C. Thomas Howell

The illustrious Christopher Thomas Howell, son of Candice (Webb) and Chris Howell, a professional bull rider-turned-stuntman, was born in Los Angeles. At the tender age of seven, he began his journey in the film industry, and his career was quickly launched after he was cast as Tyler in Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). His performance in the teen coming-of-age epic The Outsiders (1983) was spellbinding, and soon after he was recognized as a highly promising young actor in the mid-1980s. His rise to stardom was further propelled by roles in Grandview, U.S.A. (1984), alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, and Red Dawn (1984). Although the controversial racial comedy Soul Man (1986) did not receive favorable reviews, it was on this project that he met his future wife, actress Rae Dawn Chong.