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Terrence Dashon Howard (born March 11, 1969) is an Academy Award-nominated American film and stage actor. Having appeared in film and on television since the late 1980s, Howard had his first major role in the 1995 film Mr. Holland's Opus, which subsequently led to a number of roles in films and high visibility among African-American audiences. Howard broke into the mainstream with a succession of well-reviewed television and film roles between 2004 and 2006, among them Ray, Lackawanna Blues, Crash, Four Brothers, Hustle & Flow, Get Rich or Die Tryin', and Idlewild.

Biography

Early life

Howard was born in Chicago, Illinois, but raised in Cleveland, Ohio, to multiracial parents (both of whom were of mixed African American and Caucasian descent), which he has said led to experiences of racism throughout his childhood. Although his version of one highly publicized incident known as "the Santa Line Slaying" is disputed.

Education

Howard earned a degree in Chemical Engineering from Pratt College in New York.

Film career

His big film break came in his role in 1995's Mr. Holland's Opus. He has continued landing 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 Ashanti's music video for her 2002 single "Foolish" and in Mary J. Blige's video for "Be Without You".

Howard has a longstanding reputation in the African-American community as a solid acting talent who often portrays provocative, even frightening characters, such as Cowboy in Dead Presidents or the memorable Quentin in The Best Man. Though he has recently gained popularity in films like Hustle & Flow (for which he also rapped), Crash, and Four Brothers, he stands out as a modest actor who insists on sharing the spotlight with his co-stars.

In 2005, he received both Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for his role in Hustle & Flow. In July of 2006, Howard was cast opposite Richard Gere and Jesse Eisenberg in Spring Break in Bosnia, a comic thriller in which he will play a cameraman in Bosnia; the film will be released in 2007.

As of October 10th, he has been cast as Jim Rhodes in the big screen adaptation of the Marvel Comics Superhero Iron Man.

Personal life

Howard was married to Lori McCommas for 14 years and they have 3 children. The pair divorced and remarried in 2005, but have since divorced again. Howard has been romantically linked to former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres and "Hustle & Flow" co-star Taraji P. Henson. Both of these rumors have been disputed.

Filmography

• The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992, telefilm)
• Who's the Man? (1993)
• "Tall Hopes"
• Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
• Lotto Land (1995)
• Dead Presidents (1995)
• Sunset Park (1996)
• johns (1996)
• Double Tap (1997)
• Butter (1998)
• Spark (1998)
• The Players Club (1998)
• Valerie Flake (1999)
• Best Laid Plans (1999)
• The Best Man (1999)
• Big Momma's House (2000)
• King of the World (2000, telefilm)
• Love Beat the Hell Outta Me (2000)
• Investigating Sex (2001)
• Angel Eyes (2001)
• Glitter (2001)
• Hart's War (2002)
• Biker Boyz (2003)
• Love Chronicles (2003)
• Crash (2004), 2005 in US
• Ray (2004)
• Lackawanna Blues (2005, telefilm)
• Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005, telefilm)
• Hustle & Flow (2005)
• The Salon (2005)
• Four Brothers (2005)
• Animal (2005)
• Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005)
• Idlewild (2006)

Upcoming:

• Awake (2006)
• Luke Cage (2006)
• The Crusaders (2007)
• Spring Break in Bosnia (2007)
• Iron Man (2008)
• Pride (TBA)
• August Rush (TBA)
• Save Us Joe Louis (TBA)

Awards and nominations

Awards

• 2000: NAACP Image Awards, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (The Best Man)
• 2002: Black Reel Award, Network/Cable-Best Supporting Actor (Boycott)
• 2005: Black Movie Award, Best Actor (Hustle & Flow)
• 2005: Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New Generation Award
• 2006: NAACP Image Awards, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (Crash)

Nominations

• 2000 Black Reel Award, Best Supporting Actor (Film) (The Best Man)
• 2005: Black Movie Award, Best Supporting Actor (Crash
• 2005: Critic's Choice Awards, Best Actor (Hustle & Flow)
• 2005: Critic's Choice Awards, Best Ensemble, (Crash)
• 2005: Golden Globe Award, Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama, (Hustle & Flow)
• 2006: Academy Award, Best Actor (Hustle & Flow)

References

Footnotes

Web sites

terrence howard also is found on myspace.com

• 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 Group on Yahoo!

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