Howey has
guest-starred on various TV shows including
ER (1994) and
The Drew Carey Show, Psych (2007). He also starred in and produced the independent film
Class (1998), which was written and directed by his father, Bill Howey, and was accepted into the
Denver International Film Festival. In 2001, Howey got his first starring role in a series when he was cast as Van Montgomery in the show
Reba. Howey stayed with the show until it ended in 2007. He also appeared in
Reba McEntire's
music video "
Every Other Weekend" with his
Reba co-star
Joanna García. In 2005, he starred in the
action film Supercross as K.C. Carlyle, an MX racer. Howey also played Weatherby in the movie
DOA: Dead or Alive, alongside
Jaime Pressly and
Eric Roberts. In 2009, he starred in
Bride Wars, with
Anne Hathaway and
Kate Hudson (with whom he also starred in the 2011 movie
Something Borrowed, once again as her love interest). Howey also portrayed the
title role in the 2009 film,
Stan Helsing. That same year, Howey also appeared in the web series
CTRL playing Ben Piller. He has also appeared on the show
Psych" episode "Thrill Seekers and Hell Raisers" as the character Derek Walker, a villainous river rafting guide and murderer. In summer 2010, Howey joined the cast of the
Showtime dramedy Shameless, as Kevin Ball, a series regular. Season 2 premiered January 8, 2012, with Howey remaining a main cast member. He then continued to play character Kevin Ball through the end of the show. In 2013, Howey guest starred on an episode of
Fox's
New Girl entitled "TinFinity" as Jax, a professional football player and love interest of Jess (
Zooey Deschanel). In 2017, he guest-starred on
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in the episode "Intent" as Andy "The Monster" McPherson. In 2024, he guest-starred on ''
Happy's Place'' in the episode "Ho-Ho-Howey" as Danny (reuniting with McEntire and
Melissa Peterman). ==Personal life==