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C. Thomas Howell

C. Thomas Howell

Acting

Born: December 7, 1966Los Angeles, California, USA

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
Filmography
One Mile: Chapter Two

One Mile: Chapter Two

Stanley Dixon

2026
One Mile: Chapter One

One Mile: Chapter One

Stanley Dixon

2026
Where the Wind Blows

Where the Wind Blows

Nathan

2025
Reagan

Reagan

Caspar Weinberger

2024
Ride

Ride

John Hawkins

2024
The Open Door

The Open Door

Mr. Sapp

2024
Old Dads

Old Dads

Ed Cameron

2023
Crimson Point

Crimson Point

Frank

2022
Because We're Family

Because We're Family

Peter

2022
The Wrong Path

The Wrong Path

Dr. Eric Peselowe

2021
Beast Mode

Beast Mode

Breen Nash

2020
Dauntless: The Battle of Midway

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway

Captain Miles Browning

2019
Control

Control

Control (voice)

2019
I Am Patrick Swayze

I Am Patrick Swayze

Self

2019
Urban Country

Urban Country

Jim Craft

2018
Detroit Under S.T.R.E.S.S.

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

Narrator

2018
Dirty Dealing

Dirty Dealing

Carter

2018
The Rack Pack

The Rack Pack

Ted

2018
Rich Boy, Rich Girl

Rich Boy, Rich Girl

Blake

2018
Deadman Standing

Deadman Standing

The Stranger

2018
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay

Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay

Zoom (voice)

2018
Shifting Gears

Shifting Gears

Jenkins

2018
LBJ

LBJ

Walter Jenkins

2017
A Question of Faith

A Question of Faith

John Danielson

2017
Mac Daddy's Vegas Adventure

Mac Daddy's Vegas Adventure

2017
Disconnected

Disconnected

Robert Crawford

2017
The Shadow People

The Shadow People

Kaine

2017
My B.F.F.

My B.F.F.

Ben Wilkins

2016
Advance & Retreat

Advance & Retreat

Nathan Shapiro

2016
Attack of the Killer Donuts

Attack of the Killer Donuts

Officer Roberts

2016
Blood Lust

Blood Lust

Ryan

2016
Magic Hour

Magic Hour

Tom Worthy

2015
A Christmas Eve Miracle

A Christmas Eve Miracle

Jack Carter

2015
Woodlawn

Woodlawn

George 'Shorty' White

2015
Lazarus Rising

Lazarus Rising

Silent Cal

2015
Rivers 9

Rivers 9

Sheriff Quentin

2015
Justice League: Gods and Monsters

Justice League: Gods and Monsters

Dr. Will Magnus (voice)

2015
Spirit Riders

Spirit Riders

Keith

2015

Borrowed Moments

Jack

2015
A Magic Christmas

A Magic Christmas

Jack Carter

2014
Fruits De Mer

Fruits De Mer

2014
Confessions of a Womanizer

Confessions of a Womanizer

Tony

2014
Rescuing Madison

Rescuing Madison

Rad

2014
Category 5

Category 5

Charlie DuPuis

2014
Bigfoot Wars

Bigfoot Wars

Zeke

2014
Christmas Belle

Christmas Belle

Rex Everhart

2013
Storm Rider

Storm Rider

Mitch Fielding

2013
Lost on Purpose

Lost on Purpose

Delbert Furgeson

2013
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox

Professor Zoom / Thawne (voice)

2013
Don't Pass Me By

Don't Pass Me By

Jack

2013
An Amish Murder

An Amish Murder

Nathan Detrick

2013
MoniKa

MoniKa

Double

2012
Chilly Christmas

Chilly Christmas

Patrick Cole

2012
The 'E.T.' Journals

The 'E.T.' Journals

Self

2012
Home Invasion

Home Invasion

Ray

2012
The Amazing Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man

Jack's Father

2012
Wedding Day

Wedding Day

Russ

2012
Escape

Escape

Paul Jordan

2012
Restitution

Restitution

John Youngstown

2011
Cross

Cross

Jake

2011
Camel Spiders

Camel Spiders

Sheriff Beaumont

2011
Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood!

Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood!

David

2010
The Terror Experiment

The Terror Experiment

Chief Grasso

2010
Cupid's Arrow

Cupid's Arrow

Professor Grimes

2010
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love

American Pie Presents: The Book of Love

Alumnus Guy #2

2009
The Grind

The Grind

Luke

2009
The Land That Time Forgot

The Land That Time Forgot

Frost Michaels

2009
The Jailhouse

The Jailhouse

Seth Delray

2009
Secret at Arrow Lake

Secret at Arrow Lake

2009
The Day the Earth Stopped

The Day the Earth Stopped

Josh Myron

2008
A Gunfighter's Pledge

A Gunfighter's Pledge

Horn

2008
Big Game

Big Game

Sully

2008
House of Fallen

House of Fallen

Thomas

2008
Toxic

Toxic

LIttle Joe

2008
War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave

War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave

George Herbert

2008
The Thirst: Blood War

The Thirst: Blood War

Jed

2008

Xenophobia

Stone

2008
The Haunting of Marsten Manor

The Haunting of Marsten Manor

Captain Williams

2007
Cold Ones

Cold Ones

K.C. Corcoran

2007
Fighting Words

Fighting Words

David Settles

2006
The Da Vinci Treasure

The Da Vinci Treasure

Michael Archer

2006
Hoboken Hollow

Hoboken Hollow

Clayton Connelly

2006
The Poseidon Adventure

The Poseidon Adventure

Doctor Ballard

2005
Staying Gold: A Look Back at 'The Outsiders'

Staying Gold: A Look Back at 'The Outsiders'

Self

2005
Glass Trap

Glass Trap

Curtis

2005
H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds

H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds

George Herbert

2005
The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam

The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam

Coach Fielding

2005
Crimson Force

Crimson Force

Capt. Baskin

2005
The Lost Angel

The Lost Angel

Kuratha

2005
Ordinary Miracles

Ordinary Miracles

Jim Powell

2005
The Hillside Strangler

The Hillside Strangler

Kenneth Bianchi

2004
A Killer Within

A Killer Within

Addison Terrill

2004
Zolar

Zolar

Hedion

2004
Nursie

Nursie

Zack

2004
Hidalgo

Hidalgo

Preston Webb

2004
The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting

The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting

Jim Halsey

2003
The Hitcher: How Do These Movies Get Made?

The Hitcher: How Do These Movies Get Made?

2003
Gods and Generals

Gods and Generals

Sgt. Thomas Chamberlain

2003
Net Games

Net Games

Adam Vance

2003
Killer Bees

Killer Bees

Sheriff Lyndon Harris

2002
WillFull

WillFull

Nat Wolff

2002
Night of the Wolf

Night of the Wolf

Sheriff Wade Messer

2002
Askari

Askari

Joss Mckinley

2001
Asylum Days

Asylum Days

Nathan Devine

2001
XCU: Extreme Close Up

XCU: Extreme Close Up

Geoffrey Liddy

2001
Separate Ways

Separate Ways

Tom Milton

2001
Burning Down the House

Burning Down the House

Concierge

2001
Lawless: Dead Evidence

Lawless: Dead Evidence

Dean Riley

2001
The Million Dollar Kid

The Million Dollar Kid

Valentino

2000
Hot Boyz

Hot Boyz

Officer Roberts

2000
The Prince and the Surfer

The Prince and the Surfer

Dean

1999
Escape from Alaska

Escape from Alaska

Jack

1999
Fatal Affair

Fatal Affair

Malcolm 'Mack' Maddox

1999
Red Team

Red Team

J.B. Gaines

1999
Enemy Action

Enemy Action

John Reed

1999
Cybermaster: Shepherd II

Cybermaster: Shepherd II

Dakota

1999
Hitman's Run

Hitman's Run

Tom Holly

1999
Charades

Charades

Evan

1998
Matter of Trust

Matter of Trust

Michael D'Angelo

1998
The Shepherd

The Shepherd

Boris Dakota

1998
Sealed with a Kiss

Sealed with a Kiss

Detective Mick Cullen

1998
Last Lives

Last Lives

Aaron

1997
The Big Fall

The Big Fall

Blaise Rybeck

1997
Sleeping Dogs

Sleeping Dogs

Sanchez Boon

1997
Dead Fire

Dead Fire

Tucker

1997
Laws of Deception

Laws of Deception

Evan Marino

1997
Hourglass

Hourglass

Michael Jardine

1997
Dilemma

Dilemma

Thomas 'Quin' Quinlan

1997
Pure Danger

Pure Danger

Johnie Dean

1996
The Sweeper

The Sweeper

Mark Goddard

1996
Baby Face Nelson

Baby Face Nelson

Baby Face Nelson

1996
Mad Dogs and Englishmen

Mad Dogs and Englishmen

Mike

1995
Dangerous Indiscretion

Dangerous Indiscretion

Jim Lomax

1995
Payback

Payback

Oscar Bonsetter

1995
Suspect Device

Suspect Device

Dan Jericho

1995
Teresa's Tattoo

Teresa's Tattoo

Carl

1994
Natural Selection

Natural Selection

Ben Braden / Alex Connelly

1994
Jailbait

Jailbait

Sergeant Lee Teffler

1993
Gettysburg

Gettysburg

Lieut. Thomas D. Chamberlain

1993
Treacherous

Treacherous

Micky Stewert

1993
Tattle Tale

Tattle Tale

Bernard Sprat

1993
Acting on Impulse

Acting on Impulse

Paul Stevens

1993
To Protect and Serve

To Protect and Serve

Egan

1992
Breaking the Rules

Breaking the Rules

Gene Michaels

1992
That Night

That Night

Rick

1992
Nickel & Dime

Nickel & Dime

Jack Stone

1992
Kid

Kid

Kid

1990
Curiosity Kills

Curiosity Kills

Cat Thomas

1990
Far Out Man

Far Out Man

Himself

1990
Side Out

Side Out

Monroe Clark

1990
The Eyes of the Panther

The Eyes of the Panther

Jenner Brading

1989
The Return of the Musketeers

The Return of the Musketeers

Raoul

1989
Young Toscanini

Young Toscanini

Arturo Toscanini

1988
A Tiger's Tale

A Tiger's Tale

Bubber Drumm

1988
Into the Homeland

Into the Homeland

Tripp Wilson

1987
Soul Man

Soul Man

Mark Watson

1986
The Hitcher

The Hitcher

Jim Halsey

1986
Secret Admirer

Secret Admirer

Michael Ryan

1985
Red Dawn

Red Dawn

Robert

1984
Grandview, U.S.A.

Grandview, U.S.A.

Tim Pearson

1984
Tank

Tank

Billy

1984
The Outsiders

The Outsiders

Ponyboy Curtis

1983
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Tyler

1982
C. Thomas Howell | Snape