Cast & creator
C. Thomas Howell
Best known for Criminal Minds, The Blacklist, Castle
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.
Also known as: Christopher Thomas Howell, Tom Howell, Си Томас Хауэлл, C·湯瑪斯·哈威爾, سی توماس هاول
183
film credits
45
television credits
213
1980–2026 · acting roles
5.6
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (228)
Showing 228 of 228 credits
Criminal Minds
The Reaper / George Foyet
2005
The Blacklist
Earl Fagen
2013
Castle
John Campbell
2009
Hawaii Five-0
Martin Cordova
2010
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003
24
Barry Landes
2001
The Walking Dead
Roy
2010The Walking Dead
Hilltop Resident
2010
Blue Bloods
Alex Polanski
2010
Grimm
Weston Steward
2011
SEAL Team
Ash Spenser
2017
Sons of Anarchy
Agent Frank Eagan
2008
Psych
Camden Driggs
2006
The Outer Limits
Capt. Miles Davidow
1995
ER
Vincent Jansen
1994
Bosch
Louis Degner
2015
Marvel's The Punisher
Carson Wolf
2017
MacGyver
Vasil
2016
V.I.P.
Phil Sherman
1998
Longmire
Ray Stewart
2012
Sleepy Hollow
SAC Mick Granger
2013
Will Trent
Warden Sturgill Hardly
2023
The District
Chris Gunner
2000
Moonlighting
Waiter (uncredited)
1985
1923
Anders
2022
The Hitchhiker
Gerald
1983
The Amazing Spider-Man
Jack's Father
2012
Torchwood
The Gentleman
2006
Southland
Officer Dewey Dudek
2009
Celebrity Ghost Stories
Self
2009
The Glades
Peyton Robinson
2010
Creepshow
Sam Spinster
2019
Obliterated
Hagerty
2023
Twice in a Lifetime
Tony Tremaine / Phil Barlow
1999
The Terror
Major Bowen
2018
Alphas
Eli Aquino
2011
Stitchers
Daniel Stinger
2015
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Tyler
1982
Son of the Beach
2000
Summerland
Kyle Bale
2004
Revolution
Bounty Hunter
2012
One Mile: Chapter One
Stanley Dixon
2026
The Hitcher
Jim Halsey
1986
The Outsiders
Ponyboy Curtis
1983
The Good Cop
Businessman
2018
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay
Zoom (voice)
2018
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love
Alumnus Guy #2
2009
Kindred: The Embraced
Det. Frank Kohanek
1996
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
Professor Zoom / Thawne (voice)
2013
Old Dads
Ed Cameron
2023
One Mile: Chapter Two
Stanley Dixon
2026
Red Dawn
Robert
1984
Justice League: Gods and Monsters
Dr. Will Magnus (voice)
2015
Hidalgo
Preston Webb
2004
Ties That Bind
Mr. Witherspoon
2015
Reagan
Caspar Weinberger
2024
Gettysburg
Lieut. Thomas D. Chamberlain
1993
Gods and Generals
Sgt. Thomas Chamberlain
2003
Secret Admirer
Michael Ryan
1985
Amazon
Dr. Alex Kennedy
1999
The Poseidon Adventure
Doctor Ballard
2005
Grandview, U.S.A.
Tim Pearson
1984
A Question of Faith
John Danielson
2017
Nightmare Classics
Jenner Brading
1989
Night of the Juggler
Stunts
1980
Soul Man
Mark Watson
1986
The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting
Jim Halsey
2003
Urban Country
Jim Craft
2018
Tank
Billy
1984
Woodlawn
George 'Shorty' White
2015
Payback
Oscar Bonsetter
1995
The Land That Time Forgot
Frost Michaels
2009The Land That Time Forgot
Director
2009
War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave
George Herbert
2008War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave
Director
2008
H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds
George Herbert
2005
LBJ
Walter Jenkins
2017
The Return of the Musketeers
Raoul
1989
Attack of the Killer Donuts
Officer Roberts
2016
That Night
Rick
1992
Toxic
LIttle Joe
2008
The Day the Earth Stopped
Josh Myron
2008The Day the Earth Stopped
Director
2008
Celebracadabra
2008
I Am Patrick Swayze
Self
2019
Restitution
John Youngstown
2011
Shifting Gears
Jenkins
2018
Camel Spiders
Sheriff Beaumont
2011
Chilly Christmas
Patrick Cole
2012
Ordinary Miracles
Jim Powell
2005
Dauntless: The Battle of Midway
Captain Miles Browning
2019
Baby Face Nelson
Baby Face Nelson
1996
Escape
Paul Jordan
2012
Where the Wind Blows
Nathan
2025
Storm Rider
Mitch Fielding
2013
Rich Boy, Rich Girl
Blake
2018
Dangerous Indiscretion
Jim Lomax
1995
Nickel & Dime
Jack Stone
1992
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Mike
1995
Spirit Riders
Keith
2015
An Amish Murder
Nathan Detrick
2013
Confessions of a Womanizer
Tony
2014
The Sweeper
Mark Goddard
1996The Horseman
Killer Bees
Sheriff Lyndon Harris
2002
The 'E.T.' Journals
Self
2012
The Million Dollar Kid
Valentino
2000
The Prince and the Surfer
Dean
1999
Far Out Man
C. Thomas Howell
1990
Side Out
Monroe Clark
1990
Hot Boyz
Officer Roberts
2000
Dirty Dealing
Carter
2018
Christmas Belle
Rex Everhart
2013
Magic Hour
Tom Worthy
2015
Secret at Arrow Lake
2009
Night of the Wolf
Sheriff Wade Messer
2002
Cross
Jake
2011
The Grind
Luke
2009
Big Game
Sully
2008
A Killer Within
Addison Terrill
2004
Natural Selection
Ben Braden / Alex Connelly
1994
To Protect and Serve
Egan
1992
Kid
Kid
1990
A Christmas Eve Miracle
Jack Carter
2015A Christmas Eve Miracle
Executive Producer
2015
Dilemma
Thomas 'Quin' Quinlan
1997
The Da Vinci Treasure
Michael Archer
2006
Teresa's Tattoo
Carl
1994
A Gunfighter's Pledge
Horn
2008
The Terror Experiment
Chief Grasso
2010
The Eyes of the Panther
Jenner Brading
1989
The Genesis Code
Director
2010
The Shepherd
Boris Dakota
1998
Don't Pass Me By
Jack
2013
Burning Down the House
Concierge
2001
A Tiger's Tale
Bubber Drumm
1988
Acting on Impulse
Paul Stevens
1993
Glass Trap
Curtis
2005Borrowed Moments
Jack
2015
Lost on Purpose
Delbert Furgeson
2013
Curiosity Kills
Cat Thomas
1990
MoniKa
Double
2012
Sealed with a Kiss
Detective Mick Cullen
1998
Deadman Standing
The Stranger
2018
Hoboken Hollow
Clayton Connelly
2006
The Lost Angel
Kuratha
2005
The Thirst: Blood War
Jed
2008
My B.F.F.
Ben Wilkins
2016
Rescuing Madison
Rad
2014
House of Fallen
Thomas
2008
The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam
Coach Fielding
2005
Category 5
Charlie DuPuis
2014
The Hitcher: How Do These Movies Get Made?
2003
Laws of Deception
Evan Marino
1997
Suspect Device
Dan Jericho
1995
XCU: Extreme Close Up
Geoffrey Liddy
2001
Beast Mode
Breen Nash
2020
Escape from Alaska
Jack
1999
Red Team
J.B. Gaines
1999
Fighting Words
David Settles
2006
Staying Gold: A Look Back at 'The Outsiders'
Self
2005
Pure Danger
Johnie Dean
1996Pure Danger
Director
1996
Dreadtown: The Steel Pulse Story
Self
Breaking the Rules
Gene Michaels
1992
A Magic Christmas
Jack Carter
2014A Magic Christmas
Executive Producer
2014
Rivers 9
Sheriff Quentin
2015
Blind Injustice
Story
2005Blind Injustice
Producer
2005
Ride
John Hawkins
2024
Cupid's Arrow
Professor Grimes
2010
The Hillside Strangler
Kenneth Bianchi
2004
Into the Homeland
Tripp Wilson
1987The Greatest Actress in the World
Enemy Action
John Reed
1999
The Sin Seer
Detective Riggers
2015
Matter of Trust
Michael D'Angelo
1998
Home Invasion
Ray
2012
The Haunting of Marsten Manor
Captain Williams
2007
Jailbait
Sergeant Lee Teffler
1993
The Big Fall
Blaise Rybeck
1997The Big Fall
Director
1997
Crimson Force
Capt. Baskin
2005
Tattle Tale
Bernard Sprat
1993
Asylum Days
Nathan Devine
2001
Askari
Joss Mckinley
2001
Mac Daddy's Vegas Adventure
2017
Wedding Day
Russ
2012
WillFull
Nat Wolff
2002
Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood!
David
2010
Dead Fire
Tucker
1997
Lazarus Rising
Silent Cal
2015
Nursie
Zack
2004
The Jailhouse
Seth Delray
2009
Net Games
Adam Vance
2003
Cold Ones
K.C. Corcoran
2007
Treacherous
Micky Stewert
1993
Advance & Retreat
Nathan Shapiro
2016
Because We're Family
Peter
2022
Young Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini
1988
Detroit Under S.T.R.E.S.S.
Narrator
2018
Hope Ranch
Producer
2002Hope Ranch
Screenplay
2002
Separate Ways
Tom Milton
2001
Fruits De Mer
2014
Charades
Evan
1998
Blood Lust
Ryan
2016
Last Lives
Aaron
1997
The Open Door
Mr. Sapp
2024
The Shadow People
Kaine
2017
Cybermaster: Shepherd II
Dakota
1999
Crimson Point
Frank
2022
Disconnected
Robert Crawford
2017
Sleeping Dogs
Sanchez Boon
1997Xenophobia
Stone
2008
Hitman's Run
Tom Holly
1999
Hourglass
Michael Jardine
1997Hourglass
Screenplay
1997Hourglass
Director
1997
Zolar
Hedion
2004
Bigfoot Wars
Zeke
2014
Fatal Affair
Malcolm 'Mack' Maddox
1999
Lawless: Dead Evidence
Dean Riley
2001
The Wrong Path
Dr. Eric Peselowe
2021
The Rack Pack
Ted
2018
Control
Control (voice)
2019
The Glass Jar
Lanois
1999