Living on streets valuable experience for NW graduate
by Shannon Harrison, managing editor

    Surviving an amazingly hard past, Mark Howell went from living on the streets to acting on the stage.

    As a child, Howell loved to entertain. Being 1 of 16 children, he always had an audience.

    “When I was a kid, I made people laugh,” he said. “I think it comes from my father’s side.”

    Jerry Lewis, Red Skelton and Lucille Ball were Howell’s idols as he was growing up. His goal is to bring back Vaudeville.
    After graduating high school in 1983, Howell moved to Dallas, where he lived on the streets for 14 months.

    “That is how I learned people’s characters,” he said.

    One morning after a heavy night of partying, Howell woke up in an alley with no idea how he got there. He decided to get his life back on track.

    “I got into some trouble and had to find a way out,” he said. “I called my brother, who lived in Fort Worth, and he came and got me. I truly believe God put me in that alley, and he saved my life,” he said.

    Howell befriended William Stewart, who helped him get on his feet.

    “He helped me find work, get a car and find a place to live,” he said. “I have had several different odd jobs, but I have been with my current employer for 12 years.”

    Howell graduated from NW Campus, winning an award for most creative in drama.

    “I came to NW and studied with Brent Alford,” he said. “After graduating, I attended KD Studios in Dallas and graduated with a degree in performance.”

    Howell took acting classes, his favorite being a creative processing class.

    “This class taught me how to be myself, and it brought a lot out in me. I learned to deal with my emotions and find out who I really am,” he said.

    Howell has been an actor for seven years, performing in film, theater, plays and commercials.

    “Because of living on the streets and with my family, I have experienced enough to help with any part I play,” he said. “I can go from lower class to an important person.”

    Howell’s first film was The Pendulum. In Straight Up, Howell tried out for two characters: a police officer and a drug pusher. Because of his accent, he was chosen for the officer.

    Howell has performed in 10 plays. In Lone Star, he performed two roles: Skeeter and Roy.

    Howell has also done commercials for clown make-up. He has done a Shakespearean play in which he had to go from laughter to drama.

    In Climbing Changes, a sitcom to air in the fall on Channel 33, Howell plays a Barney Fife-type officer.

    “It is a lot of fun,” he said. “I have always been a cut-up, and I couldn’t ask for a better role.”

    Howell has performed on amateur nights as a stand-up comic. He contributes his success as a comic to living in a large family.

    “With 15 brothers and sisters, we always have something funny happening,” he said.

    The next film Howell is doing is Vertigo Summer.

    “This is about acting students who volunteer to run a lodge and learn about each other in the process,” he said. “Of course, I play the clown in the group.”

    Howell recently had auditions for WB33, NBC, Nickelodeon, Century Fox 21, Warner Bros. and Disney.

    “Living on the streets taught me to be a better judge of people, gave me a heart and built character,” he said.

    “Young people should be careful. They may not be in the right company,” he said.

    “Work on your self-esteem, and don’t let anyone put you down,” he said.