Notes on C. Thomas Howell

Overview of C. Thomas Howell's Career

• Known for roles in The Outsiders and 2024's Reagan.
• Extensive career from 1982's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial to recent works like Ride and Obliterated.
• Music career with Americana/southern rock albums.
• Played the Boston Reaper on Criminal Minds.

Name Change to Tommy Howell

• Known as Tommy Howell for a more personal and approachable image.
• Named after his father, Chris Howell, a stuntman.
• Chose "C. Thomas" as a professional name due to Screen Actors Guild requirements.
• New career in Nashville focusing on music and storytelling.

Health Scare

• Experienced a ruptured appendix in 2003, resulting in a lengthy recovery.
• Lost nearly 60 pounds due to the incident.
• Executive produced and starred in Sick People (2015), a film about the healthcare system.

Early Career and Notable Experiences

Role in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

• Cast due to willingness to perform a scene involving smoking.
• His father, a stuntman, helped him prepare for the audition.

Work on Urban Cowboy

• Assisted in training John Travolta on a mechanical bull.
• Met Patrick Swayze at a young age due to family connections in the film industry.

The Outsiders

• Notable rumble scene was shot over several nights.
• Howell took a real punch during filming, which was kept in the final cut.

Connection with the Sheen Family

• Worked with Emilio Estevez in The Outsiders, and with Charlie and Martin Sheen in other projects.
• Considers the Sheens as a second family.

Personal Interests and Achievements

Rodeo Champion

• Won California's Junior Rodeo All-Around Champ in 1979, 1980, and 1981.
• Describes horses as therapeutic and reflective of human souls.

Music and Songwriting

• Passionate about music, focusing on storytelling through songs.
• Prefers music over acting, finding it more fulfilling and valuable.

Conclusion

• C. Thomas Howell, aka Tommy Howell, continues to evolve as an artist.
• Balances a career in acting and music, with personal experiences shaping his creative choices.