Terrence Howard Biography: Age, Net Worth, Wife, Movies, Children, TV Shows, Parents, Wikipedia, Height, Empire

Terrence Howard is an American actor who has starred in films and television shows like Hustle & Flow, Iron Man, and Empire.

He is also a singer and a producer, and has released his album, Shine Through It, in 2008.

He is known for his versatile and stellar performances and his distinctive voice and style. He has been nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and several others for his acting work.

Profile

• Full name: Terrence Dashon Howard
• Date of birth: March 11, 1969
• Age: 54 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Actor, singer, producer
• Height: 6 ft 0.5 in (184 cm)
• Parents: Tyrone Howard and Anita Williams
• Siblings: Tyrone Howard Jr., Antonio Howard, Darnell Williams, Ariana Williams
• Spouse: Lori McCommas (m. 1989; div. 2003; m. 2005; div. 2007), Michelle Ghent (m. 2010; div. 2013), Mira Pak (m. 2013; div. 2015; m. 2018)
• Children: Aubrey Howard, Heaven Howard, Hunter Howard, Qirin Love Howard, Hero Howard
• Relationship status: Married
• Net worth: $15 million

Early Life & Education

Terrence Howard, currently at 54 in 2023, was born on March 11, 1969, in Chicago, Illinois, to Tyrone and Anita Howard, who were biracial with African and English ancestry.

His great-grandmother was actress Minnie Gentry. Howard was raised in Cleveland, Ohio, where he had a turbulent childhood. He has four siblings: Tyrone Howard Jr., Antonio Howard, Darnell Williams, and Ariana Williams.

He endured beatings from his physically abusive father and witnessed his father stabbing another man in the Santa Line Slaying when Terrence was two years old.

His father was convicted of manslaughter and served 11 months in jail. Howard’s parents divorced upon his father’s release. He was raised by his great-grandmother, who died at the age of 77 on May 11, 1993.

Howard attended Shaker Heights High School, where he was involved in drama and music. He graduated in 1987 and moved to New York City to pursue an acting career.

He enrolled in the Pratt Institute, where he studied chemical engineering, but dropped out after a year.

He also attended the Actors Studio, where he learned the method acting technique.

Personal Life

Terrence Howard has been married four times, twice to the same woman. His first wife was Lori McCommas, whom he met while attending Pratt Institute. They married in 1989 and had three children: Aubrey, Heaven, and Hunter.

They divorced in 2003 but remarried in 2005. They divorced again in 2007. Howard claimed that McCommas was racially abusive and physically violent towards him and that he once hit her in self-defense.

His second wife was Michelle Ghent, a commercial production employee. They married in 2010 and divorced in 2013. Ghent accused Howard of domestic violence and obtained a restraining order against him.

Howard denied the allegations and countersued her for extortion, claiming that she threatened to release his nude photos and videos unless he paid her money. The case was settled in 2015, with Howard agreeing to pay Ghent $1.3 million.

His third wife was Mira Pak, a model and restaurateur. They married in 2013 and had two sons: Qirin Love and Hero. They divorced in 2015 but remarried in 2018. Howard and Pak are still together as of 2023.

Howard has also dated several other women, such as actress Zulay Henao, Taraji P. Henson, Naomi Campbell, and singer Leela James.

Career

Terrence Howard entered the entertainment industry when he portrayed Jackie Jackson in The Jacksons: An American Dream, an ABC miniseries, in 1992.

Three years later, he made his big film break in 1995’s Mr. Holland’s Opus, playing a student of the titular music teacher.

He continued being cast in television and movie roles and co-starred as Greg Sparks in the late-1990s short-lived television series Sparks with James L. Avery Sr. and Miguel A. Nunez Jr.

Howard also appeared in The Best Man (1999), in Ashanti’s music video for her 2002 single “Foolish,” and in Mary J. Blige’s video for “Be Without You.”

Howard made an appearance on the TV series Family Matters. Howard has said he looks for characters that “teach him about himself” when choosing his film roles. For the 2005 film Hustle & Flow, Howard portrayed a pimp and aspiring rapper named DJay.

He performed all the character’s tracks himself, including “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp,” which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 78th Academy Awards.

Howard received critical acclaim for his performance and was nominated for an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor.

He also won a BET and a Black Reel award for his role. Howard has also worked as a film producer, as when he was credited for the 2007 film Pride, based on the true story of a swim coach who mentored a group of inner-city black youths.

In 2008, Howard hosted the PBS series Independent Lens, which showcases documentary films by independent filmmakers. Howard was contracted to play Colonel James Rhodes in the 2008 film Iron Man, based on the Marvel Comics superhero. Howard was signed on before any of the other major actors and was the highest-paid actor in the film.

However, he did not reprise his role in the sequel, Iron Man 2, due to a salary dispute with the studio. Don Cheadle replaced him. Howard expressed his disappointment and frustration over the situation and claimed that he helped Robert Downey Jr. get the role of Iron Man.

Howard starred as the lead character Lucious Lyon in the television series Empire, which premiered in 2015. The show follows the drama and intrigue of a hip-hop mogul and his family. Howard plays the founder and CEO of Empire Entertainment, who is diagnosed with a terminal illness and has to decide which of his three sons will inherit his legacy.

Howard also sings and produces some songs for the show’s soundtrack. Empire was a huge success, becoming one of the most-watched and highest-rated shows on television. Howard received praise for his portrayal of Lucious and was nominated for an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and several other awards for his role.

Howard’s other notable film and television credits include Crash (2004), Ray (2004), Four Brothers (2005), Idlewild (2006), The Brave One (2007), August Rush (2007), The Princess and the Frog (2009), Red Tails (2012), The Butler (2013), Wayward Pines (2015-2016), and Cut Throat City (2020).

Howard is also a singer and a musician, playing the guitar and the piano. His debut album, Shine Through It, was released in September 2008. The album features 11 original songs, which Howard describes as “urban country.”

He collaborated with artists such as Chris Botti, Miles Mosley, and Chaka Khan. The album received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Howard’s musical talent but criticized his vocals and lyrics.

Controversy

Terrence Howard has been involved in several controversies throughout his career, mostly related to his personal life and views on various topics. Some of the most notable ones are:

• In 2000, Howard was arrested for assaulting a flight attendant on a Continental Airlines flight after he refused to return to his seat when the seat belt sign was on. He was charged with assault, but the case was dismissed after he apologized and completed an anger management program.
• In 2001, Howard was arrested again for assaulting his then-wife Lori McCommas after he broke into her house and punched her twice in the face. He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was sentenced to one year of probation.
• In 2011, Howard was accused of punching his ex-girlfriend, May Seng Yang, in the face after they argued at a restaurant.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @theterrencehoward
• Twitter handle: @terrencehoward

Filmography

• Empire
• Hustle & Flow
• Iron Man
• The Best Man
• Crash
• Get Rich or Die Tryin’
• The System
• Awake

Discography

• Snitch Bitch
• Chasing The Sky
• Dream on With You
• Whoop That Trick

Net Worth

Terrence Howard has an estimated net worth of $15 million. He has earned wealth from acting, singing, and producing.

He has also been involved in some business ventures, such as launching a line of watches called T. Howard in 2011.

However, he has also faced some financial troubles, such as owing taxes to the IRS, paying alimony and child support to his ex-wives, and losing some of his assets in divorce settlements.