---
name: "Arliss Howard"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/arliss-howard"
fi1m_id: "arliss-howard"
imdb_id: "nm0397124"
tmdb_id: 3229
wikidata_id: "Q675776"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "18 October 1954"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 70
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-10-04T20:27:55.665467+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Arliss Howard

## Identity

Arliss Howard

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/arliss-howard
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** arliss-howard
- **IMDb ID:** nm0397124
- **TMDB ID:** 3229
- **Wikidata ID:** Q675776
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arliss_Howard, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q675776, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0397124/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3229

Actor. Born 18 October 1954 in Independence, Missouri, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 18 October 1954, Independence, Missouri, USA
- **Active:** 1987–present
- **Also known as:** Leslie Richard Howard, Less R. Howard
- **Frequently works with:** [David Fincher](https://film.one/person/david-fincher.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 8 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 72 (2), 1990s 64 (3), 2000s 71 (1), 2010s 83 (1), 2020s 72 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 70 to 64 across 8 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Crime 3, Thriller 3, Mystery 2, Action 1, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 15 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,036m across 7 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arliss_Howard, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q675776, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0397124/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3229

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Full Metal Jacket*](https://film.one/film/full-metal-jacket.md) (81)
- **AMC+:** [*The Lost World: Jurassic Park*](https://film.one/film/the-lost-world-jurassic-park.md) (64)
- **Tubi:** [*Tequila Sunrise*](https://film.one/film/tequila-sunrise.md) (62)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Arliss Howard

> Arliss Howard is a fine supporting actor whose understated delivery makes authority feel ordinary. We rate him for the unease that can produce, though a brief, well-judged appearance cannot supply everything a film lacks.

Arliss Howard's Claybourne in *The Killer* (2023) looks frightened and unremarkable, which is a useful way to play a man who pays for violence. David Fincher gives the supporting cast a scene apiece, and Howard does not need to make his contribution any larger. We were unsettled by that ordinariness, because Howard is showing us who these men work for. His restrained delivery gives the client enough recognisable human weakness to make him more troubling than a grand display of villainy would.

His breakthrough was Private Cowboy in Stanley Kubrick's *Full Metal Jacket* (1987), and supporting work in ensembles became the main business of his career. R. Lee Ermey dominates the training camp, where Kubrick makes military cruelty horribly entertaining. Howard's quieter approach is well suited to a military setting: he can be one member of a group without seeming anonymous. The film loses some grip when it moves to Vietnam, though the change is not enough to undo its force.

The 1990s studio work included Peter Ludlow in Steven Spielberg's *The Lost World: Jurassic Park* (1997), a villainous supporting part. In *Mank* (2020), Fincher cast him as studio head Louis B. Mayer. Both roles fit his aptitude for ambitious, morally uncertain businessmen, and give his naturalistic delivery a useful setting. These men have positions that confer importance before Howard needs to do anything; an actor this sparing need not keep reminding us of their status.

There are limits to what such a brief appearance can achieve in *The Killer*, a lean thriller with little beneath its careful construction. Howard's contribution is worth noticing, but it cannot provide the substance the film lacks. Fincher remains a useful collaborator, giving him authority figures who benefit from being played without much ceremony. Start with *Full Metal Jacket*; turn to *The Killer* for a smaller demonstration of what he can do.

## Biography

Arliss Howard is an American actor, screenwriter and director. Born Leslie Richard Howard on 18 October 1954 in Independence, Missouri, he graduated from Columbia College.

He is known for supporting roles in *Full Metal Jacket* (1987), *The Lost World: Jurassic Park* (1997), *Moneyball* (2011) and *Mank* (2020). He appeared as The Client – Claybourne in *The Killer* (2023). Howard has been married to actress Debra Winger since 1996.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (8)

- *The Killer* (2023), Fi1m 72, as The Client - Claybourne — [page](https://film.one/film/the-killer.md)
- *Moneyball* (2011), Fi1m 83, as John Henry — [page](https://film.one/film/moneyball.md)
- *True Blood* (2008), Fi1m 71, as Truman Burrell — [page](https://film.one/tv/true-blood.md)
- *Amistad* (1997), Fi1m 63, as John C. Calhoun — [page](https://film.one/film/amistad.md)
- *The Lost World: Jurassic Park* (1997), Fi1m 64, as Peter Ludlow — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lost-world-jurassic-park.md)
- *Natural Born Killers* (1994), Fi1m 64, as Owen Traft — [page](https://film.one/film/natural-born-killers.md)
- *Tequila Sunrise* (1988), Fi1m 62, as Gregg Lindroff — [page](https://film.one/film/tequila-sunrise.md)
- *Full Metal Jacket* (1987), Fi1m 81, as Pvt. Cowboy — [page](https://film.one/film/full-metal-jacket.md)

## Complete filmography (64)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Thicket* (2024), as Rev. Ephron Karlsson
- *The Killer* (2023), as The Client - Claybourne — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-killer.md)
- *Mr. Corman* (2021), series, as Larry
- *With/In Volume 2* (2021), as (segment "Still Life") · Director, Screenplay
- *Lapsis* (2021), as Dr. Mangold
- *Mank* (2020), as Louis B. Mayer
- *The Boy Downstairs* (2018), as Diana's Father
- *Mosaic* (2017), Actor
- *Manhunt* (2017), series, as Earl Embry
- *Concussion* (2015), as Dr. Joseph Maroon
- *Over/Under* (2013), as Victor
- *Moneyball* (2011), as John Henry — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/moneyball.md)
- *Rubicon* (2010), series, as Kale Ingram
- *The Time Traveler's Wife* (2009), as Richard DeTamble
- *True Blood* (2008), series, as Truman Burrell — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/true-blood.md)
- *Awake* (2007), as Dr. Jonathan Neyer
- *Weapons* (2007), as Mikey's Uncle
- *Dawn Anna* (2005), Director, Co-Producer, Writer
- *Medium* (2005), series, as Captain Kenneth Push · Director
- *Birth* (2004), as Bob
- *Dandelion* (2004), as Luke Mullich
- *Word of Honor* (2003), as J.D. Runnells
- *Big Bad Love* (2001), as Barlow · Screenplay, Director
- *A Map of the World* (1999), as Paul Reverdy
- *You Know My Name* (1999), as Wiley
- *The Lesser Evil* (1998), as Ivan
- *Amistad* (1997), as John C. Calhoun — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/amistad.md)
- *The Lost World: Jurassic Park* (1997), as Peter Ludlow — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lost-world-jurassic-park.md)
- *Old Man* (1997), as J.J. Taylor
- *Johns* (1996), as John Cardoza
- *The Man Who Captured Eichmann* (1996), as Peter Malkin
- *Beyond the Call* (1996), as Keith O'Brien
- *Tales of Erotica* (1996), as Bruce Lomann (segment 'Wet')
- *To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar* (1995), as Virgil
- *The Infiltrator* (1995), as Eaton
- *Natural Born Killers* (1994), as Owen Traft — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/natural-born-killers.md)
- *Wet* (1994), as Bruce Lomann
- *Wilder Napalm* (1993), as Wilder
- *The Sandlot* (1993), as Adult Scotty Smalls (uncredited)
- *CrissCross* (1992), as Joe
- *Ruby* (1992), as Maxwell
- *Those Secrets* (1992), as Simon
- *Till Death Us Do Part* (1992), as Vincent Bugliosi
- *For the Boys* (1991), as Sgt. Michael Leonard (uncredited)
- *Iran: Days of Crisis* (1991), series, as John Limbert
- *Somebody Has to Shoot the Picture* (1990), as Raymond Eames
- *Last Flight Out* (1990), as Jim Eckes
- *Men Don't Leave* (1990), as Charles Simon
- *I Know My First Name Is Steven* (1989), series, as Kenneth Parnell
- *Tequila Sunrise* (1988), as Gregg Lindroff — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/tequila-sunrise.md)
- *Plain Clothes* (1988), as Nick Dunbar
- *Full Metal Jacket* (1987), as Pvt. Cowboy — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/full-metal-jacket.md)
- *Hands of a Stranger* (1987), as Felix Lyttle
- *The Ladies Club* (1986), as Ed Bricker
- *The Lightship* (1985), as Eddie
- *The Twilight Zone* (1985), series, as (segment "Kentucky Rye")
- *Sylvester* (1985), as Peter
- *Door to Door* (1985), as Leon Spencer
- *The Day After* (1983), as Tom Cooper
- *A Killer in the Family* (1983), as John Lyons
- *The Prodigal* (1983), as Scott Stuart
- *Hill Street Blues* (1981), series, Actor — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/hill-street-blues.md)
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as J.J. Taylor
- *Butterfly in the Typewriter*, as Shelby Foote

## Gallery

- ![Arliss Howard](https://film.one/media/person/15671/gallery-b9640dc8bca1.jpg) Arliss Howard — Image via TMDB
- ![Arliss Howard](https://film.one/media/person/15671/gallery-7d0cda01d0f7.jpg) Arliss Howard — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/arliss-howard