He wasn't supposed to be an actor. Honestly, if you asked a twelve-year-old young C. Thomas Howell what he wanted to be when he grew up, "movie star" wouldn't have even cracked the top five. He wanted to be a world champion team roper. He wanted the dirt, the 1,500-pound bulls, and the smell of the arena.
Then came the Marlboro Reds. Don't forget to check out our recent coverage on this related article.
That’s basically how he got into E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Steven Spielberg needed a kid who could ride a BMX bike like a pro and, more importantly, wasn't afraid to smoke a cigarette on camera. A previous actor had been cast, but his religious background meant the smoking was a no-go. Enter "Tommy" Howell—a stunt-kid who had been winning rodeo saddles since he was barely out of diapers. He took the cigarette, rode the bike, and accidentally started one of the most meteoric rises in 1980s cinema.
The Outsiders: Becoming Ponyboy Curtis
Most people remember the 1983 film The Outsiders for its "Brat Pack" lineup: Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe. It’s a ridiculous roster. But the movie belongs to young C. Thomas Howell. At fifteen, he was the emotional anchor, playing Ponyboy Curtis with a vulnerability that most teenage boys in the early 80s weren't allowed to show. To read more about the context here, The Hollywood Reporter offers an excellent breakdown.
He won a Young Artist Award for it. Deservedly so.
Working for Francis Ford Coppola wasn't a standard "child actor" experience. Coppola famously had the "Greasers" and the "Socs" stay in different hotels and gave the Greasers only five dollars a day to live on so they’d feel like outcasts. Howell spent his time hanging out with Ralph Macchio, forming a bond that mirrored the tragic friendship of Ponyboy and Johnny Cade. It was a gritty, life-changing boot camp.
But here is the thing: Howell still didn't think he was an "actor." He viewed the whole Hollywood thing as a blue-collar job, something he did because his dad, Chris Howell, was a legendary stunt coordinator. To him, meeting Spielberg wasn't scary. Why would it be? Spielberg wasn't a bull trying to stomp him into the dirt.
Red Dawn and the Peak of 80s Stardom
By 1984, the face of young C. Thomas Howell was plastered on every Tiger Beat and 16 Magazine cover in the country. He was the "It-Boy." He reunited with Patrick Swayze for Red Dawn, a film that perfectly captured the Cold War paranoia of the era.
Filming Red Dawn was brutal.
- They filmed in New Mexico during a winter where temperatures hit -20 degrees.
- The cast underwent intensive military training.
- Howell had to drink "deer blood" (syrup and food coloring, mostly) on camera.
He was transitioning from the sensitive poet of The Outsiders to a hardened guerrilla fighter. He was barely eighteen, and he was already a veteran of three massive blockbusters. At this point, the industry assumed he would be the next big thing—the guy who would surpass Cruise or Lowe.
The Role That Changed Everything (And Not in a Good Way)
In 1986, Howell made a choice that would haunt his career for decades. He starred in Soul Man.
The premise? A white student uses tanning pills to pose as a Black man to get a scholarship to Harvard Law. Today, the movie is largely viewed as a massive mistake, but at the time, it was a box office hit. Howell has since reflected on it, noting that he went into it because the script was funny and he didn't realize the gravity of the racial stereotyping involved. He actually married his co-star, Rae Dawn Chong, though the marriage only lasted about a year.
Soul Man marked a turning point. Shortly after, Howell starred in The Hitcher with Rutger Hauer. Ironically, he says The Hitcher—a terrifying thriller where he’s hunted by a psychopath—was the first time he actually decided he wanted to be an actor. He wanted to study the craft. He wanted to get old and play complex roles.
But by the time he committed to acting, the "Teen Idol" window was closing.
Why the Rodeo Stayed in His Blood
Despite the fame, the "rodeo road" never really left him. Between films, he was still competing. He was a California State Junior All-Around Champion for three years straight (1979-1981). While his peers were at Hollywood parties, he was often back at the ranch, roping steers.
He once admitted that he felt like he lost his "best friend and heeler" (himself) when he chose acting over the professional rodeo circuit. That authenticity is why people still connect with young C. Thomas Howell. He wasn't a polished theater kid. He was a cowboy who happened to be good at looking into a camera lens.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Historians
If you're looking to revisit this era of Howell's career or study the 80s "Brat Pack" phenomenon, here is how to dive deeper:
- Watch the "The Outsiders: The Complete Novel" version. It includes deleted scenes that show much more of Howell’s range as Ponyboy, specifically his relationship with his brothers.
- Look for his "Tommy Howell" music. In recent years, he has leaned back into his cowboy roots, releasing country music under the name Tommy Howell. It’s the most authentic version of him yet.
- Check out The Hitcher (1986). If you only know him as the "Stay Gold" kid, this movie will shock you. It’s a masterclass in suspense and shows the exact moment he started taking the craft seriously.
He's still working today—you've probably seen him as the "Reaper" in Criminal Minds or in Southland—but it was those early, dusty years that defined him. He proved that you can be a heartthrob and a "heeler" at the same time, even if the path wasn't always a straight line.
Take a look at his 2023 album American Storyteller. It’s basically the diary of a man who spent forty years figuring out that he was always a cowboy first, and an actor second.
Next Steps for You To get the full picture of this era, you should compare Howell's performance in The Outsiders with his role in The Hitcher back-to-back. It’s the fastest way to see a child star grow up in real-time. Also, look up his "Stay Gold" foundation if you want to see how he’s using his 80s legacy for good today.
