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