C. Thomas Howell
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| Christopher Thomas Howell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Christopher Thomas Howell December 7, 1966 Van Nuys, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Tommy Howell |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Spouse | Rae Dawn Chong (1989–1990) Sylvie Anderson (1992–present) |
| Children | Isabelle (born 1993), Dashiell (born 1997), Liam (born 2001) |
Christopher Thomas "Tommy" Howell (born December 7, 1966), known by his stage name 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 The Da Vinci Treasure, Soul Man, Red Dawn, Secret Admirer, Gettysburg, H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds, The Day the Earth Stopped and Gods and Generals. He is scheduled to appear in 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man.
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[edit] Early life
Christopher Thomas Howell, nicknamed either "Tommy" or "CT", was born on December 7, 1966, in Van Nuys, California, to Chris and Candice Howell. He has two sisters, Stacy and Candi, and a brother, John.[1] His father worked as a stunt coordinator since Howell was six. As a young boy, Howell wanted to be a stuntman and was even a child stunt player. He began acting at the age of four, when cast in the Brian Keith Show in an episode called "The Little People".
When Howell was young his parents divorced,[2] leaving his mother with both of her sons and daughter Stacy, and his father took Candi with him.[3] Howell shared his time with each parent and started his career through his father's job. When he was twelve, he became a rodeo champion at the California Junior Rodeo Association and was named "All-Around Cowboy" in August 1979. While growing up, he also spent time golfing with his grandfather (where his nickname "CT" came because that's how he was recorded on screen boards).
[edit] Career
[edit] Early career
Howell's showbiz debut was acting in the Brian Keith Show episode "The Little People" as a little boy whose ears are being checked out by a doctor. When he got older, he tried stunt acting like his father and worked on commercials for a while.[4] His first film appearance was in the 1977 made-for-television movie It Happened One Christmas. Following the movie, he tried rodeo riding for a few years. In 1982 he was originally a child stuntman in Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Also in ET, he played a very minor role, Tyler, who appears in the very beginning of the movie and near the end as a bicycle rider. Afterward, due to his acting skills, he was cast as the lead role in Francis Ford Coppola's The Outsiders, which earned him a Young Artist Award. Following The Outsiders, he became a teen idol, appearing in teen magazines like Tiger Beat and 16 Magazine, which referred to him as "Tommy" and "Tom".
[edit] 1980s
In 1984 he and Outsiders co-star, Patrick Swayze, reunited for Grandview, U.S.A., also with Jamie Lee Curtis, and Red Dawn with Charlie Sheen and Lea Thompson. Howell also had a pivotal role in Tank, with James Garner and Jenilee Harrison. In 1985 he again starred in the lead role in Secret Admirer, opposite Lori Loughlin and Kelly Preston. Howell was one of two final actors in the running to play Marty McFly in Back to the Future the other being Eric Stoltz, who was eventually selected. Michael J. Fox would later go on to replace Stoltz after filming had begun.
In 1986 he played a hitchhiker's target in the film The Hitcher, another of his successful movies. The sequel was released in 2003. Following that he starred as a white student who pretends to be black in the poorly received Soul Man. In 1988 Howell played Arturo Toscanini in the story of the world renown conductor in Franco Zeffirelli's Il Giovane Toscanini with Irma Capece Minutolo and Elizabeth Taylor, which was one of his very first straight-to-video releases. Howell and Kelly Preston reunited as lovers in A Tiger's Tale.
[edit] 1990s
At the end of the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s, Howell appeared in The Return of the Musketeers and Side Out. In 1993, he starred with Linda Fiorentino and Nancy Allen in the campy thriller Acting on Impulse. After several straight-to-DVD features and a starring role in That Night, he achieved success again in the movie Gettysburg, which was popular with history buffs and history classrooms. He starred as Mike, a motorcycle courier in Mad Dogs & Englishmen (US title: Shameless) with Elizabeth Hurley. He started an interest in crime-thrillers after starring in Payback and playing serial killer Baby Face Nelson in a film of the same name. His made-for-television movie credits include Suspect Device, Sealed with a Kiss, Dads, and Dead Fire. He also appeared in the short-lived TV series "Kindred: The Embraced".
[edit] 2000s
Howell returned to the theater in the 2000s in movies such as Asylum Days, the Gods and Generals prequel to Gettysburg, and The Hillside Strangler, playing a real-life serial killer. In 2004, Howell starred in Hoboken Hollow. He also became a supporter of the production company The Asylum, which produced his straight-to-DVD movies.
In 2005, he starred as a man who gets separated from his wife and child in H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds, one of three 2005 adaptations of the novel The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. Because of its success, Howell directed and starred in a straight-to-DVD sequel War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave in 2008, which was heavily criticized. In 2005, he also reunited with his Secret Admirer co-star Lori Loughlin, when he had a recurring role on her television show Summerland as Zac Efron's father. After War of the Worlds, he later time directing unsuccessful straight to-DVD movies. Also, in 2008, he directed and starred in The Day the Earth Stopped, a mockbuster intended to capitalize on The Day the Earth Stood Still. For these reasons, 20th Century Fox have threatened legal action against The Asylum, but no action has yet been taken. He also appeared as a doctor in The Poseidon Adventure an adaptation of the 1972 film of the same name. Coincidentally, his father's first stunt co-ordination was for the original movie,[5] though uncredited. He briefly hosted a show on KLSX later that year. He appeared in the Western The Pledge.
The Tacoma band "Botch" made a song called "C. Thomas Howell as 'Soul Man'".
[edit] 2010s
Howell has been cast in The Amazing Spider-Man as a character called Ray. Further details about his character are being kept under wraps, but it is possible that he is playing Ray Cooper, a police officer who supports Captain George Stacy in the Spider-Man Comics.[6]
[edit] Television work
After filming The Outsiders, Howell starred in his own television series Two Marriages as a rebellious teenager, which ended after four episodes, but letters of support got it back on air. Howell later expressed disappointment in the series,[7] but eventually found the show more satisfying.
After Two Marriages, Howell made guest appearances in shows like Moonlighting and The Hitchhiker. In 2000, Howell played a doctor stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash in Amazon. He initially turned down a guest role in ER after missing out on a role he wanted, but his wife signed him up after yet another offer. Following ER, he guest appeared in 24. He appeared in five episodes of Criminal Minds on CBS as the serial killer George Foyet (The Boston Reaper, based on the Zodiac Killer).
Howell plays Dewey Dudek, a recovering alcoholic police officer, in the L.A. police drama Southland – 2009–2010.
In 2011, he guest starred on The Glades and he will star in Torchwood: Miracle Day.[8]
[edit] Off-screen
Howell has worked with Francis Ford Copola many times and in other areas of making motion pictures including writing, producing, and directing. In 1995, he wrote and directed Hourglass, which starred him and Sofia Shinas. The following year, he helped produce The Big Fall and Pure Danger. Howell did not write or direct another movie until 2004. He and his father co-wrote the made for television movie Hope Ranch and Howell produced the film as well. The film was a success and Howell went on to write and produce Blind Injustice the next year. Two years later he produced The Stolen Moments of September.
[edit] Personal life
In his single days Howell shared a place with his friend, Darren Dalton, with whom he co-starred in The Outsiders and Red Dawn. From July 11, 1989, to sometime in 1990, Howell was married to actress Rae Dawn Chong, his Soul Man co-star. He then married Sylvie Anderson in 1992. They have three children, Isabelle (born February 17, 1993), Dashiell (born January 2, 1997), and Liam (born April 24, 2001). Isabelle appeared as Molly in Hope Ranch, credited as "Isabelle Howell", and Dashiell played Howell's son Alex, in H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds, as "Dash Howell". The family currently resides in Stevenson Ranch, California.
In 2008 Howell was a contestant in the reality game show, Celebracadabra, on which celebrities performed magic tricks practiced by experienced coaches. The series began on April 27 and ended on June 12; Howell won and was named Greatest Celebrity Magician.
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | It Happened One Christmas | Unknown | Made for television movie |
| 1982 | E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | Tyler | Credited as Tom Howell |
| 1983 | The Outsiders | Ponyboy Michael Curtis | Young Artist Award; first film with Patrick Swayze |
| 1984 | Grandview, U.S.A. | Tim Pearson | Second film with Swayze |
| Tank | William "Billy" Carey | ||
| Red Dawn | Robert Morris | Third film with Swayze | |
| 1985 | Secret Admirer | Michael Ryan | |
| 1986 | The Hitcher | Jim Halsey | |
| Soul Man | Mark Watson | Met and married Rae Dawn Chong | |
| 1987 | Into the Homeland | Tripp Winston | Made for television movie |
| 1988 | A Tiger's Tale | Bubber Drums | |
| Giovane Toscanini II | Arturo Toscanini | Also known as "Young Toscanini" | |
| 1989 | The Return of the Musketeers | Raoul | |
| 1990 | Far Out Man | Himself | |
| Side Out | Monoroe Clark | ||
| Curiosity Kills | Cat Thomas | ||
| Kid | Kid | ||
| 1992 | Tattle Tale | Bernard Sprat | Made for television movie |
| Nickle & Dime | Jack Stone | ||
| To Protect and Serve | Egan | ||
| Breaking the Rules | Gene Michaels | ||
| That Night | Rick | ||
| 1993 | Gettysburg | Thomas Chamberlain | |
| 1994 | Jailbait | Sgt. Lee Teffler | |
| Dangerous Indiscretion | Jim Lomax | ||
| Treacherous | Micky Stewert | ||
| Natural Selection | Ben Braden/Alex Connelly | Made-for-television movie | |
| 1995 | Payback | Oscar Bonsetter | |
| Baby Face Nelson | Baby Face Nelson | ||
| Teresa's Tattoo | Carl | ||
| Hourglass | Michael Jardine | ||
| Mad Dogs and Englishmen | Mike | ||
| Suspect Device | Dan Jerico | Made for television movie | |
| 1996 | The Big Fall | Blaise Rybeck | |
| Sealed with a Kiss | Detective Mick Cullen | Made for television movie | |
| The Sweeper | Mark Goddard | ||
| Pure Danger | Jonnie Dean | ||
| 1997 | Dads | Tom | Sitcom. The pilot episode is shown at the Television Preview, a marketing research operation. |
| Matter of Trust | Michael D'Angelo | ||
| Laws of Deception | Evan Marino | ||
| Dilemma | Detective Thomas Quinlan | Directed by Eric Larsen under "Alan Smithee" | |
| Dead Fire | Tucker | Made for television movie | |
| Last Lives | Aaron | ||
| 1998 | Fatal Affair | Malcom Maddox | |
| Sleeping Dogs | Sanchez Boon | ||
| Charades | Evan | Also known as Felons or First Degree | |
| 1999 | The Crimson Code | J.B. Gaines | Also known as Red Team |
| Hot Boyz | Roberts | ||
| Enemy Action | John Reed | ||
| Cybermaster | Dakota | ||
| Shepherd | Boris Dakota | ||
| The Glass Jar | Lanois | ||
| Avalanche | Jack | ||
| Hitman's Run | Tom Holly | ||
| The Prince and the Surfer | Dean | ||
| 2000 | Lawless: Dead Evidence | Dean Riley | |
| The Million Dollar Kid | Valentino | ||
| 2001 | Separate Ways | Tom Milton | |
| Asylum Days | Nathan Devine | ||
| Burning Down the House | Unknown | ||
| Willfull | Nat Wolff | ||
| XCU: Extreme Close Up | Geoffrey Liddy | ||
| Askari | Joss McKinley | ||
| 2002 | Night of the Wolf | Sheriff Wade Messer | Made for television movie |
| Killer Bees! | Sheriff Lyndon Harris | Made for television movie | |
| 2003 | Net Games | Adam Vance | |
| Gods and Generals | Thomas Chamberlain | ||
| The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting | Jim Halsey | ||
| 2004 | The Lost Angel | Kuratha | |
| Hidalgo | Preston Webb | ||
| The Hillside Strangler | Kenneth Bianchi | ||
| A Killer Within | Addison Terrill | ||
| Zolar | Hedion | Made for television movie | |
| 2005 | The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam | Coach Fielding | |
| Hoboken Hollow | Clayton Connelly | ||
| Crimson Force | Captain Baskin | Made for television movie | |
| H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds | George Herbert | Film adaptation of H. G. Wells' novel The War of the Worlds | |
| Glass Trap | Curtis | ||
| Nursie | Zack | ||
| Ordinary Miracles | Jim Powell | Made for television movie | |
| The Poseidon Adventure | Doctor Ballard | Made-for-television movie | |
| 2006 | The Da Vinci Treasure | Michael Archer | |
| The Far Side of Jericho | Little Jimmy Thorton | ||
| 2007 | Dead Letters | KC | Formerly known as Cold Ones |
| The Haunting of Marsten Manor | Captain Williams | ||
| Fighting Words | David Settles | ||
| The Stolen Moments of September | Sisner | ||
| 2008 | Xenophobia | Stone | Made-for-television movie |
| Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood! | David | ||
| House of Fallen | Thomas | ||
| Big Game | Sully | ||
| War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave | George Herbert | Also director | |
| A Gunfighter's Pledge | Horn | Made-for-television movie | |
| Toxic | Joe | ||
| The Thirst: Blood War | Jed | ||
| The Day the Earth Stopped | Josh Myron | Also director | |
| 2009 | The Grind | Luke | |
| The Land That Time Forgot | Frost Michaels | Also director | |
| Razor | Virgil | ||
| Fuel | Shane | ||
| Cupid's Arrow | Professor Grimes | ||
| Camouflage | Stanley | ||
| Commander and Chief | Shrub | ||
| Secret at Arrow Lake | Daniel | ||
| The Jailhouse | Seth Delray | ||
| American Pie Presents: The Book of Love | Alumnus Guy #2 | ||
| 2012 | The Amazing Spider-Man | Ray | Reboot of Spider-Man franchise. |
[edit] Television
| TV show | Role | Episode | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two Marriages | Scott Morgan | Unknown | 1983 |
| Moonlighting | Post Office Guy; waiter | "Yours, Very Deadly"; "The Lady in the Iron Mask" | 1985, 1986 |
| Nightmare Classics | Jenner Brading | "The Eyes of the Panther" | 1989 |
| The Hitchhiker | Unknown | "White Slaves" | 1990 |
| Kindred: The Embraced | Frank Kohanek | Eight episodes | 1996 |
| The Outer Limits | Captain Miles Davidlow | "The Joining" | 1998 |
| V.I.P | Phil Sherman | "Val Got Game" | 1998 |
| The Love Boat: The Next Wave | John | "Affairs to Remember" | 1998 |
| Dead Man's Gun | Henry Hubble | "The Phrenologist" | 1999 |
| Amazon | Dr. Alex Kennedy | 23 episodes | 1999–2000 |
| Twice in a Lifetime | Tony | "The Escaped Artist" | 2000 |
| Son of the Beach | Jason Dudikoff | "In the Line of Booty" | 2002 |
| The District | Chris Gunner | "On Guard" | 2004 |
| Summerland | Kyle Bale | Two episodes | 2004, 2005 |
| ER | Vincent Janeson | "The Human Shield" | 2005 |
| 24 | Barry Landes | Two episodes | 2006 |
| Smith | Unknown | "Seven" | 2007 |
| Celebracadabra | Himself | Nine Episodes(On show, crowned best celebrity magician) | 2008 |
| Criminal Minds | George Foyet/The Reaper | 4.18 "Omnivore"; 4.26 "...And Back"; 5.1 "Nameless, Faceless"; 5.9 "100" | 2009 |
| Southland | Ofcr. Billy Dewey | recurring role | 2009–2011 |
| Psych | Driggs | "One, Maybe Two, Ways Out" | 2010 |
| The Glades | Peyton Robinson | "Second Skin" | 2011 |
| Torchwood | Unknown | Torchwood: Miracle Day | 2011 |
[edit] References
- ^ aboutct. Cthomashowell.net. Retrieved on 2011-12-03.
- ^ Tommy Howell: I'm Just a Normal Kid!. Cthowell.net. Retrieved on 2011-12-03.
- ^ Marriage. Cthowell.net. Retrieved on 2011-12-03.
- ^ Cooking. Cthowell.net. Retrieved on 2011-12-03.
- ^ Interview for the Poseidon Adventure Remake. Cthomashowell.net. Retrieved on 2011-12-03.
- ^ Barrett, Annie. (2011-01-10) 'Spider-Man': C. Thomas Howell joins the reboot | Inside Movies | EW.com. Insidemovies.ew.com. Retrieved on 2011-12-03.
- ^ Two Marriages. cthowell.net
- ^ Torchwood: Miracle Day casting news. Den of Geek. Retrieved on 2011-12-03.
