Karl Howman

• Name — Karl Howman • Born — 13 December 1953 • Birthplace — Woolwich, London, England • Occupation — Writer, actor, director • Years Active — 1972–present • Children — 2, including Chloe

Howman appeared in 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 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. In 1980, he appeared in Babylon, a 1980 British drama film directed by Franco Rosso. Written by Franco Rosso and Martin Stellman, it is an incendiary portrait of racial tension and police brutality set in Brixton, London. 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.

In recent years, Howman has begun developing work as a writer. His 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 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 married Clare Lightfoot in 1976. They have two children, actresses Chloe Howman and Katy-Jo Howman, and six grandchildren. Howman supports Charlton Athletic.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1972 — Softly, Softly: Task Force — Fletcher — Episode: "Justice" • Thirty-Minute Theatre — Bennett — Episode: "You've Been a Long Time, Alfred" • 1973 — The Jensen Code — Jacko — 7 episodes • Warship — AB Mick Turner — Episode: "The Prize" • Armchair Theatre — Spice — Episode: "The Death of Glory" • 1974 — Marked Personal — Gordon Smales — 2 episodes • Man About the House — Philip — Episode: "Two Foot Two, Eyes of Blue" • The Fortunes of Nigel — Jenkin Vincent — All 5 episodes • 1975 — The Prodigal Daughter — Patrick O'Donnell — TV film • Public Eye — Bricky — Episode: "They All Sound Simple at First" • Angels — Barney — Episode: "Off Duty" • 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" • Life at Stake — Hostage — Episode: "The Train That Never Arrived" • Get Some In! — Jakey Smith — 7 episodes • Angels — Terry Jordan — Episode: "The Visitor" • People Like Us — Boxer Carver — 6 episodes • Il y a encore des noisetiers — Bob Perret-Latour — TV film • 1978-1981 — Play for Today — Policeman/Geoffrey — 2 episodes, including The Flipside of Dominick Hide • 1979 — Blake's 7 — Bek — Episode: "Shadow" • S.O.S. Titanic — Harold Lowe — TV film • 1980 — Fox — Griff — 4 episodes • The Other 'Arf — Alex — 2 episodes • 1980-1985 — Minder — Danny Varrow/Browning — 2 episodes, including "Minder on the Orient Express" • 1981 — Keep It in the Family — Arnold — Episode: "Splitting Headaches" • Only When I Laugh — Ronnie — Episode: "Accident" • 1982 — The Professionals — Stacey — Episode: "Foxhole on the Roof" • Shelley — Messenger — Episode: "Shelley Versus Shelley" • 1983–1984 — A Fine Romance — Terry Bullivant — 4 episodes • 1985 — Oscar — Fred Atkins — All 3 episodes • Juliet Bravo — Billy Griffiths — Episode: "The Cut" • Dempsey and Makepeace — Photographer — Episode: "Set a Thief" • Black Silk — Det. Sgt. Hogg — Episode: "The Cause of Liberty" • Ties of Blood — Bob Wynne — Episode: "The Military Wing" • 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 • 2001-2014 — Doctors — Terry Murray/Ray Evendon — 2 episodes • 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" • 2014–2016 — EastEnders — Buster Briggs — 143 episodes • 2020 — Barmy Dale — DS Linklater — Episode: "Dreaming of a Quiet Christmas"