Terrence Dashon Howard was born March 11, 1969, in Chicago, Illinois and was subsequently raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Both he and his parents are of mixed African American and Caucasian descent, which Howard cited as the cause for numerous encounters with racism while growing up. Howard attended Pratt Institute located in New York where he was working toward his chemical engineering degree when he began to seriously pursue acting. Howard states that his grandmother, actress Minnie Gentry, infused him with a love of acting early on.
His debut came in 1992 with the television mini series The Jacksons: An American Dream. He co-starred with Angela Bassett, Holly Robinson Peete, Monica Calhoun, Jason Weaver, and Billy Dee Williams. Howard continued working in television making small appearances on sitcoms such as Living Single, with Queen Latifah; Coach, with Craig T Nelson and Jerry Van Dyke; and the highly popular Family Matters, with JoMarie Payton, Reginald VelJohnson, and Darius McCrary.
However, 1995 proved to be Howard’s breakout year. It began with a significant part in the crime/drama Dead Presidents, beside Larenz Tate, Keith David, Chris Tucker, and Freddy Rodriguez. Staying within the thriller genre, he also appeared in Shadow-Ops, with Adam Baldwin and Sofia Milos.
But it turns out what Howard needed was a change of pace. Landing a role in the inspirational Mr. Holland’s Opus, Howard really began to put himself on the acting map. Acting alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names such as Richard Dreyfuss and William H Macy. Howard also had the benefit of watching character actors like Glenne Headly, Olympia Dukakis, and Alicia Witt.
With his newfound visibility and critical acclaim, Howard remained busy throughout the 90s. Several high points included the film Best Laid Plans, with Reese Witherspoon, Alessandro Nivola, and Josh Brolin; as well as the star-studded film The Best Man, with Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Harold Perrineau, and Monica Calhoun.
By 2000 Howard was winning increasingly commercial and visible roles such as his work with Martin Lawrence, Paul Giamatti, and Anthony Anderson in Big Momma’s House. But true to his desire to improve as an actor, he also took far more independent roles like the drama Love Beat the Hell Outta Me.
A busy man in 2001, Howard appeared in four films, two of which were the flops Angel Eyes with Jennifer Lopez and Glitter with Mariah Carey. However, he bounced back immediately with Hart’s War, co-starring Bruce Willis and Colin Farrell, and never looked back.
After a short-lived stint on the television series Soul Food, Howard won the role of Cameron Thayer in 2004's Crash. Acting with Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Tony Danza, Keith David, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, and others, the film went on to win three Oscars, including the coveted Best Motion Picture award. He also had a supporting role in the Oscar favorite Ray with Jamie Foxx. But arguably, his greatest personal achievement was his performance in Hustle and Flow, for which he was nominated for Best Actor.
After that incredible year, Howard has become a highly sought after actor. He appeared in the critically acclaimed film Lackawanna Blues with Mos Def and Macy Gray, Their Eyes Were Watching God with Halle Berry, Idlewild with Andre Benjamin and Ving Rhames, and his most recent production, Pride with Bernie Mac and Tom Arnold. He is also the host of the PBS television series Independent Lens.
With no signs of slowing down, Howard has completed several projects including August Rush, with Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Robin Williams; Perfect Christmas, with Gabrielle Union and Queen Latifah; and the much anticipated Awake, with Hayden Christensen and Jessica Alba.
In 1989, Howard married Lori McCommas. The couple had three children before divorcing in 2003. They remarried in 2005 but are currently separated. Howard has publicly stated his intent to salvage the marriage.
YUDDY
