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
Ride
John Hawkins
2024
Old Dads
Ed Cameron
2023
Crimson Point
Frank
2022
Because We're Family
Peter
2022
The Wrong Path
Dr. Eric Peselowe
2021
Dauntless: The Battle of Midway
Captain Miles Browning
2019
Control
Control (voice)
2019
I Am Patrick Swayze
Self
2019
Dirty Dealing
Carter
2018
Rich Boy, Rich Girl
Blake
2018
LBJ
Walter Jenkins
2017
My B.F.F.
Ben Wilkins
2016
Advance & Retreat
Nathan Shapiro
2016
Blood Lust
Ryan
2016
Woodlawn
George 'Shorty' White
2015
Rivers 9
Sheriff Quentin
2015
Justice League: Gods and Monsters
Dr. Will Magnus (voice)
2015
Spirit Riders
Keith
2015
Borrowed Moments
Jack
2015
Confessions of a Womanizer
Tony
2014
Category 5
Charlie DuPuis
2014
Bigfoot Wars
Zeke
2014
Christmas Belle
Rex Everhart
2013
Storm Rider
Mitch Fielding
2013
Lost on Purpose
Delbert Furgeson
2013
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
Professor Eobard 'Zoom' Thawne / Reverse-Flash (voice)
2013
Don't Pass Me By
Jack
2013
An Amish Murder
Nathan Detrick
2013
MoniKa
Double
2012
Chilly Christmas
Patrick Cole
2012
Home Invasion
Ray
2012
The Amazing Spider-Man
Jack's Father
2012
Wedding Day
Russ
2012
Restitution
John Youngstown
2011
Camel Spiders
Sheriff Beaumont
2011
The Terror Experiment
Chief Grasso
2010
The Grind
Luke
2009
The Land That Time Forgot
Frost Michaels
2009
The Jailhouse
Seth Delray
2009
Secret at Arrow Lake
2009
The Day the Earth Stopped
Josh Myron
2008
A Gunfighter's Pledge
Horn
2008
Big Game
Sully
2008
Toxic
LIttle Joe
2008
House of Fallen
Thomas
2008
War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave
George Herbert
2008
Xenophobia
Stone
2008
Fighting Words
David Settles
2006
The Da Vinci Treasure
Michael Archer
2006
Hoboken Hollow
Clayton Connelly
2006
The Poseidon Adventure
Doctor Ballard
2005
Glass Trap
Curtis
2005
H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds
George Herbert
2005
Crimson Force
Capt. Baskin
2005
Ordinary Miracles
Jim Powell
2005
The Hillside Strangler
Kenneth Bianchi
2004
A Killer Within
Addison Terrill
2004
Nursie
Zack
2004
Hidalgo
Preston Webb
2004
The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting
Jim Halsey
2003
Gods and Generals
Sgt. Thomas Chamberlain
2003
Net Games
Adam Vance
2003
Killer Bees
Sheriff Lyndon Harris
2002
WillFull
Nat Wolff
2002
Askari
Joss Mckinley
2001
Asylum Days
Nathan Devine
2001
Burning Down the House
Concierge
2001
Lawless: Dead Evidence
Dean Riley
2001
Hot Boyz
Officer Roberts
2000
The Prince and the Surfer
Dean
1999
Escape from Alaska
Jack
1999
Fatal Affair
Malcolm 'Mack' Maddox
1999
Red Team
J.B. Gaines
1999
The Shepherd
Boris Dakota
1999
Hitman's Run
Tom Holly
1999
Cybermaster: Shepherd II
Dakota
1999
Enemy Action
John Reed
1999
Charades
Evan
1998
Sealed with a Kiss
Detective Mick Cullen
1998
Last Lives
Aaron
1997
The Big Fall
Blaise Rybeck
1997
Sleeping Dogs
Sanchez Boon
1997
Dead Fire
Tucker
1997
Laws of Deception
Evan Marino
1997
Hourglass
Michael Jardine
1997
Dilemma
Thomas 'Quin' Quinlan
1997
Pure Danger
Johnie Dean
1996
The Sweeper
Mark Goddard
1996
Baby Face Nelson
Baby Face Nelson
1996
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Mike
1995
Dangerous Indiscretion
Jim Lomax
1995
Payback
Oscar Bonsetter
1995
Suspect Device
Dan Jericho
1995
Teresa's Tattoo
Carl
1994
Jailbait
Sergeant Lee Teffler
1993
Treacherous
Micky Stewert
1993
Acting on Impulse
Paul Stevens
1993
Breaking the Rules
Gene Michaels
1992
That Night
Rick
1992
Kid
Kid
1990
Curiosity Kills
Cat Thomas
1990
Far Out Man
Himself
1990
Side Out
Monroe Clark
1990
The Eyes of the Panther
Jenner Brading
1989
The Return of the Musketeers
Raoul
1989
Young Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini
1988
A Tiger's Tale
Bubber Drumm
1988
Soul Man
Mark Watson
1986
The Hitcher
Jim Halsey
1986
Secret Admirer
Michael Ryan
1985
Red Dawn
Robert
1984
Grandview, U.S.A.
Tim Pearson
1984
Tank
Billy
1984
The Outsiders
Ponyboy Curtis
1983
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Tyler
1982
Dreadtown: The Steel Pulse Story
Self
Where The Wind Blows
Nathan
Beast Mode
Breen Nash
2020
Urban Country
Jim Craft
2018
Detroit Under S.T.R.E.S.S.
Narrator
2018
The Rack Pack
Ted
2018
Deadman Standing
The Stranger
2018
Shifting Gears
Jenkins
2018
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay
Eobard Thawne / Professor Zoom (voice)
2018
A Question of Faith
John Danielson
2017
Mac Daddy's Vegas Adventure
2017
Disconnected
Robert Crawford
2017
The Shadow People
Kaine
2017
Attack of the Killer Donuts
Officer Roberts
2016
Magic Hour
Tom Worthy
2015
Lazarus Rising
Silent Cal
2015
A Magic Christmas
Jack Carter
2014
Fruits De Mer
2014
Rescuing Madison
Rad
2014
The 'E.T.' Journals
Self
2012
Escape
Paul Jordan
2012
Cross
Jake
2011
Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood!
David
2010
Cupid's Arrow
Professor Grimes
2010
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love
Alumnus Guy #2
2009
The Thirst: Blood War
Jed
2008
The Haunting of Marsten Manor
Captain Williams
2007
Cold Ones
K.C. Corcoran
2007
The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam
Coach Fielding
2005
The Lost Angel
Kuratha
2005
Zolar
Hedion
2004
Separate Ways
Tom Milton
2001
Matter of Trust
Michael D'Angelo
1998
Natural Selection
Ben Braden / Alex Connelly
1994
One Mile
Stanley Dixon
One More Mile
Stanley Dixon
Reagan
Caspar Weinberger
2024
The Open Door
Mr. Sapp
2024
Obliterated
Hagerty · (8 episodes)
2023
Will Trent
Warden Sturgill Hardly · (1 episode)
2023
1923
Anders · (3 episodes)
2022
Creepshow
Sam Spinster · (1 episode)
2019
The Good Cop
(1 episode)
2018
The Terror
Major Bowen · (5 episodes)
2018
Marvel's The Punisher
Carson Wolf · (3 episodes)
2017
SEAL Team
Ash Spenser · (12 episodes)
2017
MacGyver
Vasil · (1 episode)
2016
A Christmas Eve Miracle
Jack Carter
2015
Ties That Bind
Mr. Witherspoon · (1 episode)
2015
Stitchers
Daniel Stinger · (5 episodes)
2015
The Blacklist
Earl Fagen · (2 episodes)
2013
Sleepy Hollow
SAC Mick Granger · (1 episode)
2013
Revolution
Bounty Hunter · (1 episode)
2012
Longmire
Ray Stewart · (1 episode)
2012
Grimm
Weston Steward · (5 episodes)
2011
Alphas
Eli Aquino · (1 episode)
2011
The Walking Dead
Roy · (2 episodes)
2010
The Walking Dead
Hilltop Resident · (1 episode)
2010
Blue Bloods
Alex Polanski · (1 episode)
2010
Hawaii Five-0
Martin Cordova · (1 episode)
2010
The Glades
Peyton Robinson · (1 episode)
2010
Celebrity Ghost Stories
Self · (1 episode)
2009
Southland
(3 episodes)
2009
Southland
Officer Dewey Dudek · (11 episodes)
2009
Castle
John Campbell · (1 episode)
2009
Sons of Anarchy
Agent Frank Eagan · (1 episode)
2008
Celebracadabra
(9 episodes)
2008
Torchwood
The Gentleman · (1 episode)
2006
Psych
Camden Driggs · (1 episode)
2006
Criminal Minds
The Reaper / George Foyet · (7 episodes)
2005
Staying Gold: A Look Back at 'The Outsiders'
Self
2005
Summerland
(2 episodes)
2004
The Hitcher: How Do These Movies Get Made?
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Night of the Wolf
Sheriff Wade Messer
2002
24
Barry Landes · (2 episodes)
2001
XCU: Extreme Close Up
Geoffrey Liddy
2001
The District
Chris Gunner · (1 episode)
2000
Son of the Beach
(1 episode)
2000
The Million Dollar Kid
Valentino
2000
Amazon
Dr. Alex Kennedy · (22 episodes)
1999
Twice in a Lifetime
(1 episode)
1999
V.I.P.
Phil Sherman · (1 episode)
1998
Kindred: The Embraced
Det. Frank Kohanek · (8 episodes)
1996
The Outer Limits
Capt. Miles Davidow · (1 episode)
1995
ER
Vincent Jansen · (1 episode)
1994
Gettysburg
Lieut. Thomas D. Chamberlain
1993
Tattle Tale
Bernard Sprat
1993
To Protect and Serve
Egan
1992
Nickel & Dime
Jack Stone
1992
Nightmare Classics
Jenner Brading · (4 episodes)
1989
Into the Homeland
Tripp Wilson
1987
Moonlighting
Waiter (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1985
The Hitchhiker
Gerald · (1 episode)
1983