Adam Carolla Show C. Thomas Howell Learned to Smoke Cigs on Ride to E.T. Audition
30 snips
Jan 7, 2026 
C. Thomas Howell, known for his iconic roles in The Outsiders and Red Dawn, shares fascinating stories from his life and career. He recounts how he learned to smoke on his way to audition for E.T. and discusses the bond among the cast of The Outsiders. Howell offers insights into the challenges of being a child actor and the impact of fame, including tales about Patrick Swayze and their rehearsal culture. He also talks about his latest films, One Mile and One More Mile, along with his music career and the creation of his album, Damned Good Man.
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Prioritize Longevity Over Instant Fame
- Howell stresses longevity in show business over getting hot fast as the key to a sustainable career.
- He argues building a 40-year career requires consistency, not just early luck or trends.
Long Relationship With Patrick Swayze
- Howell spent a summer with Patrick Swayze's family during Urban Cowboy when he was 11, later working with Swayze on multiple films.
- Swayze influenced set decisions, like cutting a scripted love scene in Red Dawn which strained relations with Jennifer Grey.
Coppola Engineered Cast Dynamics
- Francis Ford Coppola rehearsed The Outsiders cast for a month and staged competitive activities to build real on-screen group tensions.
- The prep created authentic us-versus-them dynamics that Coppola manipulated intentionally.
