News | Entertainment
17 Jan 2026 14:51
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Lucy Liu was "so embarrassed" to tell C. Thomas Howell she had a crush on him as a teenager

    The 57-year-old actress fell head over heels for the actor when he starred in the 1983 crime-thriller film, The Outsiders, aged 16, and she even had a photo of him on her wall.


    In an interview with W Magazine, Lucy was asked who her first "cinematic crush" was, and she revealed: "C. Thomas Howell in The Outsiders.

    "I was able to afford one of those teen magazines. I Scotch-taped it up to my wood-panel wall. He had a very '80s look, with his hair blown back and his hand in his jeans pocket. "

    The Outsiders followed the rivalry between two teenage gangs: the greasers, including brothers Ponyboy Curtis (C. Thomas), Darrel Curtis (Patrick Swayze) and Sodapop Curtis (Rob Lowe) and their pals, and the privileged Socs (Socials).

    In 2012, Lucy "ironically" worked with C. Thomas, 59, in season 4 of the TNT crime drama, Southland - which followed LAPD patrol officers and detectives try to stop crime in the Californian city, while they juggled drama in their personal lives.

    But Lucy (Officer Jessica Tang) did not tell C. Thomas (Officer Dewey Dudek) that she fancied him as a youngster.

    She admitted: "I never told him that I had a crush on him, because I was so embarrassed. We were playing tough cops."

    The Charlie's Angels actress has never been married but was engaged to 50-year-old film director Zach Helm in 2004 - two years after they met at a Hollywood bash and dated.

    However, their engagement was called off, and they broke up a few months later.

    Lucy has had other high-profile relationships. She dated Jay Kelly star George Clooney, 64, for a few months in 2000.

    Her longest romance was with Toy Story 4 actor Will McCormack, 51, and it lasted from 2004 until 2007.

    And in 2014, Lucy was romantically linked to businessman Noam Gottesman, 64, but it is not known when they broke up.

    Meanwhile, C. Thomas married Commando actress Rae Dawn Chong, 64, in 1989, but they divorced in 1990.

    He then got hitched to Sylvie Anderson in 1992, and went on to have daughter Isabelle, 32, and sons Dashiell, 29, and 24 year old Liam.

    C. Thomas and Sylvie divorced in 2016.

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     17 Jan: Melissa Gilbert "stands with" her husband Timothy Busfield following his arrest in coonection with child sexual abuse allegations
     17 Jan: Cher is seeking over $1 million in legal fees from Sonny Bono's widow
     17 Jan: Mel B used to babysit Micah Richards when he was growing up in Leeds
     17 Jan: Mandy Moore has "had to sort of mourn" the way her friendships have changed with motherhood
     17 Jan: Timothy Busfield has insisted the child sexual abuse allegations against him are "all lies"
     17 Jan: Taylor Swift has donated a "generous gift" to Brad Paisley's non-profit organisation
     17 Jan: Nick Reiner's former attorney insists his client is "not guilty" despite stepping down from his case
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Munster rugby coach Clayton McMillan insists he is committed to the Irish province in the wake of the All Blacks job becoming vacant More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    An additional OCR cut is not expected for a while, and there even could be a hike More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Melissa Gilbert "stands with" her husband Timothy Busfield following his arrest in coonection with child sexual abuse allegations 14:23

    Rugby:
    Munster rugby coach Clayton McMillan insists he is committed to the Irish province in the wake of the All Blacks job becoming vacant 14:07

    Entertainment:
    Cher is seeking over $1 million in legal fees from Sonny Bono's widow 13:53

    Business:
    An additional OCR cut is not expected for a while, and there even could be a hike 13:47

    Rugby:
    Jeff Wilson believes it was firmly the right call for New Zealand Rugby to remove Scott Robertson as All Blacks coach 13:27

    Entertainment:
    Mel B used to babysit Micah Richards when he was growing up in Leeds 13:23

    Tennis:
    The third youngest finalist in the modern history of the men's ASB Classic wants to put his name alongside the greats 13:07

    Entertainment:
    Mandy Moore has "had to sort of mourn" the way her friendships have changed with motherhood 12:53

    Law and Order:
    Northland Police are calling out for more recruits and are trying to convince southern officers to join their ranks 12:27

    Entertainment:
    Timothy Busfield has insisted the child sexual abuse allegations against him are "all lies" 12:23


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd