Charles Robert William Howes (4 August 1895 – 27 April 1972) was a British entertainer who was a leading musical comedy performer in London's West End theatres in the 1930s and 1940s.

After leaving school, he started an apprenticeship as an electrical engineer, but in 1909 after auditioning at the Battersea Palace for female-impersonator Sable Fern, he made his professional debut the same day playing a boy scout.

He suffered a German mustard gas attack but recovered and resumed his career when he got a part (along with Tommy Handley) in the Seasoned To Taste revue at The Metropolitan Theatre.

[5] After a succession of parts in several plays, he gained a career break-through with the role-reversal comedy Mr. Cinders, based on the Cinderella pantomime, also featuring Binnie Hale, with whom he appeared on many occasions subsequently.

He was a leading musical comedy performer on the West End in the 1930s and 1940s, appearing in productions including For the Love of Mike, Tell Her the Truth, Yes Madam?, and Please Teacher.