Editing C. Thomas Howell (section)

==Career==
Howell made his show business debut in the situation comedy ''[[The Brian Keith Show]]''. When he was older, he acted in commercials.<ref>[http://www.cthowell.net/Articles/Cooking/cooking.html Cooking] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509212541/http://www.cthowell.net/Articles/Cooking/cooking.html |date=2008-05-09 }}. Cthowell.net. Retrieved on 2011-12-03.</ref>

===1980s===
In 1982, Howell made his film debut as Tyler in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screencrush.com/et-the-extra-terrestrial-then-and-now/|title=See the Cast of 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' Then and Now|first=Britt |last=Hayes|website=ScreenCrush|date=21 May 2014 }}</ref>

At the age of 15 in 1981, Howell was cast in [[Francis Ford Coppola]]'s ''[[The Outsiders (film)|The Outsiders]]'' (1983).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.looper.com/602999/whatever-happened-to-the-cast-of-the-outsiders/|title=Whatever Happened To The Cast Of The Outsiders?|first=Duncan|last=Carson|date=September 13, 2021|website=Looper.com}}</ref> 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."<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1251920/whoa-ponyboy-the-cast-of-the-outsiders-then-and-now-will-blow-your-mind|title=Whoa, Ponyboy: The Cast of The Outsiders Then and Now Will Blow Your Mind|date=March 25, 2021|website=E! Online}}</ref> Based on S.E. Hinton's bestselling [[The Outsiders (novel)|1967 novel of the same name]],<ref name="auto"/> the coming-of-age film<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/the-outsiders-biggest-differences-movie-book/|title=The Outsiders: 15 Big Differences Between The Movie And The Book|date=October 5, 2020|website=ScreenRant}}</ref> went on to become a cult classic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tulsapeople.com/about-town/coming-soon-the-outsiders-looking-better-than-weve-seen-it-before/article_3b6cd5d2-05ad-11ec-b3a6-2bf56e8b444b.html|title=Coming soon: 'The Outsiders' looking better than we've seen it before|first=Tim|last=Landes|website=TulsaPeople Magazine|date=25 August 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.top10films.co.uk/67926-win-francis-ford-coppolas-seminal-classic-the-outsiders-on-blu-ray/|title=WIN Francis Ford Coppola's Seminal Classic "The Outsiders" On Blu-Ray|website=top10films.co.uk|date=November 2, 2021|access-date=May 24, 2022|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108084313/https://www.top10films.co.uk/67926-win-francis-ford-coppolas-seminal-classic-the-outsiders-on-blu-ray/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Howell's portrayal of Ponyboy was his breakthrough role,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2010/05/02/in-need-of-more-mayhem/28940088007/|title=In need of more mayhem|first=George |last=Meyer|website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|date=May 2, 2010}}</ref> and it earned him a Young Artist Award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/the-outsiders-cast-where-are-they-now/|title='The Outsiders' Cast: Where Are They Now?|website=USMagazine.com|date=May 12, 2022}}</ref>

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 (film)|Tank]]''. In 1985, he starred in ''[[Secret Admirer (film)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cthowell.net/Articles/Two_Marriages/two_marriages.html|date=2008|title=Two Marriages|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509212533/http://www.cthowell.net/Articles/Two_Marriages/two_marriages.html|archivedate=2008-05-09|website=cthowell.net}}</ref>{{better source|date=May 2025}} 

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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/09/the-lost-roles-of-back-to-the-future.html|title = The Lost Roles of 'Back to the Future'|website=Vulture.com|date = 20 September 2012}}</ref> In 1986, Howell was a hitchhiker's target in the horror film ''[[The Hitcher (1986 film)|The Hitcher]].'' He also starred in the 2003 sequel ''[[The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting]]''.<ref>{{cite web|website=[[/Film]]|title='The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting' Is The Kind Of Direct-To-Video Sequel That Can Really Ruin Your Day|author=Hunter, Rob|date=March 23, 2018|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/556887/the-hitcher-ii-dtv-descent/}}</ref> In 1986, Howell starred in the satire ''[[Soul Man (film)|Soul Man]]'', a controversial film in which Howell appears in [[blackface]].<ref name="orlandosentinel"/>  The film was widely condemned and while it was a box office success, it did not help Howell's career.   Howell then played the young [[Arturo Toscanini]] in [[Franco Zeffirelli]]'s 1988 film ''[[Young Toscanini]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Malcolm |first1=Derek |title=Soap opera with a capital O |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260343750/?terms=zeffirelli%20toscanini%20taylor&match=1 |access-date=20 January 2023 |work=[[The Guardian]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |date=8 Sep 1988 |page=22 |language=en}}</ref>

===1990s===
In 1992, Howell starred in romantic drama ''[[That Night]]'' alongside actress [[Juliette Lewis]]. A film based on the novel of the same name by [[Alice McDermott]]. In 1993, Howell starred with [[Linda Fiorentino]] and [[Nancy Allen (actress)|Nancy Allen]] in the thriller ''[[Acting on Impulse]]''.  He then
achieved success in the film ''[[Gettysburg (1993 film)|Gettysburg]]'', which was popular with history buffs and history classrooms. In 1995, he starred as Mike, a motorcycle courier in the poorly received ''[[Mad Dogs and Englishmen (film)|Mad Dogs and Englishmen]]'' (U.S. title: ''Shameless'') with [[Elizabeth Hurley]].

Following this, Howell starred in ''[[Payback (1995 film)|Payback]]'' and then played gangster [[Baby Face Nelson]] in [[Baby Face Nelson (1995 film)|the film of the same name]]. He starred in and made his directorial debut with the 1996 direct-to-video release ''[[Pure Danger]]'', which also featured [[Teri Ann Linn]] and comic [[Carrot Top]].

===2000s===
In 2000, Howell played a doctor stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash in the television show ''Amazon''. In 2004, he played [[serial killer]] [[Kenneth Bianchi]] in ''[[The Hillside Strangler (film)|The Hillside Strangler]]''.

In 2005, he starred in ''[[H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds (The Asylum film)|H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds]]'', one of three 2005 adaptations of the novel ''[[The War of the Worlds]]'' by [[H. G. Wells]]. Howell directed and starred in a straight-to-DVD sequel ''[[War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave]]'' in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|title=War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave|url=https://tvguide.vg.no/program/war-of-the-worlds-2-the-next-wave|access-date=2021-02-17|website=VG TV-guide|language=no}}</ref> Also in 2005, he reunited with his ''Secret Admirer'' co-star [[Lori Loughlin]] when he had a recurring role on her television show ''[[Summerland (TV series)|Summerland]]'' as [[Zac Efron]]'s father.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} Howell appeared as a doctor in ''[[The Poseidon Adventure (2005 film)|The Poseidon Adventure]]'', an adaptation of the [[The Poseidon Adventure (1972 film)|1972 film of the same name]]. His father's first (uncredited) stunt co-ordination was for the original film.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20180618061319/http://www.cthomashowell.net/poseidoninterview.htm Interview for the Poseidon Adventure Remake]}},  Cthomashowell.net; retrieved  2011-12-03.</ref>

In 2006, Howell starred in ''[[Hoboken Hollow]]''. He also became a supporter of the production company [[The Asylum]], which produced his straight-to-DVD films.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} In 2008, Howell directed and starred in ''[[The Day the Earth Stopped]]'', a [[mockbuster]] intended to capitalize on ''[[The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008 film)|The Day the Earth Stood Still]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-11-11|title=Commentary: Fox takes action against 'Day the Earth Stopped'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/commentary-fox-takes-action-day-122770|access-date=2021-02-17|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en}}</ref>

Beginning in 2009, Howell [[guest star]]red in ''[[Criminal Minds]]'' on [[CBS]] as serial killer George Foyet (The Boston Reaper), a recurring villain based on [[The Boston Strangler]].{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} Also beginning in 2009, he played the role of Officer Bill 'Dewey' Dudek, a police officer recovering from alcoholism, in the L.A. police drama ''[[Southland (TV series)|Southland]]''.<ref>{{cite web|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|url=https://ew.com/article/2009/05/22/southland-nbc/?srsltid=AfmBOookjGycni-xyATK5agnXRZwe-rjI14Iel1AsOTlFsLWB7XaVR4x|title='Southland' season finale: so tense, so good|date=May 22, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|title='Southland' makes C Thomas Howell series regular for season five|author=Jeffery, Morgan|date=November 9, 2012|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a436907/southland-makes-c-thomas-howell-series-regular-for-season-five/}}</ref>

===2010s and 2020s===
In 2011, Howell guest starred as an inmate on ''[[The Glades (TV series)|The Glades]]'' and in ''[[Torchwood: Miracle Day]]''.<ref>[http://www.denofgeek.com/television/793926/torchwood_miracle_day_casting_news.html Torchwood: Miracle Day casting news] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211200454/http://www.denofgeek.com/television/793926/torchwood_miracle_day_casting_news.html |date=2012-02-11 }}. Den of Geek; retrieved 2011-12-03.</ref>

Howell appeared in the 2012 film ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man (2012 film)|The Amazing Spider-Man]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Franich|first1=Darren|title='Spider-Man': C. Thomas Howell joins the reboot |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/01/10/spider-man-c-thomas-howell/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=October 25, 2019|date=January 10, 2011}}</ref>

Starting in 2015, Howell has had a [[recurring role]] as Dr. Daniel Stinger in the Freeform show ''[[Stitchers (TV series)|Stitchers]]''. In 2017, he had a recurring role as Ash Spenser, a retired Navy SEAL, in the CBS show ''[[SEAL Team (TV series)|SEAL Team]]''.

In 2016 and 2018, Howell had a recurring guest-star role as Paul Belmont, a [[United States Navy]] [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|Lieutenant Commander]] at [[Camp Pendleton]], in Seasons 1 and 3 of ''[[Animal Kingdom (TV series)|Animal Kingdom]]''.

In 2023, Howell starred in ''[[Obliterated]]'' on [[Netflix]] as Harry Haggerty.