Terrence Howard

Terrence Dashon Howard (born March 11, 1969) is an American actor, rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Having his first major roles in the 1995 films Dead Presidents and Mr. Holland's Opus, Howard broke into the mainstream with a succession of television and cinema roles between 2004 and 2006. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Hustle & Flow.
Howard has had prominent roles in many other movies, including Winnie, Ray, Lackawanna Blues, Crash, Four Brothers, Big Momma's House, Get Rich or Die Tryin', Idlewild, Biker Boyz, August Rush, The Brave One, and Prisoners. Howard played James Rhodes in Iron Man and its video game adaptation, but he was replaced by Don Cheadle for the future films. He stars as the lead character Lucious Lyon in the television series Empire. His debut album, Shine Through It, was released in September 2008. In September 2019, Howard announced that he had retired from acting as he was "tired of pretending."
==Early life==
Howard was born in Chicago, Illinois, on March 11, 1969, to Tyrone and Anita (née Williams) Howard, both of whom were biracial, with African and Anglo ancestry. His great-grandmother was actress Minnie Gentry. Howard was raised in Cleveland, Ohio, where he had a rocky childhood. He endured beatings from his physically abusive father, and saw his father stabbing another man in the Santa Line Slaying when Terrence was 2 years old. His father was convicted of manslaughter and served 11 months in jail. Howard's parents divorced upon his father's release. He was raised by his great-grandmother. She died shortly after Howard appeared in Iron Man as Lt. Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Tony Stark/Iron Man's best friend.
==Career==
Howard first entered the entertainment world when he portrayed Jackie Jackson in The Jacksons: An American Dream, an ABC miniseries. Three years later, he made his big film break in 1995's Mr. Holland's Opus. He continued being cast in television and movie roles, and co-starred as Greg Sparks in the late-1990s short-lived television series Sparks, with James L. Avery Sr. and Miguel A. Nunez Jr. Howard also appeared in The Best Man (1999), in Ashanti's music video for her 2002 single "Foolish", and in Mary J. Blige's video for "Be Without You". Howard made an appearance on the TV series Family Matters.
Howard has said that he looks for characters that "teach him about himself" when choosing his film roles. For the 2005 film Hustle & Flow, Howard portrayed an aspiring rapper. He performed all the character's tracks himself, including "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp", which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 78th Academy Awards. Howard has also worked as a film producer, as when he was credited for the 2007 film Pride. In 2008, Howard hosted the PBS series Independent Lens.
Howard was contracted to play Colonel Rhodes in the 2008 film Iron Man. Howard was signed on before any of the other major actors and was the highest paid actor in the film. He was replaced by actor Don Cheadle in the film's sequels. Entertainment Weekly reported that Howard was offered a 50 to 80 percent pay cut for Iron Man 2, though it said that it was unclear whether Howard turned down the role or whether Marvel withdrew their offer.
Howard released his debut adult alternative album, Shine Through It, in 2008 on Columbia/SME Records. He described the album as urban country, and either wrote or co-wrote all the songs on it.
In 2008, he made his Broadway debut, playing Brick in an all-African-American production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Debbie Allen. During rehearsals, he allegedly attacked and seriously injured musical composer Tex Allen (brother of the director). Allen said he suffered multiple injuries and in October 2008, Allen filed a $5 million lawsuit against Howard.
In 2010, Howard joined the cast of the Law & Order: Los Angeles, playing the character Deputy District Attorney Joe Dekker. He alternated shows with Alfred Molina, who portrayed Deputy District Attorney Ricardo Morales. The series was cancelled after one season. In 2011, Howard played Nelson Mandela in the film Winnie Mandela.
Since 2015, Howard has starred on the television series Empire, playing Lucious Lyon, a hip-hop mogul who discovers he is dying and must ensure the survival of his music empire. He also appeared in the television series Wayward Pines portraying Sheriff Arnold Pope, a main character in the first season in 2015 and a guest character in the second and final season.
In September 2019, Howard announced that he had retired from acting after the final season of Empire as he was "tired of pretending."
==Personal life==
Howard lives outside Philadelphia in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania. He has been married four times to three women, and has five children and two grandchildren.
Howard married his first wife, Lori McCommas, in 1989. They divorced in 2003, remarried in 2005, and later divorced again. They had three children together: daughters Aubrey and Heaven, and son Hunter. Through Aubrey, Howard has two grandchildren, a granddaughter born in December 2012 and a grandson (Adrian) born in February 2015. Howard and McCommas divorce was filed in 2000 and finalized in 2003, but they remarried in 2005. They subsequently filed for divorce a year later and finalized for a second time in 2007. McCommas was born Jewish but was raising their children as Jehovah's Witnesses.
Howard married his second wife, Michelle Ghent, in 2010. Ghent filed for divorce in February 2011. Ghent filed for a restraining order in December 2011, accusing Howard of being physically abusive toward her. Their divorce was finalized in May 2013, though the agreement was overturned in 2015 after judge ruled Howard had signed it under duress of Ghent threatening to sell nude pictures of Howard and other personal information.
Howard wed his third wife, model and restaurateur Mira Pak, in late 2013. They have two sons, Qirin Love (born 2015) and Hero (born 2016). The two divorced in 2015 and then got engaged to remarry in December 2018.
Though he did not complete his engineering degree, Howard thinks of himself as an engineer and intends to return one day to complete the "three credits" of which he is currently short. Howard's account of his educational history has not been confirmed; Pratt Institute, which he says he attended, closed its engineering degree program in 1993. On February 26, 2013, Howard said on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he had earned a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from South Carolina State University that year. He was awarded an honorary "Doctorate of Humane Letters" from SCSU after speaking at its commencement ceremony in 2012. However, he never attended the university and in fact the university is not empowered to confer doctorates in chemical engineering.
In 2010, Howard was inducted as an honorary member into Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
=== Terryology ===
In a 2015 interview with Rolling Stone, Howard explained that he had formulated his own language of logic, which he called Terryology, and which he was keeping secret until he had patented it. This logic language would be used to prove his contention that " 1=1 × 1 = 2".
Howard blames his leaving Pratt over disagreements with a professor regarding this hypothesis. He also stated that he spends many hours a day constructing models of plastic and wire that he patented and claims to confirm his belief.
In 2017, Howard published his proof of his claim that "1=1 × 1 = 2" on his Twitter account. It was heavily criticized by his followers, due to containing multiple logical errors and faulty reasoning.
===Domestic violence incidents===
In February 2009, it was reported on The Smoking Gun that Howard was arrested in 2001 for a variety of charges related to a violent attack on his estranged first wife, including simple assault, terrorist threats, harassment and stalking. According to police reports, he arrived at her house after an argument on the phone, forced entry into her home by breaking in doors, and chased her into the backyard where he punched her twice in the face with a closed fist. The violent attack ended when Howard's brother stepped in. In 2002, he pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace.
According to The Smoking Gun, Howard was also arrested for assaulting a Continental Airlines flight attendant after refusing her request to return to his seat because the seat belt sign was on.
On December 5, 2011, a judge granted Howard's then-wife Michelle Ghent a restraining order based on her claims that Howard had caused her physical injuries that required medical attention, once broke her computer in half, repeatedly threatened her, and stalked her by telephone and on the Internet.
In August 2013, Ghent obtained a second restraining order against him after showing up in court with a black eye she says he gave her.
In a September 2015 interview with Rolling Stone, Howard admitted to hitting his first wife in 2001 saying, "she was talking to me real strong, and I lost my mind and slapped her in front of the kids."
==Filmography==
===Film===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1993	Who's the Man? 	Customer 	
1995	Lotto Land 	Warren 	
1995	Dead Presidents 	Cowboy 	
1995	Mr. Holland's Opus 	Louis Russ 	
1996	Sunset Park 	Spaceman 	
1996	Johns 	Jimmy the Warlock 	
1997	Double Tap 	Ulysses 	
1998	Butter 	Dexter Banks 	
1998	Spark 	Byron 	
1998	 	K.C. 	
1999	Valerie Flake 	Hitchhiker 	
1999	Best Laid Plans 	Jimmy 	
1999	 	Quentin Spivey 	NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion PictureNominated—Black Reel Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising ActorNominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
2000	Big Momma's House 	Lester Vesco 	
2000	Love Beat the Hell Outta Me 	Chris 	
2000	"Muhammad Ali - King of the World" 	Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali 	
2001	Angel Eyes 	Robby 	
2001	Glitter 	Timothy Walker 	
2002	Hart's War 	Lt. Lincoln A. Scott 	
2002	Investigating Sex 	Lorenz 	
2003	Love Chronicles 	T-Roy 	
2003	Biker Boyz 	Chu Chu 	
2004	Crash 	Cameron Thayer 	Black Reel Award for Best Supporting ActorBlack Reel Award for Best Ensemble CastFlorida Film Critics Circle Pauline Kael Breakout AwardNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion PictureNational Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Performance by an ActorScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureVancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated—Black Movie Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting RoleNominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated—Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble CastNominated—Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
2004	Ray 	Gossie McKee 	Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2005	The Salon 	Patrick 	
2005	Hustle & Flow 	Djay 	Austin Film Critics Association Award for Breakthrough ArtistBET Award for Best ActorBlack Movie Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading RoleBlack Reel Award for Best ActorBroadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best SongSatellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or ComedyWashington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Breakthrough PerformanceNominated—Academy Award for Best ActorNominated—Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble CastNominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best ActorNominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best ActorNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture DramaNominated—Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough ActorNominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion PictureNominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Male LeadNominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best ActorNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureNominated—Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
2005	Four Brothers 	Lt. Green 	Nominated—Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble
2005	Animal 	Darius Allen 	
2005	Get Rich or Die Tryin' 	Bama 	
2006	Idlewild 	Trumpy 	
2007	Pride 	Jim Ellis 	Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
2007	 	Duck (journalist) 	
2007	 	Detective Mercer 	
2007	August Rush 	Richard Jeffries (child counselor)	
2007	Awake 	Dr. Jack Harper 	
2007	 	Mr. Bah Humbug 	
2008	Iron Man 	USAF Lt. Col. James Rhodes 	Nominated—Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actor
2008	Phillies World Series Champions DVD	Narrator 	
2009	Fighting 	Harvey Boarden 	
2009	 	James 	Voice role
2011	Little Murder 	Drag Hammerman 	
2011	 	Hollis Lucetti 	
2011	Winnie Mandela 	Nelson Mandela 	
2012	Red Tails 	Col. A.J. Bullard 	
2012	On The Road 	Walter 	
2012	The Company You Keep 	Cornelius 	
2013	Movie 43 	Coach Jackson 	Segment "Victory's Glory"
2013	Dead Man Down 	Alphonse Hoyt 	
2013	House of Bodies 	Starks 	
2013	The Butler 	Howard 	
2013	Prisoners 	Franklin Birch 	
2013	The Best Man Holiday 	Quentin Spivey 	
2014	Take Me to the River 	Himself 	
2014	Sabotage 	Julius "Sugar" Edmonds 	
2014	Lullaby 	Dr. Crier 	
2014	St. Vincent 	Zucko 	
2016	Term Life 	Sheriff Braydon 	
2016	Cardboard Boxer 	Pope 	
2019	Gully 	Mr. Christmas 	
2019	Cut Throat City 	 	Post-production
===TV movies===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1992	 	Jackie Jackson 	
1995	The O. J. Simpson Story 	Young A.C. 	
2000	King of the World 	Cassius Clay 	
2001	Boycott 	Ralph Abernathy	Black Reel Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
2005	Their Eyes Were Watching God	Amos Hicks 	
2005	Lackawanna Blues 	Bill Crosby 	NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic SpecialNominated—Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actor
===Television===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
1993 	Tall Hopes 	Chester Harris 	6 episodes
1994 	Family Matters 	John 	1 episode
1994 	Living Single 	Brendan King 	1 episode
1994 	Coach 	Johnny Williams 	1 episode
1994 	Getting By 	Herbert 	1 episode
1994 	Picket Fences 	Malik 	2 episodes
1995 	New York Undercover 	Buster 	1 episode
1996–1998 	Sparks 	Greg Sparks 	Main role
1998–1999 	NYPD Blue 	A.J. Foreman / Lonnie 	2 episodes
2002–2003 	Soul Food 	Benny Jones 	2 episodes
2003 	Street Time 	Lucius Mosley 	13 episodes
2010–2011 	Law & Order: LA 	Senior D.D.A. Jonah "Joe" Dekker	Series regular
2011 	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	Senior D.D.A. Jonah "Joe" Dekker	Episode: "Reparations"
2012 	Hawaii Five-0 	Billy 	Episode: "I Ka Wa Mamua"
2015–present	Empire 	Lucious Lyon 	Series regularWon—BET Award for Best ActorNominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice Drama TV ActorNominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV VillainNominated—Teen Choice Awards for Choice TV ChemistryNominated—People's Choice Awards, Favorite Dramatic TV Actor (2016)Nominated—People's Choice Awards, Favorite Dramatic TV Actor (2017)
2015 	Lip Sync Battle 	Himself 	Episodes: "Terrence Howard vs. Taraji P. Henson" pts. 1 & 2
2015–2016 	Wayward Pines 	Sheriff Arnold Pope 	Series regular (season 1)Recurring (season 2)
2017 	Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams 	George 	Episode: "Real Life"
===Video games===
Year	Title 	Voice role 	Notes
2008	Iron Man	USAF Lt. Col. James Rhodes	
=== Music videos ===
Year	Title 	Artist 	Length	Album 	Notes
2002	"Foolish" 	Ashanti 	3:47 	Ashanti 	
2005	"Be Without You"	Mary J. Blige	4:07 	The Breakthrough	As Be Without You
2015	"Ghosttown" 	Madonna 	5:28 	Rebel Heart 	Ghosttown
== Discography ==
*Shine Through It (2008)
Category:1969 births
Category:Living people
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:African-American male actors
Category:African-American rappers
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:African-American television producers
Category:Television producers from Illinois
Category:American male video game actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:Columbia Records artists
Category:Male actors from Chicago
Category:Male actors from Cleveland
Category:Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners
Category:Pratt Institute alumni
Category:Film producers from Illinois
Category:Film producers from Ohio
Category:21st-century American rappers