes
Alphas
TV • 2011
Eli Aquino
Kindred: The Embraced
TV • 1996
Det. Frank Kohanek
Criminal Minds
TV • 2005
The Reaper / George Foyet
Summerland
TV • 2004
Kyle Bale
Creepshow
TV • 2019
Sam Spinster
ER
TV • 1994
Vincent Jansen
Celebracadabra
TV • 2008
Twice in a Lifetime
TV • 1999
Tony Tremaine / Phil Barlow
Amazon
TV • 1999
Dr. Alex Kennedy
The Hitchhiker
TV • 1983
Gerald
The Outer Limits
TV • 1995
Capt. Miles Davidow
Southland
TV • 2009
Officer Dewey Dudek
The Glades
TV • 2010
Peyton Robinson
The Walking Dead
TV • 2010
Roy
Nightmare Classics
TV • 1989
Jenner Brading
Revolution
TV • 2012
Bounty Hunter
Castle
TV • 2009
John Campbell
Blue Bloods
TV • 2010
Alex Polanski
Psych
TV • 2006
Camden Driggs
Sleepy Hollow
TV • 2013
SAC Mick Granger
Stitchers
TV • 2015
Daniel Stinger
Ties That Bind
TV • 2015
Mr. Witherspoon
Celebrity Ghost Stories
TV • 2009
Self
Marvel's The Punisher
TV • 2017
Carson Wolf
Grimm
TV • 2011
Weston Steward
The Blacklist
TV • 2013
Earl Fagen
Moonlighting
TV • 1985
Waiter (uncredited)
Sons of Anarchy
TV • 2008
Agent Frank Eagan
MacGyver
TV • 2016
Vasil
The Good Cop
TV • 2018
The Walking Dead
TV • 2010
Hilltop Resident
Obliterated
TV • 2023
Hagerty
The Terror
TV • 2018
Major Bowen
Torchwood
TV • 2006
The Gentleman
SEAL Team
TV • 2017
Ash Spenser
Longmire
TV • 2012
Ray Stewart
V.I.P.
TV • 1998
Phil Sherman
Will Trent
TV • 2023
Warden Sturgill Hardly
Hawaii Five-0
TV • 2010
Martin Cordova
1923
TV • 2022
Anders
Bosch
TV • 2015
Louis Degner