Editing C. Thomas Howell (section)

===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>