Karl Howman

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Karl Howman
Karl Howman.jpg
Born (1953-12-13) 13 December 1953 (age 71)
Woolwich, London, England
Occupation(s)Writer, actor, director
Years active1972–present
Spouse
Clare Lightfoot
(m. 1976)
Children2, Chloe, Katy-Jo

Karl Howman (born 13 December 1953) is an English writer, actor and director.

Contents

Howman's first book, Secret Spitfires, [1] [2] co-written with Ethem Cetintas and Gavin Clarke, went to paperback from hardback in 2022; he also co-directed and produced the film of the same name. [3] Howman's second book, A Million Ways to stay on the Run ( ISBN   978-1-915306-26-5) which he co-wrote with Donal Macintyre, was a Sunday Times bestseller two weeks after publication in early 2023. The audio book, which is narrated by Howman, won the Best Audio Book 2024 at True Crime Awards. [4]

Howman has been an actor since 1968, where he started with the National Youth Theatre. Howman is best known for playing Jacko in the sitcom Brush Strokes from 1986 to 1991, Mulberry in Mulberry from 1992 to 1993 and Buster Briggs in EastEnders from 2014 to 2016.

Career

Howman appeared in many TV shows [5] and films throughout his career. He is an established British comedy actor. [6]

Howman took over the role of Jakey Smith from Robert Lindsay (with whom he shares a birthday) in Get Some In! in its final series in 1978. He then appeared in the episode "Shadow" in the BBC series Blake's 7 , [7] in the Minder episode "All About Scoring, Innit?" playing Danny Varrow, [8] and in The Sweeney episode "May," playing Davey Holmes. [9]

On 25 September 2014, it was announced that Howman had been cast in long-running BBC soap EastEnders . [10] Howman appeared as the character Buster Briggs. In his time on the show, Buster's storylines included his relationship with Shirley Carter (Linda Henry), his relationship with his two sons Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) and Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo), running a fish stall and having an affair with Kathy Sullivan (Gillian Taylforth). In July 2016, it was announced that Howman would be leaving the show after nearly two years. [11] Buster left the show after his relationship with Shirley and his affair with Kathy both ended, with Howman's last episode airing on 23 September 2016. [12]

On the radio he also appeared in King Street Junior as Mr Philip Sims and in Coming Alive as Terry King.

Personal life

Howman married Clare Lightfoot in 1976. They have two children, actresses Chloe Howman and Katy-Jo Howman, and six grandchildren.

Howman supports Charlton Athletic. [13]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1972 The Canterbury Tales Loveruncredited
1973 That'll Be the Day Johnny
1974 Stardust Stevie
1976 Exposé Big Youth
1979 Porridge Urquart
1980 Babylon Ronnie
1980 The Long Good Friday David
1983 Party Party Johnny Reeves
2000Malicious IntentDirk Saunders
2005 The Truth About Love Cliff Sharpe

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1972 Softly, Softly: Task Force FletcherEpisode: "Justice"
1972 Thirty-Minute Theatre BennettEpisode: "You've Been a Long Time, Alfred"
1973 The Jensen Code Jacko7 episodes
1973 Warship AB Mick TurnerEpisode: "The Prize"
1973 Armchair Theatre SpiceEpisode: "The Death of Glory"
1974 Marked Personal Gordon Smales2 episodes
1974 Man About the House PhilipEpisode: "Two Foot Two, Eyes of Blue"
1974 The Fortunes of Nigel Jenkin VincentAll 5 episodes
1975The Prodigal DaughterPatrick O'DonnellTV film
1975 Public Eye BrickyEpisode: "They All Sound Simple at First"
1975 Angels BarneyEpisode: "Off Duty"
1975 Shades of Greene Second BoyEpisode: "Two Gentle People"
1976 The Sweeney Davey HolmesEpisode: "May"
1977 Van der Valk EricEpisode: "The Professor"
1978 Hazell SlipperyEpisode: "Hazell Pays a Debt"
1978Life at StakeHostageEpisode: "The Train That Never Arrived"
1978 Get Some In! Jakey Smith7 episodes
1978 Angels Terry JordanEpisode: "The Visitor"
1978People Like UsBoxer Carver6 episodes
1978Il y a encore des noisetiersBob Perret-LatourTV film
1978 Play for Today PolicemanEpisode: "A Touch of the Tiny Hacketts"
1979 Blake's 7 BekEpisode: "Shadow"
1979 S.O.S. Titanic Harold LoweTV film
1980 Fox Griff4 episodes
1980 The Other 'Arf Alex2 episodes
1980 Minder Danny VarrowEpisode: "All About Scoring, Innit?"
1980 Play for Today GeoffreyEpisode: "The Flipside of Dominick Hide"
1981 Keep It in the Family ArnoldEpisode: "Splitting Headaches"
1981 Only When I Laugh RonnieEpisode: "Accident"
1982 The Professionals StaceyEpisode: "Foxhole on the Roof"
1982 Shelley MessengerEpisode: "Shelley Versus Shelley"
1983-1984 A Fine Romance Terry Bullivant4 episodes
1985 Oscar Fred AtkinsAll 3 episodes
1985 Juliet Bravo Billy GriffithsEpisode: "The Cut"
1985 Dempsey and Makepeace PhotographerEpisode: "Set a Thief"
1985Black SilkDet. Sgt. HoggEpisode: "The Cause of Liberty"
1985Ties of BloodBob WynneEpisode: "The Military Wing"
1985 Minder BrowningEpisode: "Minder on the Orient Express"
1986-1991 Brush Strokes JackoAll 40 episodes
1986 Slinger's Day ScruffEpisode: "New Management"
1988 Boon Lenny BrightEpisode: "Peacemaker"
1989 Saracen JamieEpisode: "Robbers"
1992-1993 Mulberry MulberryAll 13 episodes
1995-1996Bad BoysWayne ToddAll 7 episodes
1998-1999 Babes in the Wood Charlie LovallAll 14 episodes
2001 The Bill Julian Napper4 episodes
2001 Doctors Terry MurrayEpisode: "It Could Be You"
2002 Holby City Ian BrooksEpisode: "The Private Sector"
2004 The Last Detective Keith TelferEpisode: "Christine"
2005 Mile High WarrenEpisode: #2.19
2009 Casualty RodEpisode: "Ask Me No Questions"
2014 Doctors Ray EvendonEpisode: "Time Out"
2014-2016 EastEnders Buster Briggs 143 episodes
2020Barmy DaleDS LinklaterEpisode: "Dreaming of a Quiet Christmas"

References

  1. The History Press ISBN   978-1-80399-037-8
  2. Sunday Times Bestseller Culture Magazine 26/2/2023
  3. Fathers of Girls IMDB.com
  4. Best Audio Book 2024 at True Crime Awards
  5. "Karl Howman on TV Guide"
  6. "Karl Howman on British Comedy Guide"
  7. Blakes 7 Shadow (TV Episode 1979), IMDb.com
  8. Minder All About Scoring, Init (TV Episode 1980), Ronnie in Babylon (1980) was a breakout role for him. IMDb.com
  9. The Sweeney, May (TV Episode 1976), IMDb.com
  10. "Karl Howman set to join EastEnders". EastEnders News & Spoilers. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  11. Greenwood, Carl (28 July 2016). "Another EastEnders star quits Walford after two years". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  12. "EastEnders airs Buster's final scenes as actor Karl Howman leaves the cast". Radio Times . Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  13. "Charlton Athletic". Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 18 November 2009.