Terrence Dashon Howard (born March 11, 1969) is an Academy Award‑nominated American film and stage actor, singer and Rapper. 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 his roles in movies includes Ray, Lackawanna Blues, Crash, Four Brothers, Hustle & Flow, Get Rich or Die Tryin', Idlewild, The Brave One. Howard co‑starred in Iron Man and, though due to reprise his role in Iron Man II, was replaced by Don Cheadle in October 2008.

He performed in several tracks for Hustle and Flow. The song «It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp» was written by Three 6 Mafia and produced by DJ Paul. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 78th Annual Academy Awards, and it is also available in a version by Three 6 Mafia. The songs «Hustle And Flow (It Ain't Over)» and «Whoop That Trick», were composed by Al Kapone. All three tracks were performed by Terrence Howard, and they can be heard in the Hustle & Flow Soundtrack.

Howard had been working on his first album since March 2007. His debut pop album, «Shine Through It,» is heavily inspired by popular soul singers such as Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, was released in September 1st, 2008.

More about Terrence Howard at: Wikipedia; Myspace