What Happened To C. Thomas Howell?

Known for his boyish charm and solid acting chops, C. Thomas Howell was a household name during the 1980s, however, his hot streak suddenly cooled down from the ’90s onward. Howell’s breakout role would come in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 adaptation of The Outsiders book, where he shared the screen with Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and Tom Cruise. His performance perfectly captured the essence of Ponyboy Curtis. Howell’s chemistry with his ensemble co-stars all but guaranteed his future success, and he’d follow The Outsiders up with at least one film project per year throughout the remainder of the ’80s.