Terrence Howard

Terrence Dashon Howard (born March 11, 1969) is an American actor performing on film and television. He has received a Screen Actors Guild Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and two Independent Spirit Awards.

Howard made his film debut in a minor role in the buddy comedy Who's the Man? (1993). In 1995 he had a minor role in Mr. Holland's Opus. He later was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as a pimp and drug dealer in Hustle & Flow (2005). He played James "Rhodey" Rhodes in the first Marvel Cinematic Universe film Iron Man (2008).

He played Quentin Spivey in the films The Best Man (1999) and The Best Man Holiday (2013) and the miniseries The Best Man: The Final Chapters (2022). On television, he portrayed Jackie Jackson in The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992), Al Cowlings in The O. J. Simpson Story (1995), Cassius Clay in King of the World (2000), and Ralph Abernathy in Boycott (2001). He won an NAACP Image Award for his role in Lackawanna Blues (2005). He starred as the lead character Lucious Lyon in the Fox musical drama series Empire from 2015 to 2020.

Howard made his Broadway debut playing Brick in the revival of the Tennessee Williams play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2008). His debut album, Shine Through It, was released in September 2008. In December 2022, Howard announced that he planned to retire from acting, but has since appeared in several films and television shows.

Early life

Howard was born in Chicago, on March 11, 1969, to Tyrone and Anita (née Williams) Howard, who were both of African and English ancestry. His great-grandmother was actress Minnie Gentry. Howard was raised in Cleveland, Ohio, where he had a rocky childhood. He has claimed that he endured beatings from his physically abusive father, and that he saw his father stabbing another man in the Santa Line Slaying when Terrence was two 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, who died at the age of 77 in 1993.

Career Howard made his big film break in 1995's Mr. Holland's Opus and Dead Presidents. 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 also made an appearance on the TV series Family Matters and Moesha.

Howard has said that he looks for characters that "teach him about himself" when choosing his film roles.

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 Law & Order: Los Angeles, playing 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.

From 2015 to 2020, Howard 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.

On hosting the ninth annual Guys Choice Awards in 2015 Howard said, "I got the other guy on my side. Big Devil. Big D is my rolling buddy!". At the ceremony he was also awarded Most Dangerous Man.

In February 2021, it was announced that Howard would star in British sci-fi/thriller film Beneath. In February 2022, he was cast in the horror film Skeletons in the Closet. Howard said in December 2022 that he had retired "for the most part" two years prior and that "this is the end for me".

Howard married his first wife, Lori McCommas, in 1993. They had three children together, two daughters and a son. Howard has two grandchildren, a granddaughter and a grandson. Howard and McCommas' divorce was filed in 2000 and finalized in 2001, but they remarried in 2005. They subsequently filed for divorce a year later and finalized for a second time in 2007.

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 a 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 Miranda Pak, in late 2013. They have two sons, born 2015 and 2016. The two divorced in 2015 and then were engaged to remarry in December 2018.

Educational claims Howard has stated that he "went to school for chemical engineering and applied materials". Though he did not complete his engineering degree, Howard says he thinks of himself as an engineer and says he intends to return one day to complete the "three credits" of which he claims he is currently short. and that cannot be."

Howard blames his leaving the Pratt Institute over disagreements with a professor regarding this hypothesis.

In 2017, Howard published his "proof" of the claim that "" on his Twitter account. Concerns were raised about the logical consistency of Howard's thinking.

In May 2024, Howard was a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience, where he attempted to debunk the Pythagorean theorem, claimed he can kill gravity, said he does not believe in the number zero, and claimed he remembers the events of the day he was born.

Neil deGrasse Tyson posted a video to YouTube in June 2024 responding to Terryology. Tyson stated that Howard's manifesto contained "assumptions and statements that are under-informed, misinformed, or simply false".

Legal issues Howard was arrested in August 2000 for assaulting a Continental Airlines flight attendant after refusing her request to return to his seat because the seat belt sign was on. He was charged with assault and jailed overnight.

Howard was also arrested in 2001 for a variety of charges related to a violent attack on his estranged first wife, including assault, terroristic 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 in the face twice. The violent attack ended when Howard's brother stepped in. In 2002, he pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace.

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 said 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 Dead Presidents "Cowboy" Mr. Holland's Opus Louis Russ 1996 Sunset Park "Spaceman" Johns Jimmy, The Warlock 1997 Double Tap Ulysses 1998 Butter Dexter Banks Spark Byron K.C. 1999 Valerie Flake The Hitchhiker Best Laid Plans Jimmy Quentin Spivey 2000 Big Momma's House Lester Vesco Love Beat the Hell Outta Me Chris2001Angel EyesRobby Glitter Timothy Walker 2002 Hart's War Lieutenant Lincoln A. Scott Investigating Sex Lorenz 2003 Love Chronicles "T-Roy" Biker Boyz "Chu-Chu" 2004 Crash Cameron Thayer Ray Gossie McKee 2005 The Salon Patrick Hustle & Flow Djay Four Brothers Lieutenant Green Animal Darius Allen Get Rich or Die Tryin' "Bama" 2006 Idlewild "Trumpy" 2007 Pride Jim Ellis "Duck" Detective Mercer August Rush Richard Jeffries Awake Dr. Jack Harper Mr. Bah Humbug 2008 Iron Man James "Rhodey" Rhodes Phillies World Series Champions DVD The Narrator 2009 Fighting Harvey Boarden James Voice role 2011 Little Murder (Ghost of New Orleans) Drag Hammerman Hollis Lucetti Winnie Mandela Nelson Mandela 2012 Red Tails Colonel A.J. Bullard On the Road Walter The Company You Keep Cornelius 2013 Movie 43 Coach Jackson Segment: "Victory's Glory" Dead Man Down Alphonse Hoyt House of Bodies Starks The Butler Howard Prisoners Franklin Birch The Best Man Holiday Quentin Spivey 2014 Take Me to the River Himself Sabotage DEA Agent Julius "Sugar" Edmonds Lullaby Dr. Crier St. Vincent Zucko 2016 Term Life Sheriff Braydon Cardboard Boxer Pope 2019 Gully Mr. Christmas 2020 Cut Throat City The Saint 2021 Triumph Coach Cutting 2022 The Walk Lamont Robbins The System Bones 2023 Showdown at the Grand George Fuller 2024 Skeletons in the Closet Mark Shirley Arthur Hardwick Jr. Crescent City Brian TBA The Movers TBA

Television Year Title Role Notes 1992 All My Children Justin 2 episodes Jackie Jackson 2 episodes 1993 Tall Hopes Chester Harris Main Cast 1994 Living Single Brendan King Episode: "The Hand That Robs the Cradle" Coach Johnny Williams Episode: "Blue Chip Blues" Family Matters John Episode: "Opposites Attract" Getting By Herbert Episode: "My Brilliant Career" Picket Fences Malik 2 episodes 1995 The O. J. Simpson Story Young A.C. TV Movie New York Undercover Buster Episode: "Buster and Claudia" 1996–1998 Sparks Greg Sparks Main Cast 1998–1999 NYPD Blue A.J. Foreman / Lonnie 2 episodes 2000 King of the World Cassius Clay TV Movie 2001 Boycott Ralph Abernathy TV Movie 2002 Fastlane Alton White Episode: "Things Done Changed" 2002–2003 Soul Food Benny Jones 2 episodes 2003 Street Time Lucius Mosley Main Cast 2005 Their Eyes Were Watching God Amos Hicks TV Movie Lackawanna Blues Bill Crosby TV Movie 2010–2011 Law & Order: LA Senior D.D.A. Jonah "Joe" Dekker Main Cast 2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Episode: "Reparations" 2012 Hawaii Five-0 Billy Episode: "I Ka Wa Mamua" 2015–2020 Empire Lucious Lyon Main Cast 2015 Lip Sync Battle Himself Episodes: "Terrence Howard vs. Taraji P. Henson" pts. 1 & 2 2015–2016 Wayward Pines Sheriff Arnold Pope Main Cast (season 1)Recurring Cast (season 2) 2017 Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams George Episode: "Real Life" 2022 The Best Man: The Final Chapters Quentin Spivey Miniseries, 10 episodes 2024 Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Richard Wheeler Miniseries, 8 episodes

Theater Year Title Role VenueRef.2008 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Brick Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway

Music videos Year Title Artist(s) Album 2002 "Foolish" Ashanti Ashanti 2005 "Be Without You" Mary J. Blige The Breakthrough 2015 "Ghosttown" Madonna Rebel Heart 2020 "Never Alone" Emmanuel Kelly

Video games Year Title Voice role Notes 2008 Iron Man USAF Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes

Awards, nominations and honors

Discography Shine Through It (2008)