C. Thomas Howell
Acting
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
Acting210
movieOne Mile: Chapter Two
2026
Stanley Dixon
movieOne Mile: Chapter One
2026
Stanley Dixon
movieReagan
2024
Caspar Weinberger
movieRide
2024
John Hawkins
movieThe Open Door
2024
Mr. Sapp
tvObliterated
2023
Hagerty
movieOld Dads
2023
Ed Cameron
tvWill Trent
2023
Warden Sturgill Hardly
tv1923
2022
Anders
movieThe Wrong Path
2021
Dr. Eric Peselowe
movieBeast Mode
2020
Breen Nash
movieDauntless: The Battle of Midway
2019
Captain Miles Browning
tvCreepshow
2019
Sam Spinster
movieControl
2019
Control (voice)
movieUrban Country
2018
Jim Craft
movieDirty Dealing
2018
Carter
movieDeadman Standing
2018
The Stranger
tvThe Terror
2018
Major Bowen
movieShifting Gears
2018
Jenkins
movieSuicide Squad: Hell to Pay
2018
Zoom (voice)
tvMarvel's The Punisher
2017
Carson Wolf
movieLBJ
2017
Walter Jenkins
movieA Question of Faith
2017
John Danielson
tvSEAL Team
2017
Ash Spenser
movieDisconnected
2017
Robert Crawford
movieMy B.F.F.
2016
Ben Wilkins
movieAdvance & Retreat
2016
Nathan Shapiro
tvMacGyver
2016
Vasil
movieAttack of the Killer Donuts
2016
Officer Roberts
movieMagic Hour
2015
Tom Worthy
movieA Christmas Eve Miracle
2015
Jack Carter
movieWoodlawn
2015
George 'Shorty' White
movieLazarus Rising
2015
Silent Cal
tvTies That Bind
2015
Mr. Witherspoon
movieRivers 9
2015
Sheriff Quentin
movieJustice League: Gods and Monsters
2015
Dr. Will Magnus (voice)
tvStitchers
2015
Daniel Stinger
tvBosch
2015
Louis Degner
movieA Magic Christmas
2014
Jack Carter
movieCategory 5
2014
Charlie DuPuis
movieChristmas Belle
2013
Rex Everhart
movieStorm Rider
2013
Mitch Fielding
movieLost on Purpose
2013
Delbert Furgeson
tvThe Blacklist
2013
Earl Fagen
tvSleepy Hollow
2013
SAC Mick Granger
movieJustice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
2013
Professor Zoom / Thawne (voice)
movieAn Amish Murder
2013
Nathan Detrick
movieMoniKa
2012
Double
movieChilly Christmas
2012
Patrick Cole
tvRevolution
2012
Bounty Hunter
movieThe Amazing Spider-Man
2012
Jack's Father
tvLongmire
2012
Ray Stewart
movieEscape
2012
Paul Jordan
movieRestitution
2011
John Youngstown
tvGrimm
2011
Weston Steward
tvAlphas
2011
Eli Aquino
movieCross
2011
Jake
movieCamel Spiders
2011
Sheriff Beaumont
tvThe Walking Dead
2010
Roy / Hilltop Resident
tvBlue Bloods
2010
Alex Polanski
tvHawaii Five-0
2010
Martin Cordova
tvThe Glades
2010
Peyton Robinson
movieThe Terror Experiment
2010
Chief Grasso
movieCupid's Arrow
2010
Professor Grimes
movieAmerican Pie Presents: The Book of Love
2009
Alumnus Guy #2
movieThe Land That Time Forgot
2009
Frost Michaels
movieThe Jailhouse
2009
Seth Delray
tvSouthland
2009
Officer Dewey Dudek
tvCastle
2009
John Campbell
movieThe Day the Earth Stopped
2008
Josh Myron
tvSons of Anarchy
2008
Agent Frank Eagan
movieBig Game
2008
Sully
movieToxic
2008
LIttle Joe
movieHouse of Fallen
2008
Thomas
movieWar of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave
2008
George Herbert
movieThe Haunting of Marsten Manor
2007
Captain Williams
movieCold Ones
2007
K.C. Corcoran
movieFighting Words
2006
David Settles
tvTorchwood
2006
The Gentleman
tvPsych
2006
Camden Driggs
movieThe Da Vinci Treasure
2006
Michael Archer
movieHoboken Hollow
2006
Clayton Connelly
movieThe Poseidon Adventure
2005
Doctor Ballard
tvCriminal Minds
2005
The Reaper / George Foyet
movieGlass Trap
2005
Curtis
movieH.G. Wells' War of the Worlds
2005
George Herbert
movieThe Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam
2005
Coach Fielding
movieCrimson Force
2005
Capt. Baskin
movieThe Lost Angel
2005
Kuratha
movieOrdinary Miracles
2005
Jim Powell
movieThe Hillside Strangler
2004
Kenneth Bianchi
movieA Killer Within
2004
Addison Terrill
tvSummerland
2004
Kyle Bale
movieZolar
2004
Hedion
movieNursie
2004
Zack
movieHidalgo
2004
Preston Webb
movieGods and Generals
2003
Sgt. Thomas Chamberlain
movieNet Games
2003
Adam Vance
movieKiller Bees
2002
Sheriff Lyndon Harris
movieWillFull
2002
Nat Wolff
movieNight of the Wolf
2002
Sheriff Wade Messer
movieAskari
2001
Joss Mckinley
movieAsylum Days
2001
Nathan Devine
tv24
2001
Barry Landes
movieXCU: Extreme Close Up
2001
Geoffrey Liddy
movieSeparate Ways
2001
Tom Milton
movieBurning Down the House
2001
Concierge
movieLawless: Dead Evidence
2001
Dean Riley
tvThe District
2000
Chris Gunner
movieThe Million Dollar Kid
2000
Valentino
movieHot Boyz
2000
Officer Roberts
tvAmazon
1999
Dr. Alex Kennedy
tvTwice in a Lifetime
1999
Tony Tremaine / Phil Barlow
movieFatal Affair
1999
Malcolm 'Mack' Maddox
movieRed Team
1999
J.B. Gaines
movieHitman's Run
1999
Tom Holly
movieEnemy Action
1999
John Reed
movieMatter of Trust
1998
Michael D'Angelo
tvV.I.P.
1998
Phil Sherman
movieThe Shepherd
1998
Boris Dakota
movieSealed with a Kiss
1998
Detective Mick Cullen
movieLast Lives
1997
Aaron
movieThe Big Fall
1997
Blaise Rybeck
movieSleeping Dogs
1997
Sanchez Boon
movieDead Fire
1997
Tucker
movieLaws of Deception
1997
Evan Marino
movieHourglass
1997
Michael Jardine
movieDilemma
1997
Thomas 'Quin' Quinlan
moviePure Danger
1996
Johnie Dean
movieThe Sweeper
1996
Mark Goddard
tvKindred: The Embraced
1996
Det. Frank Kohanek
movieBaby Face Nelson
1996
Baby Face Nelson
tvThe Outer Limits
1995
Capt. Miles Davidow
movieDangerous Indiscretion
1995
Jim Lomax
moviePayback
1995
Oscar Bonsetter
movieSuspect Device
1995
Dan Jericho
tvER
1994
Vincent Jansen
movieNatural Selection
1994
Ben Braden / Alex Connelly
movieJailbait
1993
Sergeant Lee Teffler
movieGettysburg
1993
Lieut. Thomas D. Chamberlain
movieTreacherous
1993
Micky Stewert
movieTattle Tale
1993
Bernard Sprat
movieActing on Impulse
1993
Paul Stevens
movieBreaking the Rules
1992
Gene Michaels
movieNickel & Dime
1992
Jack Stone
movieKid
1990
Kid
movieCuriosity Kills
1990
Cat Thomas
movieFar Out Man
1990
Himself
movieSide Out
1990
Monroe Clark
movieThe Eyes of the Panther
1989
Jenner Brading
tvNightmare Classics
1989
Jenner Brading
movieYoung Toscanini
1988
Arturo Toscanini
movieA Tiger's Tale
1988
Bubber Drumm
movieInto the Homeland
1987
Tripp Wilson
movieSoul Man
1986
Mark Watson
movieThe Hitcher
1986
Jim Halsey
movieSecret Admirer
1985
Michael Ryan
tvMoonlighting
1985
Waiter (uncredited)
movieRed Dawn
1984
Robert
movieGrandview, U.S.A.
1984
Tim Pearson
movieTank
1984
Billy
tvThe Hitchhiker
1983
Gerald
movieThe Outsiders
1983
Ponyboy Curtis
Directing7
movieThe Genesis Code
2010
Director
movieThe Big Fall
1997
Director
movieHourglass
1997
Director
moviePure Danger
1996
Director
Production4
movieA Christmas Eve Miracle
2015
Executive Producer
movieA Magic Christmas
2014
Executive Producer
movieBlind Injustice
2005
Producer
movieHope Ranch
2002
Producer
