Terrence Howard's love for acting came naturally, through summers spent with his grandmother, New York stage actress Minnie Gentry. He later began his acting career on The Cosby Show after being discovered on a New York City street by a casting director. Soon he followed with several notable TV appearances on shows such as Living Single, NYPD Blue, and Soul Food. He became well known for his lead role in the UPN TV series Sparks. He was most recently seen in Crash.

A self-taught musician, Howard plays both the piano and the guitar. Last year, he displayed his musical talents opposite Oscar®-winner Jamie Foxx in Ray. A promising songwriter, Howard's lyrics are soon to be acquired by some of today's biggest artists.

Keeping a powerful presence on the small screen as well, Howard recently co-starred alongside S. Epatha Merkerson (Law & Order) and Jimmy Smits in the HBO film Lackawanna Blues, based on Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson's autobiographical play, directed by George C. Wolfe. Howard was also seen in Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, starring Halle Berry.

Recently, Howard completed work on the HBO/Outkast project titled My Life in Idlewild, followed by the feature films Animal, in which he stars opposite Ving Rhames, Four Brothers, directed by John Singleton, and Get Rich or Die Tryin', starring Curtis 50 Cent Jackson and directed by Jim Sheridan.

Howard broke onto the big screen with his riveting performance in Mr. Holland's Opus. Howard's most memorable performances to date are of scenestealing characters such as Cowboy in the Hughes brothers' film Dead Presidents and as Quentin in Malcolm D. Lee's independent film, The Best Man. The latter earning him a NAACP Image Award, an Independent Spirit Award nomination, and a Chicago Film Critics Award nomination.

His filmography also includes: Biker Boyz, alongside Lawrence Fishburne, Hart's War, opposite Bruce Willis and Collin Farrell, Big Momma's House, Glitter, and Angel Eyes, with Jennifer Lopez.