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Young Americans #12 (1989)
C. Thomas Howell Interview
Where, oh where has this hunk been hiding for the past two
years? Well, he's been playing beach volleyball and working out at the gym,
shopping for Fisher Price toys...oh, and making some pretty bodacious
movies... C. Thomas Howell has achieved remarkable success
for a young actor. From his extraordinary debut in the film that became
one of the biggest his of all-time, 'E.T.', to his critically-acclaimed
performance as Ponyboy in 'The Outsiders' to starring roles in such
memorable movies as 'Red Dawn', 'Soul Man' and 'The Hitcher', Howell has
become one of the most sought-after young actors in Tinseltown. However,
it's been a bit too quiet on the Howell front for his fans recently -
where has he been hiding? The good news is that he's been working
non-stop for the past two years and very soon a whole new batch of Howell
movies will hit your cinema screens. Firs up is a thriller called
'Curiosity Kills' starring C. Thomas and his real-life wife, Rae Dawn
Chong. Next in line is a comedy co-starring Jason Bateman and Jonathan
Silverman called 'Sketches' Then there's the new beach volleyball flick
'Sideout', where Howell kicks sand in Peter ('thirtysomething') Horton's
face and 'spikes' it rich! But first he looks out his cowboy boots for
'Kid' a modern day western which hit the cinemas nationwide on November
2nd. Christopher Thomas Howell has grown up quite a bit himself in the
last couple of years. Born into a family of cowboys and stuntmen, he was a
rodeo buckaroo at the age of six who fell into acting when, at 13, he was
cast as the boy-next-door in 'E.T.'. Though his screen image was
also 'nicey nicey' Howell's personal life was pretty stormy. "I moved
into my own apartment at 15. I didn't get along with my family," he
says. Friends like Charlie Sheen and The Beastie Boys helped keep
Howell's rowdy reputation but now at the age of 23 he's changed his ways. Marriage
to Rae Dawn and helping to bring up Morgan, her five-year-old son, have
made him a much more responsible person. "I love my work and I hope
my films do well, but I tell you right now, I wish I were playing at home
with Morgan. He's the coolest kid." When he's not looking out the
Fisher Price toys, C. Thomas enjoys working out down at the gym. The 5ft.
10 in. hunk has added quite a few more rippling muscles to his collection
recently and the image of a gangly, awkward boy-next-door has long gone. Leaping
around Hollywood in his black pick up truck dressed in cowboy boots, jeans
and vest he looks every inch the cool Valley boy that he is. Except
perhaps for Morgan's Ninja Turtle toy dangling from his back pocket, that
is! The 'Kid' is back in town. Howell
Facts
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The C. in C. Thomas stands for
Christopher
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He prefers to be called Tommy, but
sometimes answers to Chris.
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His Wife, Rae Dawn Chong is 29 - six
years older than Tommy.
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They met while filming 'Soul Man'
together.
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His dad, Chris Howell was stunt co-ordinator
on 'Moonlighting', taking all the falls for Bruce Willis.
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Tommy and Rae went on a mini-holiday
to Hawaii to decide whether to "go steady" or not!
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