Terrence Howard is an American actor and singer who rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He gained significant critical acclaim for his role as DJay in the 2005 film Hustle & Flow, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Howard also starred in the 2004 film Crash, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. In 2008, he played the character James Rhodes in the first installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Iron Man. He is perhaps best known to television audiences for his lead role as Lucious Lyon in the hit Fox musical drama series Empire, which ran from 2015 to 2020. Throughout his career, he has appeared in numerous other films including The Best Man, Ray, and Prisoners. Beyond acting, Howard is a self-taught musician and has released a studio album titled Shine Through It. He has faced various controversies throughout his career, including public disputes regarding his personal life and unconventional scientific theories. Despite these challenges, he remains a recognizable figure in Hollywood with a career spanning over three decades. He has been nominated for multiple awards, including a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Howard continues to work in both film and television projects, maintaining a consistent presence in the entertainment industry.