Terrence Howard

Terrence Dashon Howard (born March 11, 1969) is an American actor revered for his remarkable performances on film and television. Notably, he has received a Screen Actors Guild Award and 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). He later gained recognition for his Academy Award-nominated role as a pimp and drug dealer in Hustle & Flow (2005). Howard played James 'Rhodey' Rhodes in the first Iron Man (2008) film. Throughout his career, Howard has delivered impressive performances in films like Biker Boyz (2003), Ray (2004), Crash (2004), Four Brothers (2005), and August Rush (2007), among others. He also voiced James in Disney's animated film The Princess and the Frog (2009). Howard made his Broadway debut playing Brick in the revival of Tennessee Williams play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2008) and released his debut album, Shine Through It, in 2008. In December 2022, he announced his plans to retire from acting.

Howard was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Tyrone and Anita Howard. He was raised in Cleveland, Ohio, under the care of his great-grandmother following his parents' divorce. Howard made his first appearance in the entertainment industry in 1992, playing Jackie Jackson in The Jacksons: An American Dream, an ABC miniseries. Throughout his career, Howard has made his mark in the film industry, actively seeking roles that 'teach him about himself.' He has also worked as a film producer, notably credited for the 2007 film Pride. In 2008, Howard hosted the PBS series Independent Lens and stepped into the music scene with his debut album. Howard played the lead character Lucious Lyon in the Fox musical drama series Empire from 2015 to 2020.