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Karl Howman

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Karl Howman
Born (1953-12-13) 13 December 1953 (age 70)
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.

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

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Howman appeared on 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

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

Howman supports Charlton Athletic.[13]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1972 The Canterbury Tales Lover uncredited
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
2000 Malicious Intent Dirk Saunders
2005 The Truth About Love Cliff Sharpe

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1972 Softly, Softly: Task Force Fletcher Episode: "Justice"
1972 Thirty-Minute Theatre Bennett Episode: "You've Been a Long Time, Alfred"
1973 The Jensen Code Jacko 7 episodes
1973 Warship AB Mick Turner Episode: "The Prize"
1973 Armchair Theatre Spice Episode: "The Death of Glory"
1974 Marked Personal Gordon Smales 2 episodes
1974 Man About the House Philip Episode: "Two Foot Two, Eyes of Blue"
1974 The Fortunes of Nigel Jenkin Vincent All 5 episodes
1975 The Prodigal Daughter Patrick O'Donnell TV film
1975 Public Eye Bricky Episode: "They All Sound Simple at First"
1975 Angels Barney Episode: "Off Duty"
1975 Shades of Greene Second Boy Episode: "Two Gentle People"
1976 The Sweeney Davey Holmes Episode: "May"
1977 Van der Valk Eric Episode: "The Professor"
1978 Hazell Slippery Episode: "Hazell Pays a Debt"
1978 Life at Stake Hostage Episode: "The Train That Never Arrived"
1978 Get Some In! Jakey Smith 7 episodes
1978 Angels Terry Jordan Episode: "The Visitor"
1978 People Like Us Boxer Carver 6 episodes
1978 Il y a encore des noisetiers Bob Perret-Latour TV film
1978 Play for Today Policeman Episode: "A Touch of the Tiny Hacketts"
1979 Blake's 7 Bek Episode: "Shadow"
1979 S.O.S. Titanic Harold Lowe TV film
1980 Fox Griff 4 episodes
1980 The Other 'Arf Alex 2 episodes
1980 Minder Danny Varrow Episode: "All About Scoring, Innit?"
1980 Play for Today Geoffrey Episode: "The Flipside of Dominick Hide"
1981 Keep It in the Family Arnold Episode: "Splitting Headaches"
1981 Only When I Laugh Ronnie Episode: "Accident"
1982 The Professionals Stacey Episode: "Foxhole on the Roof"
1982 Shelley Messenger Episode: "Shelley Versus Shelley"
1983-1984 A Fine Romance Terry Bullivant 4 episodes
1985 Oscar Fred Atkins All 3 episodes
1985 Juliet Bravo Billy Griffiths Episode: "The Cut"
1985 Dempsey and Makepeace Photographer Episode: "Set a Thief"
1985 Black Silk Det. Sgt. Hogg Episode: "The Cause of Liberty"
1985 Ties of Blood Bob Wynne Episode: "The Military Wing"
1985 Minder Browning Episode: "Minder on the Orient Express"
1986-1991 Brush Strokes Jacko All 40 episodes
1986 Slinger's Day Scruff Episode: "New Management"
1988 Boon Lenny Bright Episode: "Peacemaker"
1989 Saracen Jamie Episode: "Robbers"
1992-1993 Mulberry Mulberry All 13 episodes
1995-1996 Bad Boys Wayne Todd All 7 episodes
1998-1999 Babes in the Wood Charlie Lovall All 14 episodes
2001 The Bill Julian Napper 4 episodes
2001 Doctors Terry Murray Episode: "It Could Be You"
2002 Holby City Ian Brooks Episode: "The Private Sector"
2004 The Last Detective Keith Telfer Episode: "Christine"
2005 Mile High Warren Episode: #2.19
2009 Casualty Rod Episode: "Ask Me No Questions"
2014 Doctors Ray Evendon Episode: "Time Out"
2014-2016 EastEnders Buster Briggs 143 episodes
2020 Barmy Dale DS Linklater Episode: "Dreaming of a Quiet Christmas"

References

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  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.
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