C Thomas Howell

Christopher Thomas Howell was born on December 7, 1966, in Los Angeles, California. He began working in the film industry at the age of seven. His early exposure to the entertainment world was influenced by his father, Chris Howell, a professional bull rider and stuntman, who inspired a young C. Thomas to initially pursue a career as a stuntman. Howell made his film debut as Tyler in Steven Spielberg’s “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” in 1982. This role was quickly followed by his breakthrough performance as Ponyboy Curtis in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 adaptation of “The Outsiders,” a role that garnered him widespread recognition and a Young Artist Award. Following these early successes, Howell continued to secure prominent roles in the mid-1980s, including “Grandview, U.S.A.” (1984) and “Red Dawn” (1984), establishing himself as a young actor with potential.

Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Howell’s career saw him take on a variety of roles across different genres. He appeared in the controversial racial comedy “Soul Man” (1986), which, despite its box office success, impacted his trajectory as a leading man. He expanded his talents into directing, making his directorial debut with “Pure Danger” in 1996 and continuing to direct several films throughout the 2000s, such as “The Land That Time Forgot” (2009) and “The Day the Earth Stopped” (2008). In television, Howell gained recognition for recurring roles like Officer Bill “Dewey” Dudek in the TNT drama “Southland” (2009–2013) and the sadistic serial killer George Foyet in CBS’s “Criminal Minds” (2009–2020).

In recent years, Howell has remained active in both film and television. His notable work includes a supporting role in “The Amazing Spider-Man” (2012) and voice roles in animated superhero films like “Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox” (2013) and “Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay” (2018). He has also taken on diverse roles in television series such as “The Walking Dead” (2018–2021) and “Obliterated” (2023), demonstrating his versatility. Beyond acting and directing, Howell has pursued a career as a singer-songwriter under the name Tommy Howell, releasing singles like “Rose Hill” (2022) and the album “American Storyteller” (2023), further diversifying his creative endeavors.