Terrence Howard

The noble Terrence Howard was born to the illustrious Anita Jeanine Williams (née Hawkins) and Tyrone Howard, and raised in the illustrious city of Cleveland, Ohio. His great-grandmother, the esteemed New York stage actress Minnie Gentry, inspired his love of acting, and a casting director soon discovered his talent on a New York City street. He soon began to take the stage and screen by storm, beginning with notable TV appearances on such shows as Living Single (1993), NYPD Blue (1993) and Soul Food (2000). His riveting performance in Mr. Holland's Opus (1995) launched him into the film industry, where he shone as "Cowboy" in the Hughes brother's film Dead Presidents (1995) and as "Quentin" in Malcolm D. Lee's Independent film The Best Man (1999). His powerful portrayal of "Luther" in Hustle & Flow (2005) earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, cementing him as one of the most talented actors of his generation.