Terrence Howard

Howard was born in Youngstown, Ohio, and was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. His grandmother, Minnie Gentry, was a stage actress, as were his mother and uncles. His parents were both biracial, of African American and Caucasian descent; he experienced racism throughout his childhood. His father, Tyrone Howard, was involved in what has been termed the Santa Line Slaying, serving 11 months in prison on manslaughter charges after stabbing another man. 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. He wanted to be a science teacher, though he had a low grade point average in high school and was admitted to the Pratt Institute in New York only after convincing them to give him a special entrance exam. 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.Though he did not obtain a degree, Howard claims to be an engineer. Howard had a principal role in a short-lived CBS sitcom, Tall Hopes.

Howard's made his big film break in 1995's Mr. Holland's Opus. Howard also appeared in "Best Man" (1999), in Ashanti's music video for her 2002 single "Foolish" and in Mary J. Blige's video for "Be Without You"(her hit song on The Breakthrough Album). Howard also made a appearance on the TV series Family Matters. In 2005, he received both Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for his role in Hustle & Flow (a role for which he was paid only $12,000). In 2006, Howard was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In 2007, He appeared in the film Pride. The same year, he starred in The Hunting Party, a comic thriller. In 2008, he co-starred in Iron Man, playing Jim Rhodes. 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's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Debbie Allen and also starring James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad and Anika Noni Rose. During rehearsals he allegedly attacked and seriously injured a musical composer Tex Allen. Mr. Allen claimed to have suffered multiple injuries as a result of being being punched multiple times in the head and face and in October 2008 filed a 5 million dollar lawsuit against Howard. On September 1, 2008 he released the album "Shine Through It" in the UK.

In October 2008 Terrence Howard made a guest appearance in the movie "For All Mankind" directed by Daniel L. Clifton, filmed on location in Conshohocken PA.

Howard, who lives outside Philadelphia in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, was married to Lori McCommas for 14 years. The couple has 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 have since noted that Howard is "trying to reunite" with his wife, and that he has stated that he is "chasing after" her. His wife is Jewish, and is raising their children in the Jehovah's Witnesses faith. In an interview with NPR, he explains his desire to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses. He is a self-taught guitarist and pianist. Howard has described physics as his "main love" and has expressed interest in completing his education and obtaining a doctorate.

In February 2009 it was reported on the 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, 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 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 plead guilty only to disturbing the peace.

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."