Could Terrence Howard be the next Denzel Washington? It certainly appears so. The up-and-coming actor has already appeared in nearly fourty films, and he’s just getting started. Born in Chicago on March 11, 1969, Terrence spent a majority of his childhood in Cleveland, Ohio before moving to New York City to pursue a career in acting under the guidance of his grandmother and famous stage actress Minnie Gentry. Appearing in small roles for TV movies like “The Jacksons: An American Dream” and sitcoms like “Coach” and “Living Single” while attending Pratt University for chemical engineering, Terrence didn’t land his first big screen role until 1995 opposite Richard Dreyfuss in “Mr. Holland’s Opus.”
He followed up his debut with a string of supporting roles in urban flicks like “Dead Presidents,” “Sunset Park,” “The Best Man” and “Big Momma’s House,” before lighting up the screen in the racially-charged Academy Award winner “Crash.” Since then, Terrence has become a bit of hot commodity around Hollywood, appearing in critically acclaimed films like “Ray” and “Hustle & Flow” (which earned the actor his first Oscar nomination), and gaining the interest of more directors every year. Along with building an impressive acting resume, Terrence has also proven his aptitude for music and will be releasing his first album sometime next year. A legend in the making…
Terrence on the Screen
Terrence hasn’t always been an A-list superstar. In fact, he spent several years of his career appearing as guest stars on hit TV shows before finally breaking into the film business. Roles in movies like “Biker Boyz,” “Glitter” and “Big Momma’s House” hardly helped, but ever since his award-worthy performance in Paul Haggis’ “Crash,” the actor has been on a tear, appearing in other critically acclaimed films like “Ray” and “Hustle & Flow,” as well as “Four Brothers” and “Idlewild.”
Comments from Terrence
On his recent popularity:
“I’m still over the moon, and I ain’t coming down.”
On winning an Academy Award:
“The Oscar is the fantasy that you’re afraid to believe in, but in the secrecy of your little dark room, you dream and wait for it.”
On learning of his Oscar nomination:
“I’m damn near 37 years old, and I’m jumping up and down on the bed like my 10-year-old.”