biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (September 2010) Christopher Thomas Howell Born Christopher Thomas Howell December 7, 1966 (1966-12-07) (age 44) Van Nuys, California, U.S. Other names Tommy Occupation Actor Years active 1977–present Spouse Rae Dawn Chong (1989–1990) Sylvie Anderson (1992–present) Children Isabelle (born 1993), Dashiell (born 1997), Liam (born 2001) Christopher Thomas Howell (born December 7, 1966), usually credited as C. Thomas Howell, is an American actor and film director. He starred in the films The Outsiders as Ponyboy Curtis and in The Hitcher as Jim Halsey. He has appeared in Soul Man, Red Dawn, Secret Admirer, Gettysburg, H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds, The Day the Earth Stopped and Gods and Generals..