# Karl Howman

Karl Howman (born 13 December 1953) is an English writer, actor and director.
Howman's first book, Secret Spitfires, 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. 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.
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 on many TV shows and films throughout his career. He is an established British comedy actor.
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, in the Minder episode "All About Scoring, Innit?" playing Danny Varrow, and in The Sweeney episode "May," playing Davey Holmes.
On 25 September 2014, it was announced that Howman had been cast in long-running BBC soap EastEnders. 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. 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.
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 his wife, Clare Lightfoot, in 1976. They have two children, actresses Chloe Howman and Katy-Jo Howman, and six grandchildren.
Howman supports Charlton Athletic.

## Filmography
### Film

| 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

| 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" |