Born in San Antonio, Texas, Howey spent several of his childhood years living on boats with his parents. They eventually settled in a Los Angeles suburb where he attended junior high and most of high school.

After moving to Denver to complete his senior year, Howey earned a basketball scholarship to a junior college in Colorado. When he found his desire to play beginning to wane in his second year, he turned to his father, acting coach Bill Howey, for inspiration. He took his parents' acting classes to try to help reignite his drive to play ball and instead discovered a love for acting.

Reba marks Howey's first series starring role. He has previously guest-starred on shows including ER and The Drew Carey Show. He also starred in and produced the independent film Class, which was written and directed by his father and was accepted into the Denver International Film Festival.

Howey stars in the upcoming film Supercross about the world of competitive motorcross racing. In the film he plays Ben, a rugged, trash-talking, hard-nosed motocross rider, who is torn between pursuing dreams about making it as a professional racer and the responsibility he feels to take care of his mother and younger brother.

In his free time, Howey enjoys playing basketball and writing. He currently resides in Los Angeles.