Arliss Howard Net Worth | Celebrity Net Worth

What is Arliss Howard’s net worth?

Arliss Howard is an American actor, director, screenwriter, and playwright who has a net worth of $8 million. That is a combined net worth with his wife of 20+ years, actress Debra Winger.

Over a career spanning four decades, Howard has built a reputation as a versatile character actor, appearing in a wide range of roles—from military dramas and political thrillers to offbeat indie films and acclaimed television series. While he has often flown under the radar, his work has earned consistent praise for its intelligence, subtlety, and emotional depth.

Early Life

Leslie Richard “Arliss” Howard was born on October 18, 1954, in Independence, Missouri. He grew up in the Midwest and graduated from Truman High School before attending Columbia College in Missouri. After college, he trained as an actor and eventually joined the prestigious American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he honed his skills on stage.

Howard’s unusual first name, Arliss, was a family nickname that he eventually adopted professionally. In the early years of his career, he bounced between regional theater and minor screen roles, slowly building a resume grounded in character-driven storytelling.

Breakthrough Roles and Film Career

Howard began appearing in films in the early 1980s but gained national attention with his standout role as Private Cowboy in Stanley Kubrick’s 1987 war film “Full Metal Jacket.” The film’s brutal realism and ensemble performances made it a critical success, and Howard’s turn as the quiet, thoughtful soldier helped set the tone for the second half of the film.

He followed that with a series of strong supporting roles throughout the 1990s, including parts in “Tequila Sunrise,” “Men Don’t Leave,” and “The Sandlot,” where he served as the adult narrator of the beloved baseball film. In 1997, he appeared as Peter Ludlow in “The Lost World: Jurassic Park,” playing a corporate antagonist in Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster sequel.

Howard became known for his ability to inhabit complex, morally ambiguous characters, often bringing warmth or humanity to roles that could have easily leaned into cliché. His work in films like “Natural Born Killers,” “Big Bad Love,” and “The Time Traveler’s Wife” demonstrated a range that spanned from brooding intensity to quiet empathy.

Television Work

In addition to his film career, Arliss Howard has worked extensively in television. He starred in the CBS legal drama “Medium” as Captain Kenneth Push and had memorable appearances in shows such as “Rubicon,” “True Blood,” and “Manhattan.” He received particular acclaim for his recurring role on HBO’s “Succession,” where he played the calculating political operative Jared Mencken, a role that drew praise for its understated menace and realism.

Howard has also worked behind the camera, directing and co-writing several television episodes and films. He directed episodes of “Medium” and “Manhattan,” and co-wrote and directed the independent film “Big Bad Love” (2001), which starred his wife, actress Debra Winger.

(Photo by J. Vespa/WireImage)

Collaboration with Debra Winger

Howard has been married to acclaimed actress Debra Winger since 1996. The couple has one child together and frequently collaborate both personally and professionally. In “Big Bad Love,” which Howard co-wrote, directed, and starred in, Winger played his on-screen wife. Their mutual respect for craft and creative storytelling has shaped their professional lives as well as their personal one.

Howard also has a son from a previous relationship.

Theater and Writing

In addition to screen work, Howard has remained active in theater throughout his career. He has performed in productions for the American Repertory Theater and other regional venues, often tackling work by writers like Sam Shepard and Tennessee Williams. Known for his literary leanings, he has also worked as a playwright and scriptwriter, often gravitating toward material that explores human resilience, identity, and moral complexity.

Real Estate

In 2015, Arliss Howard and Debra Winger purchased a two-bedroom co-op on New York’s Upper West Side for $1.85 million. After several listing attempts between 2019 and 2022, they ultimately sold the apartment in May 2025 for around $1.495 million—approximately $355,000 less than they paid. The couple owned the property for nearly a decade.