C. Thomas Howell
As the soulful Ponyboy in 'The Outsiders,' he became the definitive face of 1980s teenage angst, forever etched in the era's cinematic canon.
Born 1966 (age 60)·American actor·Birthday: December 7·Generation X
Biography
C. Thomas Howell didn't just act in the defining youth dramas of the 1980s; he helped define them. His first role was a small but memorable part as Tyler in 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,' a kid who bullies Henry Thomas's character. But it was his casting as Ponyboy Curtis in Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of S.E. Hinton's 'The Outsiders' that made him a star. With his sensitive portrayal of the greaser poet, Howell became an instant symbol of misunderstood youth. He followed this with leading roles in 'Red Dawn,' 'The Hitcher,' and 'Soul Man,' the latter drawing controversy for his performance in blackface. His career evolved through decades of television and film work, often in character roles, but he remains permanently linked to that moment when a group of young actors—the 'Brat Pack' adjacent—captured the restless spirit of a generation.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
C. was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When C. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
C.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as the lead, Ponyboy Curtis, in Francis Ford Coppola's seminal 1983 film 'The Outsiders.'
- Played a key role as Robert Morris in the iconic war film 'Red Dawn' (1984).
- Portrayed the terrifying protagonist in the cult horror-thriller 'The Hitcher' (1986).
- Has accrued over 200 acting credits across film and television, including a long run on the series 'The Amazing Spider-Man' and 'Criminal Minds.'
Did You Know?
He was a nationally ranked rodeo calf roper in his youth before becoming an actor.
He performed almost all of his own stunts in 'The Hitcher,' including being dragged behind a speeding truck.
He directed several films, including the 2005 war drama 'The Last Sentinel.'
He provided the voice for the character 'Lucky' in the animated series 'The Adventures of the Gummi Bears.'
“You get typecast, but the trick is to make that type work for you as long as you can.”
