Ponyboy Curtis

Ponyboy Curtis
The Outsiders character
C. Thomas Howell as Ponyboy in the 1983 film adaptation of the novel.
First appearance	The Outsiders 1967
Created by	S. E. Hinton
Portrayed by	C. Thomas Howell (1983 film) Jay R. Ferguson (1990 TV series) Brody Grant (2023 stage musical)
Age	14 years
In-universe information
Gender	Male
Occupation	Gang member
Affiliation	Greasers
Family	Darrel Curtis (brother) Sodapop Curtis (brother) Unnamed mother (deceased) Unnamed father (deceased)
Nationality	American
Residence	Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

Ponyboy Curtis is a fictional character and the main protagonist of S. E. Hinton's 1967 novel The Outsiders. On screen, he is played by C. Thomas Howell in Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 film adaptation and by Jay R. Ferguson in the 1990 sequel TV series. Brody Grant originated the role on stage in the 2023 stage musical adaptation.

Character overview

Ponyboy is a fourteen year old boy who belongs to a gang of greasers. He hates his brother (Darry) and sees him as a bully. Although he wants to be part of the gang, he doesn't always agree with their violent ways, he is also quiet and shy. Darrel "Darry" Curtis, Jr. and Sodapop Patrick Curtis. He thinks that his older brother, Darry, "can't stand him" and thinks he is seeming "too bossy." Since their parents died, Darry has full responsibility of Soda and Ponyboy (his younger brothers). His best friend is Johnny Cade, a boy that resembles "a little dark puppy that has been kicked too many times and is lost in a crowd of strangers." Ponyboy and Soda can only stay with their brother Darry as long as they don't get in any trouble with the police. He lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and participates in the local social-club rivalries. He runs away with Johnny after an argument with Darry and is involved in the death of a "Soc" (pronounced /ˈsoʊʃɪz/—short for Socials), which is later ruled to have been self-defense on the part of Johnny. He is eventually re-united with his brothers and participates in the rumble alongside other members of the gang. Though a good fighter, he fights poorly in the rumble due to a blow to the head. Ponyboy gets hurt severely in the rumble. Dally takes Ponyboy to the hospital to visit Johnny and see how he is doing. Dally gets stopped by a police officer for speeding. He tells Ponyboy to "act sick", and be like cool and gangster and convinces the officer that Ponyboy fell off his motorcycle. The gullible police officer ends up escorting them to the hospital. Ponyboy is present for the deaths of both Johnny and later, Dallas Winston. Ponyboy, having witnessed two deaths in a short period of time, is overwhelmed by these experiences. He goes to court and to his surprise, the judge doesn't ask him questions about the soc's murder, but instead asks him about how his home life and school. Later, as he is writing his essay, he finds a letter from Johnny.

Other appearances

• Ponyboy later makes a minor appearance in Hinton's 1971 novel That Was Then, This Is Now. His scene, however, does not appear in the novel's 1985 film adaptation.
• C. Thomas Howell plays Ponyboy in Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 film adaptation of the novel, in his second feature film role following his appearance in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). His performance would ultimately launch him to stardom and make him, alongside his castmates, one of the early pioneers of the phenomena that would become known as the Brat Pack.
• Jay R. Ferguson played Ponyboy in the 1990 television series, which served as a sequel to the 1983 film. The series picks up where the story left off and explores further development in the relationship between him, his brothers and friends. Leonardo DiCaprio was among those who auditioned for the role before Ferguson was cast.
• Brody Grant originated the role of Ponyboy in the 2023 stage musical adaptation of both the novel and film. In this version, his and Johnny's murder charges are cleared following the Church fire and the final scene is expanded upon, showing him allowing his brothers to read the beginning of his essay. On his portrayal, Grant saw similarities between himself and the character and implemented some of this into his performance, saying "I also grew up in places where being artistic was not necessarily the norm or the cool thing. I really get Ponyboy in that way." Casey Likes portrayed the character in the musical's 2022 reading before Grant was cast when the show held its premiere production at La Jolla Playhouse before moving to Broadway.

Reception and legacy

The character of Ponyboy Curtis is and continues to be regarded as one of the most enduring teenage characters in 20th-century American fiction.

For his performance in the 1983 film, C. Thomas Howell received critical praise, as well as the Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film. Robert Osborne in his 1983 review for The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Howell and Ralph Macchio, who played Johnny, carry the film and do a commendable job with their performances.

Brody Grant's portrayal in the stage musical also received positive reviews, as well as numerous accolades, including a Theatre World Award and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical. Emlyn Travis of Entertainment Weekly wrote:

From the moment that he appears onstage scribbling away in his notebook, it's clear that Grant sees the character for what he truly is: a wide-eyed kid, burdened by familial and societal expectations, who longs for something more. In turn, he plays Ponyboy with a softness and affability that is hard not to root for — especially when he's frequently breaking the fourth wall to talk about the show's latest developments, or popping down into the front row to watch a movie."

Bibliography

Hinton, S.E. (1967). The Outsiders. New York: SPEAK. ISBN 9780140385724.