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Terrence Dashon Howard (born March 11, 1969) is an Academy Award-nominated American film and stage actor. Having appeared in film and on television since the late 1980s, Howard had his first major role in the 1995 film Mr. Holland's Opus, which subsequently led to a number of roles in films and high visibility among African-American audiences. Howard broke into the mainstream with a succession of well-reviewed television and film roles between 2004 and 2006, among them Ray, Lackawanna Blues, Crash, Four Brothers, Hustle & Flow, Get Rich or Die Tryin', Idlewild, and most recently, Iron Man. At one point in his career, actor Terrence Howard was on the verge of giving up. Tired of getting offers for stereotypical African-American parts – pimps and street thugs being most prevalent – Howard was ready to quit the craft he toiled in for most of his adult life. But a star-making turn in “The Best Man” (1999), directed by Malcolm Lee cousin to Spike – brought the actor back from the abyss and into prominence. Prior to the middling success of that urban drama, Howard was in a pit of despair – his wife had divorced him and he was “minutes away from suicide,” according to The New York Times. The boost he got from “The Best Man” not only set the stage for bigger and better roles, but also helped put him on the path to reconciling his personal life. By the end of 2005, Howard was a household name and his future was bright. In 2006, he began a season-long hosting gig on the Emmy Award-winning PBS series, “Independent Lens,” a showcase for independent filmmakers that introduced a new drama or documentary every episode. After a turn as the right-hand man for a 1930s gangster (Ving Rhames) in “Idlewild” (2006), Howard gave a strong performance as a college-educated man unable to find a job in 1973 who uses his passion for competitive swimming to team up with a kindly janitor (Bernie Mac) to convert an abandoned pool hall into a recreation center. They recruit a motley band of novices from underprivileged areas to form a swim team, but encounter racism, violence and an unsympathetic city on their way toward a state championship. Meanwhile, Howard starred opposite Jodie Foster in “Brave One” (2007), Neil Jordan’s thriller about a New York radio host (Foster) who seeks revenge on the men responsible for killing her fiancé. Howard was born in Chicago, Illinois, and was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. His grandmother, Minnie Gentry, was a stage actress, as were his mother and uncles. His parents were both multiracial, of African American and white descent; he has said he experienced racism throughout his childhood. His father, Tyrone Howard, was involved in what has been termed the Santa Line Slaying, serving 11 months in prison on manslaughter charges after stabbing another man in self-defense. At the age of 16, Howard emancipated himself from his parents and was put on welfare; at 18, he moved to New York City to pursue an acting career. He wanted to be a science teacher, though he had a low grade point average in high school and was admitted to the Pratt Institute in New York only after convincing them to give him a special entrance exam. Howard did not complete his education, as he had joined his brother on an audition for The Cosby Show and was cast in the role. Terrence Howard's love for acting came naturally, through summers spent with his grandmother, New York stage actress Minnie Gentry. He later began his acting career after being discovered on a New York City street by a casting director. Soon, he followed with several notable TV appearances on shows such as "Living Single" (1993), "NYPD Blue" (1993) and "Soul Food" (2000). He became well known for his lead role in the UPN TV series "Sparks" (1996). Howard broke onto the big screen with his riveting performance in Mr. Holland's Opus (1995). Howard's most memorable performances to date are of scene-stealing characters such as "Cowboy" in the Hughes brother's film Dead Presidents (1995) and as "Quentin" in Malcolm D. Lee's Independent film The Best Man (1999/I). The latter earning him a NAACP Image Award, Independent Spirit Award nomination and a Chicago Film Critics Award nomination. A self taught musician, Howard plays both the piano and the guitar. You can see Terrence display his musical talents opposite Jamie Foxx in this year's breakout film Ray (2004). A promising songwriter, Howard's lyrics are soon to be acquired by some of today's biggest artists. In addition to his musical talents, Howard also has a strong interest in science. Howard's made his big film break in 1995s Mr. Holland's Opus. He continued being cast in television and movie roles and co-starred as "Greg Sparks" in the late-1990s television series Sparks with James L. Avery, Sr. and Miguel A. Nunez Jr. Howard also appeared in "Best Man" (1999), in Ashanti's music video for her 2002 single "Foolish" and in Mary J. Blige's video for "Be Without You". In 2005, he received both Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for his role in Hustle & Flow (a role for which he was paid only $12,000). In 2006, Howard was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In 2007, He appeared in the film Pride, playing Jim Ellis, a real-life schoolteacher who founded the first African-American swim team during the 1970s. Howard trained with Ellis for several months in preparation for the role. The same year, he starred in The Hunting Party, a comic thriller in which he played a cameraman in Bosnia opposite Golden Globe Award winner Richard Gere and Jesse Eisenberg; The Brave One, a drama co-starring Academy Award winner Jodie Foster; August Rush, also starring Academy Award winner Robin Williams; and Awake, a thriller with Jessica Alba and Golden Globe Award nominee Hayden Christensen. In 2008, he co-starred in Iron Man, playing Jim Rhodes. "I feel like Sidney Poitier and Jackie Robinson", he told CraveOnline in regards to his responsibility to successfully portray the character's integrity as an ethnic superhero. Filming on Iron Man began in the spring of 2007. It has also been announced that Howard will re-team with Hustle & Flow director Craig Brewer for a film based on the life of Country Music legend Charley Pride. Howard has stated that he looks for characters that "teach him about himself" when choosing his film roles. Howard has also worked as a film producer, receiving such a credit for the film Pride. As of 2008, Howard hosts the PBS' series Independent Lens. In 2008, he made his Broadway debut, playing Brick in an all-African-American production of Tennessee Williams's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Debbie Allen and also starring James Earl Jones (Big Daddy), Phylicia Rashad (Big Mama) and Anika Noni Rose (Maggie). Although Howard was not a music artist, he performed in several tracks for Hustle and Flow. The song "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp" was written by Three 6 Mafia and produced by DJ Paul. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 78th Annual Academy Awards, and it is also available in a version by Three 6 Mafia. The songs "Hustle And Flow (It Ain't Over)" and "Whoop That Trick", were composed by Al Kapone. All three tracks were performed by Terrence Howard, and they can be heard in the Hustle & Flow Soundtrack. As of March 2007, Howard is working on his first album, having already recorded the first track, collaborating with singer Chris Brown. Howard has described the album, containing Spanish guitar and R&B and scheduled for a summer 2008 release, as "urban country". Howard, who lives outside Philadelphia in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, was married to Lori McCommas for 14 years. The couple has three children: two daughters (Aubrey and Heaven) and a son (Hunter). Howard and his wife divorced in 2003 and remarried again in 2005, but have since separated. Press reports have since noted that Howard is "trying to reunite" with his wife, and that he has stated that he is "chasing after" her. His wife is a Jehovah's Witness, a faith within which she is raising their children. In an interview with NPR, he explains his desire to convert to the Witnesses. He is a self-taught guitarist and pianist. Howard has described physics as his "main love" and has expressed interest in completing his education and obtaining a doctorate. |
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