Christopher Thomas Howell (Van Nuys, December 7, 1966) is an American actor and director. He rose to international prominence in the 1980s, becoming a prominent member of the so-called "Brat Pack". Following his debut in Steven Spielberg's *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial* (1982), he was cast in the lead role of Ponyboy Curtis in Francis Ford Coppola's *The Outsiders* (1983), a performance that earned him a Young Artist Award. His fame was solidified with films such as *Red Dawn* (1984), *Secret Admirer* (1985), and the cult thriller *The Hitcher* (1986). Since the 1990s, his career has remained prolific, alternating roles in numerous film productions, often direct-to-video projects in which he has also worked as a director, with significant television work. These roles include the antagonist George Foyet in *Criminal Minds*, Officer Dewey Dudek in *Southland*, and appearances in series such as *The Walking Dead* and *SEAL Team*, showcasing his remarkable versatility and professional consistency.