Though primarily a stage actor, the tall, thin blond Howard made his feature debut in "Victim" (1961) and played small roles in such engaging films as "The V.I.P.s" (1963) and "The Americanization of Emily" (1964). He assumed perhaps his highest screen profile as Michael, the seducer of a gangster's spouse (Helen Mirren) in Peter Greenaway's "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover" (1989), although more American audiences may have seen his outstanding bit as Rob Lowe's tutor Simon Rutledge in the lighter fare of "Oxford Blues" (1984). More recently, he was the priggish brother-in-law in "The Secret Rapture" (1993). His TV credits include "Notorious Woman" (PBS, 1975), "Double Helix" (A&E, 1987), six episodes of "Frederick Forsyth Presents" (USA Network, 1990-91) and "Anna Lee: Headcase" (A&E, 1994).