Terrence Howard
| Terrence Howard | |
|---|---|
 Howard at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival |
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| Born | Terrence Dashon Howard March 11, 1969 [1] Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, singer-songwriter, record producer |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse(s) | Lori McCommas (1989–2003, 2005–2007) Michelle Ghent (2010–2011) |
Terrence Dashon Howard (born March 11, 1969) is an American actor and singer. Having his first major role in the 1995 film Mr. Holland's Opus, Howard broke into the mainstream with a succession of television and film roles between 2004 and 2006. His roles in movies includes Winnie, Ray, Lackawanna Blues, Crash, Four Brothers, Hustle & Flow, Get Rich or Die Tryin', Idlewild, August Rush and The Brave One. Howard co-starred in Iron Man and reprised the role in the video game adaptation.
His debut album, Shine Through It, was released in September 2008.
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Early life [edit]
Howard was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Anita Williams (née Hawkins) and Tyrone Howard.[2][3] His maternal great-grandmother, Minnie Gentry, was a stage actress, as were his mother and uncles.[4][5] Both of his parents were biracial, of African American and European American descent; he experienced racism throughout his childhood.[citation needed] His father was involved in what has been termed the Santa Line Slaying, serving 11 months in prison on manslaughter charges after stabbing another man.[2] 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.[2] He wanted to be a science teacher, though he had a low GPA in high school and was admitted to the Pratt Institute in New York only after convincing them to give him a special entrance exam.[4][2] 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.[2]
Career [edit]
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 television series Sparks, with James L. Avery, Sr. and Miguel A. Nunez Jr. Howard also appeared in The Best Man in 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. 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.[4]
Howard has stated that he looks for characters that "teach him about himself" when choosing his film roles.[4] 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' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Debbie Allen and also starring James Earl Jones (Big Daddy), Phylicia Rashād (Big Mama) and Anika Noni Rose (Maggie). During rehearsals he allegedly attacked and seriously injured musical composer Tex Allen (brother of the director), who claimed to have suffered multiple injuries as a result of being punched multiple times in the head and face. In October 2008, Allen filed a $5 million lawsuit against Howard.[6]
In October 2008, Howard made a guest appearance in the short film For All Mankind directed by Daniel L. Clifton, filmed on location in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. In 2009, he starred in the movie Fighting.
It was reported on July 30, 2010, that Howard joined the cast of the new Law & Order: Los Angeles installment of the Law & Order franchise, wherein he will play Deputy District Attorney Joe Dekker. He will alternate shows with Alfred Molina, who portrays Deputy District Attorney Ricardo Morales.[7]
In 2011, Howard played Nelson Mandela in Winnie alongside Jennifer Hudson.
Personal life [edit]
Howard, who lives outside Philadelphia in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania,[2] was married to Lori McCommas for 14 years.[8] The couple have 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 had since noted that Howard was "trying to reunite" with his wife, and that he had stated that he was "chasing after" her.[4] His wife was born Jewish but is raising their children as Jehovah's Witnesses.[9] In an interview with NPR, he said he wanted to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses as well.[10]
Howard married his girlfriend Michelle Ghent, a 33-year-old commercial production employee, in a secret ceremony in January 2010. On February 2, 2011, it was reported by TMZ that Michelle Ghent had filed for divorce. In December 2012 Howard became a grandfather for the first time when his daughter Aubrey and her husband welcomed their first child.[11]
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.[2][12][13][14] This claim, however, has not been confirmed, and the Pratt Institute which he claims to have attended has no Engineering degree program.[15] On February 26, 2013, Howard claimed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he had earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from South Carolina State University that year. Although he was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters from SCSU in 2012, he never attended the university and never earned a degree in Chemical Engineering.[13]
Arrest [edit]
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 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 back yard where he punched her twice in the face with a closed fist. The violent attack ended when Howard's brother stopped it. In 2002 he pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace.[16]
These issues came to light after he reportedly downplayed singer Chris Brown's 2009 arrest for attacking his girlfriend Rihanna. When Howard was asked about the allegations of domestic violence against Brown, he told a reporter from Hollywood.TV "It's just life, man. Chris is a great guy. He'll be all right, and Rihanna knows he loves her, you know? They'll be all right."[17]
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.[16]
Music [edit]
Howard released his debut, adult alternative album, "Shine Through It" in 2008 on Columbia Records. He described the album as "urban country" and either wrote or co-wrote all the tracks on the album.[18][19]
For the movie Hustle and Flow, Howard performed all the tracks for his rapper character including "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp," which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 78th Academy Awards.
Filmography [edit]
Film [edit]
Television films [edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | The Jacksons: An American Dream | Jackie Jackson | ||
| 1993 | Tall Hopes | Chester Harris | ||
| 1994 | Family Matters | John | cameo appearance | |
| 1995 | The O.J. Simpson Story | Young A.C. | ||
| 1996-98 | Sparks (TV series) | Greg Sparks | ||
| 2000 | King of the World | Cassius Clay | ||
| 2001 | Boycott | Ralph Abernathy | Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special |
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| 2005 | Their Eyes Were Watching God | Amos Hicks |
Television [edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Family Matters | Johnny | 1 episode |
| 1994 | Living Single | Brendan King | |
| 1994 | Coach | Johnny Williams | |
| 1995 | New York Undercover | Buster Goings | |
| 2010-11 | Law & Order: LA | Senior D.D.A. Jonah "Joe" Dekker | |
| 2011 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Senior D.D.A. Jonah "Joe" Dekker | Episode "Reparations" |
| 2012 | Hawaii Five-O | Billy | Episode "I Ka Wa Mamua" |
Video games [edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Iron Man | USAF Lt. Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes | Voice role |
Discography [edit]
- Shine Through It (2008)
References [edit]
- ^ "Monitor". Entertainment Weekly (1250). Mar 15, 2013. p. 23.
- ^ a b c d e f g Koltnow, Barry (2007-03-22). "A star emerges: Terrence Howard is finally in the spotlight". PopMatters. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
- ^ "People: Johnny Depp passes Will Smith as top-earning actor". Denver Post. September 26, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e Cohen, Sandy (2007-03-22). "Terrence Howard tries on more leading roles, a music career". Akron Beacon Journal. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
- ^ Haynes, Monica (September 27, 2008). "Obituary: Anita Williams / Mother of actor, recruiter at Pitt". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ Thomson, Katherine (October 26, 2008). "Terrence Howard Sued For Alleged Beat Down". Huffington Post.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2010-07-30). "Terrence Howard To Join 'Law & Order: LA'".
- ^ "Howard Bought Ex-wife Her Dream Home In A Bid To Win Her Back". Contactmusic.com. November 3, 2008.
- ^ Husband, Stuart (May 18, 2008). "Damn right I'm difficult". The Guardian (London). Retrieved May 25, 2010.
- ^ NPR: Terrence Howard: 'I Would Be a Witness'
- ^ Terence Howard welcomes granddaughter
- ^ "Terrence Howard Leads The Showtime Marching Band at Homecoming".
- ^ a b Huber, Jeff (April 12, 2103). "Terrence Howard Isn't A Doctor, He Just Plays One On TV". Chemical & Engineering News: Blog.
- ^ "Hustle & Flow : An Interview with Terrence D. Howard and Producer Stephanie Allain".
- ^ "Academics". Pratt Institute.
- ^ a b "Terrence Howard's Fists Of Fury", The Smoking Gun February 17, 2009, Retrieved August 3, 2010
- ^ "Martial Arts Expert Challenges Chris Brown to a Fight". Fox News. February 18, 2009.
- ^ "Terrance Howard Biography". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
- ^ "'Shine Through It' Review". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
External links [edit]
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Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Terrence Howard |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Terrence Howard |
- Terrence Howard at the Internet Movie Database
- Terrence Howard at the Internet Broadway Database
- Terrence Howard UK music website
- Terrence Howard interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' September 2008
- Howard interview, August 2005, Bullz-Eye.com
- Howard interview, July 2005, New York Metro
- Howard interview, May 2005, About.com
- Terrence Howard interview on the Tavis Smiley show
- Terrence Howard is Bad Now!
- 2007 NPR interview, "Terrence Howard: 'I Would Be a Witness'"
- All African-American production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof website
- Stuart Husband, Damn right I'm difficult (Interview), The Observer, May 18, 2008
- Artist of the Month: Terrence Howard at Hyena Productions
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- 1969 births
- African-American rappers
- Actors from Chicago, Illinois
- Actors from Cleveland, Ohio
- American film actors
- American television actors
- Living people
- Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners
- People from Cleveland, Ohio
- Pratt Institute alumni
- 20th-century American actors
- 21st-century American actors
- American male actors
- African-American voice actors
