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C. Thomas Howell

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C. Thomas Howell
Howell at the 2013 Peabody Awards
Born
Christopher Thomas Howell

(1966-12-07) December 7, 1966 (age 58)
Other namesTommy Howell
Tom Howell
Occupation(s)Actor, director, musician
Years active1972–present
Spouses
(m. 1989; div. 1990)
Sylvie Anderson
(m. 1992; div. 2016)
Brandi Howell
(m. 2023)

Christopher Thomas Howell (born December 7, 1966),[1] also known professionally as C. Thomas Howell, is an American actor, musician and director. He has starred in the films The Outsiders (1983), Red Dawn (1984), Secret Admirer (1985), Soul Man (1986), A Tiger's Tale (1987), and Young Toscanini (1988). He has also appeared in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Tank (1984), The Return of the Musketeers (1989) and Old Dads (2023).

Early life

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Howell was born in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles to Christopher N. and Candice Howell. He has three siblings.[2]

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.[3]

When Howell was young, his parents divorced.[4][5] Howell graduated from Saugus High School in 1984.[6]

Career

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Howell made his show business debut in The Brian Keith Show. When he was older, he acted in commercials.[7]

1980s

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In 1982, Howell made his film debut as Tyler in Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.[8]

At the age of 15 in 1981, Howell was cast in Francis Ford Coppola's The Outsiders (1983).[9] 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."[10] Based on S.E. Hinton's bestselling 1967 novel of the same name,[10] the coming-of-age film[11] went on to become a cult classic.[12][13] Howell's portrayal of Ponyboy was his breakthrough role,[14] and it earned him a Young Artist Award.[15]

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.[16][better source needed]

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.[17] 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[clarification needed], Howell played the young Arturo Toscanini in Franco Zeffirelli's 1988 film Giovane Toscanini.

1990s

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In 1992, Howell starred in That Night alongside actress Juliette Lewis. A film based on the novel of the same name by Alice McDermott. In 1993, Howell starred with Linda Fiorentino and Nancy Allen in the campy thriller Acting on Impulse. He then achieved success in the film Gettysburg, which was popular with history buffs and history classrooms. Next, he starred as Mike, a motorcycle courier in the poorly received Mad Dogs and Englishmen (U.S. title: Shameless) with Elizabeth Hurley.

Following this, Howell starred in Payback and then played gangster Baby Face Nelson in the film of the same name. He directed and starred in the 1996 direct-to-video release Pure Danger, which also featured Teri Ann Linn and comic Carrot Top.

2000s

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In 2000, Howell played a doctor stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash in the television show Amazon. In 2004, he played serial killer Kenneth Bianchi in The Hillside Strangler.

In 2005, he starred in H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds, one of three 2005 adaptations of the novel The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. Howell directed and starred in a straight-to-DVD sequel War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave in 2008.[18] Also in 2005, he reunited with his Secret Admirer co-star Lori Loughlin when he had a recurring role on her television show Summerland as Zac Efron's father.[citation needed] Howell appeared as a doctor in The Poseidon Adventure, an adaptation of the 1972 film of the same name. His father's first (uncredited) stunt co-ordination was for the original film.[19]

In 2006, Howell starred in Hoboken Hollow. He also became a supporter of the production company The Asylum, which produced his straight-to-DVD films.[citation needed] In 2008, Howell directed and starred in The Day the Earth Stopped, a mockbuster intended to capitalize on The Day the Earth Stood Still.[20]

Beginning in 2009, Howell guest starred in Criminal Minds on CBS as serial killer George Foyet (The Boston Reaper), a recurring villain based on The Boston Strangler.[citation needed] Also beginning in 2009, he played the role of Officer Bill 'Dewey' Dudek, a police officer recovering from alcoholism, in the L.A. police drama Southland.[citation needed]

2010s and 2020s

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In 2011, Howell guest starred as an inmate on The Glades and in Torchwood: Miracle Day.[21]

Howell appeared in the 2012 film The Amazing Spider-Man.[22]

Starting in 2015, Howell has had a recurring role as Dr. Daniel Stinger in the Freeform show Stitchers. In 2017, he had a recurring role as Ash Spenser, a retired Navy SEAL, in the CBS show SEAL Team.

In 2016 and 2018, Howell had a recurring guest-star role as Paul Belmont, a United States Navy Lieutenant Commander at Camp Pendleton, in Seasons 1 and 3 of Animal Kingdom.

Currently starring in Obliterated on Netflix as “Harry”.

Personal life

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In the 1980s, Howell dated actress Kyle Richards.[23] In 1989, he married actress Rae Dawn Chong, whom he met while co-starring with her in the 1986 film Soul Man.[24] They divorced the following year.[25] Howell married his second wife, Sylvie Anderson, in 1992, and the couple had three children.[26] Anderson filed for divorce in 2016.[26]

In November 2001, Howell was acquitted of five misdemeanor charges, including hit and run and brandishing a weapon arising out of a confrontation with a skateboarder in Southern California.[27]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1982 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Tyler Credited as Tom Howell
1983 The Outsiders Ponyboy Curtis
1984 Tank Billy
Grandview, U.S.A. Tim Pearson
Red Dawn Robert Morris
1985 Secret Admirer Michael Ryan
1986 The Hitcher Jim Halsey
Soul Man Mark Watson
1987 A Tiger's Tale Bubber Drumm
1988 Young Toscanini Arturo Toscanini
1989 The Return of the Musketeers Raoul
1990 Far Out Man Himself
Side Out Monroe Clark
Kid Kid
1991 Nickel & Dime Jack Stone
1992 Breaking the Rules Gene Michaels
That Night Rick
To Protect and Serve Egan
1993 Gettysburg Thomas Chamberlain
Treacherous Micky Stewart
1994 Jailbait Sergeant Lee Teffler Direct-to-video
Teresa's Tattoo Carl
1995 Payback Oscar Bonsetter
Dangerous Indiscretion Jim
Mad Dogs and Englishmen Mike
Hourglass Michael Jardine Direct-to-video
Baby Face Nelson Baby Face Nelson
1996 The Sweeper Mark Goddard
Pure Danger Johnie Dean Also director
Direct-to-video
1997 The Big Fall Blaise Rybeck
Laws of Deception Evan Marino
Last Lives Aaron
Sleeping Dogs Sanchez Boon
Dilemma Thomas "Quin" Quinlan
Matter of Trust Michael D'Angelo
1998 Shepherd Boris Dakota
Charades Evan
Fatal Affair Malcolm "Mack" Maddox
1999 The Glass Jar Lanois
Avalanche Jack
Hitman's Run Tom Holly
The Prince and the Surfer Dean Direct-to-video
Enemy Action John Reed
The Crimson Code J.B. Gaines
2000 The Million Dollar Kid Valentino
Hot Boyz Officer Roberts Direct-to-video
2001 XCU: Extreme Close Up Geoffrey Liddy
Separate Ways Tom Milton
Asylum Days Nathan Devine
Askari Joss McKinley
2002 WillFull Nat Wolff
2003 Net Games Adam Vance
Gods and Generals Thomas Chamberlain
The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting Jim Halsey Direct-to-video
2004 Hidalgo Preston Webb
Nursie Zack
The Hillside Strangler Kenneth Bianchi
A Killer Within Addison Terrill
2005 The Lost Angel Kuratha
Glass Trap Curtis Direct-to-video
The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam Coach Fielding
2006 Hoboken Hollow Clayton Connelly Direct-to-video
The Da Vinci Treasure Michael Archer
The Far Side of Jericho "Little Jimmy" Thornton
2007 The Haunting of Marsten Manor Captain Williams
Fighting Words David Settles
The Stolen Moments of September Sisner
Dead Letters KC
2008 House of Fallen Thomas
Big Game Cody "Sully" Sullivan
Toxic Joe Direct-to-video
The Thirst: Blood War Jed
The Day the Earth Stopped Josh Myron Also director
Direct-to-video
Mutant Vampire Zombies from the Hood! David
The Grind Luke
2009 The Jailhouse Seth Delray
The Land That Time Forgot Frost Michaels Also director
Direct-to-video
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love Alumnus Guy #2 Direct-to-video
Secret at Arrow Lake Daniel
Fuel Shane
Camouflage Stanley
2010 Street Poet David
The Terror Experiment Chief Grasso
Flatline Teacher
Cupid's Arrow Professor Grimes
2011 Restitution John Youngstown
2012 Wedding Day Russ
Commander and Chief Shrub
The Amazing Spider-Man Troy
Chilly Christmas Patrick Cole Direct-to-video
MoniKa Double
Escape Paul Jordan
2013 Don't Pass Me By Jack
The Devil's Dozen Tom
Lost on Purpose Delbert Fergeson
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox Eobard Thawne / Professor Zoom Voice
Direct-to-video[28]
Storm Rider Mitch
2014 Confessions of a Womanizer Tony
Bigfoot Wars Zeke
A Magic Christmas Jack Carter
Borrowed Moments Jack
2015 Spirit Riders Keith
Rivers 9 Sheriff Quentin
Justice League: Gods and Monsters Will Magnus Voice
Direct-to-video[29][28]
Woodlawn Coach George "Shorty" White
A Christmas Eve Miracle Jack Carter
Magic Hour Tom Worthy
Lazarus Rising Silent Cal
2016 Blood Lust Ryan
Attack of the Killer Donuts Officer Rogers
LBJ Walter Jenkins
Sick People Dr. Sam Zimmerman
2017 The Shadow People Kaine
Disconnected Robert Crawford
A Question of Faith John Danielson
2018 Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay Eobard Thawne / Professor Zoom Voice
Direct-to-video[30][28]
Dirty Dealing 3D Carter
The Rack Pack Ted
Shifting Gears Jenkins
My B.F.F. Ben Wilkens
2019 Dauntless: The Battle of Midway Cpt. Browning
Rich Boy, Rich Girl Blake
2020 Beast Mode Breen Nash
2023 Old Dads Ed Cameron
Crimson Point Frank
2024 Ride John Hawkins [31]
Reagan Caspar Weinberger [32]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1983 Two Marriages Scott Morgan Episode: "Relativity"
1985–1986 Moonlighting Waiter / Postal Worker 2 episodes
1989 Nightmare Classics Jenner Brading Episode: "The Eyes of the Panther"
1990 Curiosity Kills Cat Thomas Television film
1992 Tattle Tale Bernard Sprat
1993 Acting on Impulse Paul Stevens
1994 Natural Selection Ben Braden / Alex Connelly
1995 Suspect Device Dan Jerico
1996 Kindred: The Embraced Frank Kohanek 8 episodes
1997 Dead Fire Tucker Television film
1998 Sealed with a Kiss Detective Mick Cullen
The Outer Limits Captain Miles Davidlow Episode: "The Joining"
V.I.P. Phil Sherman Episode: "Val Got Game"
The Love Boat: The Next Wave John Episode: "Affairs to Remember"
1999 Dead Man's Gun Henry Hubble Episode: "The Phrenologist"
1999–2000 Amazon Dr. Alex Kennedy 22 episodes
2000 Twice in a Lifetime Tony Episode: "The Escaped Artist"
Lawless: Dead Evidence Dean Riley Television film
2002 Son of the Beach Jason Dudikoff Episode: "In the Line of Booty"
Night of the Wolf Sheriff Wade Messer Television film
Killer Bees! Sheriff Lyndon Harris
2004 The District Chris Gunner Episode: "On Guard"
Zolar Hedion Television film
2004–2005 Summerland Kyle Bale 2 episodes
2005 Crimson Force Captain Baskin Television film
Ordinary Miracles Jim Powell
H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds George Herbert
The Poseidon Adventure Doctor Matthew Ballard
ER Vincent Janeson Episode: "The Human Shield"
2006 24 Barry Landes 2 episodes
2008 Celebracadabra Himself Contestant
Xenophobia Stone Television film
A Gunfighter's Pledge Horn
War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave George Herbert Also director
Television film
2009–2013 Southland Bill "Dewey" Dudek 27 episodes
2009–2020 Criminal Minds George Foyet / The Boston Reaper 6 episodes
2010 Psych Agent Camden Driggs Episode: "One, Maybe Two, Ways Out"
2011 The Glades Peyton Robinson Episode: "Second Skin"
Torchwood: Miracle Day The Gentleman Episode: "Escape to L.A."
CHAOS Carson Simms Episode: "Proof of Life"
Camel Spiders Sheriff Ken Beaumont Television film
2012 Alphas Eli Aquino Episode: "The Quick and the Dead"
Revolution Bounty Hunter Episode: "Chained Heat"
Castle John Campbell Episode: "Swan Song"
Longmire Ray Stewart Episode: "A Damn Shame"
Hawaii Five-0 Martin Cordova Episode: "Death Wish"
Home Invasion Ray Television film
2013 Horror Haiku John Asher Episode: "I Know What You Know"
Sons of Anarchy Agent Frank Eagan Episode: "One One Six"
Blue Bloods Alex Polanski Episode: "Justice Served"
An Amish Murder Nathan Detrick Television film
Christmas Belle Rex Everhart
2014 Grimm Agent Weston Steward 5 episodes
Category 5 Charlie DuPuis Television film
2014–2015 Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce Nate 4 episodes
2015 Motive Joe Hillis Episode: "Reversal of Fortune"
Ties That Bind Mr. Witherspoon Episode: "Controlled Substance"
Sleepy Hollow Agent Mick Granger Episode: "I, Witness"
2015–2017 Stitchers Daniel Stinger 7 episodes
2016 Advance & Retreat Nathan Shapiro Television film
2016–2018 Animal Kingdom Paul Belmont 9 episodes
2017 Ray Donovan Dr. Brogan 4 episodes
Outcast Simon Barnes 3 episodes
The Punisher Carson Wolf
2017–2021 SEAL Team Ash Spenser 5 episodes
2018 The Blacklist Earl Fagen 2 episodes
MacGyver Vasil Episode: "Guts + Fuel + Hope"
Dynasty Max Van Kirk 2 episodes
The Good Cop Chuck Everett Episode: "Why Kill A Busboy?"
2018–2021 The Walking Dead Roy 6 episodes
2019 Bosch Louis Degner 2 episodes
The Terror Major Bowen 4 episodes[28]
2021 Creepshow Samuel Spinster Episode: "Dead and Breakfast/Pesticide "
2023 Will Trent Warden Sturgill Hardly Episode: "It's The Work I Signed Up For"
Obliterated Harry Haggerty 8 episodes[33]

Video games

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Year Title Role
2017 Injustice 2 Leonard Snart / Captain Cold
2018 Lego DC Super-Villains Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash[28]

Discography

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Singles

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Year Title Album
2022 "Rose Hill" Non-album single
2022 "Whiskey Demon" Non-album single
2022 "Ponygirl" Non-album single

Albums

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Year Title
2023 American Storyteller

References

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  1. ^ "C. Thomas Howell". AllMovie. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  2. ^ aboutct[usurped]. Cthomashowell.net; retrieved 2011-12-03.
  3. ^ Schiavino, G.R. (21 January 2021). "From Ponyboy to Horseman: C. Thomas Howell". The Team Roping Journal. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  4. ^ Tommy Howell: I'm Just a Normal Kid! Archived 2012-07-22 at the Wayback Machine. Cthowell.net. Retrieved on 2011-12-03.
  5. ^ Marriage Archived 2012-07-22 at the Wayback Machine. Cthowell.net. Retrieved on 2011-12-03.
  6. ^ "C. Thomas Howell Stunned Alma Mater's Site of Santa Clarita Shooting". TMZ. November 16, 2019.
  7. ^ Cooking Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine. Cthowell.net. Retrieved on 2011-12-03.
  8. ^ Hayes, Britt (21 May 2014). "See the Cast of 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' Then and Now". ScreenCrush.
  9. ^ Carson, Duncan (September 13, 2021). "Whatever Happened To The Cast Of The Outsiders?". Looper.com.
  10. ^ a b "Whoa, Ponyboy: The Cast of The Outsiders Then and Now Will Blow Your Mind". E! Online. March 25, 2021.
  11. ^ "The Outsiders: 15 Big Differences Between The Movie And The Book". ScreenRant. October 5, 2020.
  12. ^ Landes, Tim (25 August 2021). "Coming soon: 'The Outsiders' looking better than we've seen it before". TulsaPeople Magazine.
  13. ^ "WIN Francis Ford Coppola's Seminal Classic "The Outsiders" On Blu-Ray". top10films.co.uk. November 2, 2021. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  14. ^ Meyer, George (May 2, 2010). "In need of more mayhem". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
  15. ^ "'The Outsiders' Cast: Where Are They Now?". USMagazine.com. May 12, 2022.
  16. ^ Two Marriages Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine. cthowell.net
  17. ^ "The Lost Roles of 'Back to the Future'". Vulture.com. 20 September 2012.
  18. ^ "War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave". VG TV-guide (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  19. ^ Interview for the Poseidon Adventure Remake[usurped], Cthomashowell.net; retrieved 2011-12-03.
  20. ^ "Commentary: Fox takes action against 'Day the Earth Stopped'". The Hollywood Reporter. 2008-11-11. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  21. ^ Torchwood: Miracle Day casting news Archived 2012-02-11 at the Wayback Machine. Den of Geek; retrieved 2011-12-03.
  22. ^ Franich, Darren (January 10, 2011). "'Spider-Man': C. Thomas Howell joins the reboot". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  23. ^ Bueno, Antoinette (December 1, 2015). "Kyle Richards Reveals the Famous Actor She Lost Her Virginity To". www.etonline.com.
  24. ^ Moca, Diane (27 June 1990). "CHONG, HOWELL: SOUL MATES SINCE 'SOUL MAN'". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  25. ^ Braxton, Greg (1990-07-24). "PEOPLE WATCH". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  26. ^ a b "C. Thomas Howell's wife files for divorce". Hollywood.com. 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  27. ^ "Jury acquits actor Howell". SFGate.com. November 8, 2001.
  28. ^ a b c d e "C. Thomas Howell (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 6, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  29. ^ Damore, Meagan (July 28, 2015). "SDCC: Justice League: Gods and Monsters Cast & Crew Spill Alternate Reality Secrets". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  30. ^ Trumbore, Dave (January 11, 2018). "Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay Cast, Images Revealed". Collider. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  31. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (January 17, 2023). "C. Thomas Howell, Annabeth Gish & Forrie J. Smith To Lead Rodeo Crime Pic Ride". Deadline. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  32. ^ Thompson, Simon (February 11, 2021). "C. Thomas Howell Talks Joining Reagan Cast And The Hitcher Turning 35". Forbes. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  33. ^ Petski, Denise (July 21, 2022). "Obliterated: Netflix Comedy Series Adds Six To Cast". Deadline. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
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