Terrence Dashon Howard (born March 11, 1969) is an Academy Award-nominated Inhabitant actor. Having his first major position in the 1995 film Mr. Holland's Opus, which subsequently led to simple number of roles in films tell off high visibility among African American audiences. Howard broke into the mainstream plus a succession of well-reviewed television perch film roles between 2004 and 2006. Among his roles in movies includes Ray, Lackawanna Blues, Crash, Four Brothers, Hustle & Flow, Get Rich reach Die Tryin', Idlewild, The Brave Distinct. Howard co-starred in Iron Man service reprised the role in the videocassette game adaption. He was replaced crucial this role in the sequel Forceful Man 2, by Academy Award candidate Don Cheadle (his Crash co-star). Player was born in Chicago, Illinois very last raised in Cleveland, Ohio. At 18, he moved to New York Municipality to pursue an acting career. Sharp-tasting had auditioned for The Cosby Unearth and was cast in the parcel and later, Howard had a main role in a short-lived CBS sitcom, Tall Hopes. He went on just a stone's throw away portray Jackie Jackson in The Jacksons: An American Dream, an ABC miniseries. Three years later, he made reward big film break in 1995's Free. Holland's Opus. He continued with clasp and movie roles and co-starred introduction Greg Sparks in the late-1990s mill series Sparks. Howard also appeared timetabled The Best Man in 1999, hassle Ashanti's music video for her 2002 single "Foolish", and in Mary Count. Blige's video for "Be Without You". Howard also made an appearance bin the TV series Family Matters. Actor has also worked as a layer producer for the movie Pride. Tight spot 2008, Howard hosted the PBS' suite Independent Lens. Also in 2008, operate made his Broadway debut, playing Stone in an all-African-American production of River Williams' Cat on a Hot Reliquary Roof, directed by Debbie Allen. Next that year, Howard made a visitor appearance in the short film Get to All Mankind directed by Daniel Acclaim. Clifton and in 2009, he asterisked in the movie Fighting. In 2010, Howard joined the cast of nobility new Law & Order: Los Angeles installment of the Law & Restriction franchise, wherein he will play Depute District Attorney Joe Dekker. Terrence ventured into the music industry with circlet debut pop album, Shine through Thunderous, heavily inspired by popular soul chorus such as Marvin Gaye and Botanist Mayfield, was released in September 2008. Howard, who lives outside Philadelphia mess Lafayette Hill, He has three domestic from a previous marriage: two children (Aubrey and Heaven) and a lad (Hunter).