The Oscar-nominated actor, Terrence Howard, is a proud father of five kids from two of three marriages.

Howard, with his present wife, Mira Pak, has two kids. They wed in 2013 but divorced in 2015, only to remarry in 2018.

Their first child together, a son named Qirin Love, was born in May 2015, and their second child, another son, Hero Valentino, was born in August 2016.

Besides his marriage with Mira, Terrence had two failed marriages, first with Lori McCommas and second with Michelle Ghent.

Although he did not have any child with Ghent, the Hustle & Flow actor welcomed three kids (Heaven, Aubrey, and Hunter) with McCommas.

Moreover, he is also the grandfather of his daughter Aubre’s kids. However, in this article, we will discuss Terrence’s parents and upbringing. So, shall we start?

Terrence Dashon Howard was born to his parents, Tyrone Howard and Anita Howkins Williams, on March 11, 1969.

Key Takeaways

• Terrence’s mother was a singer.
• His father was abusive but taught him to take a stand for himself.

Terrence’s Mother Had A Passion For Singing

Anita Jeanine Hawkins Williams was born to a singer-mother, Marjorie Hawkins, and her father on April 10, 1952.

Her mother was also a singer, and Anita inherited her talent from her mother. Mrs. Williams, living in the Los Angeles in the late 1970s, almost became part of a girl group.

However, she never got to join and perform with the band, but she got to meet a number of celebrities during her time at ABC.

Anita used to perform with her grandmother, Ms. Gentry, and during one of those performances in New York, she met her second husband, Robert Williams.

Ms. Williams was a Cleveland State University graduate who worked as a recruiter in the Human Resources Department at the University of Pittsburgh.

The Mother of Six Kids Died of Colon Cancer

Anita and her ex-husband, Tyrone Howard, welcomed four kids, Tyrone Jr., Terrelle, Antonio, and Terrence, from their marriage.

They parted ways later, and Ms. Williams went on to marry Robert Williams in 1985.

After her marriage to Robert, Anita welcomed two kids, Darnell Williams and Ariana Williams.

Tragically, Terrence Howard’s mother succumbed to a prolonged struggle with colon cancer.

Upon receiving her diagnosis, Ms. Williams chose to keep the news to herself as she didn’t want her children to worry about her.

Her kids remember her as the kindest person they have ever met, and she was the cornerstone of their family.

Terrence’s father, on the other hand, had a completely opposite personality.

Terrence Howard’s Childhood Was Traumatized By His Abusive Father

Terrence Howard, an acclaimed actor, has opened up about a traumatic event that shaped his upbringing.

The Empire star revealed that as a kid, his dad whooped him every day until he was 14.

Another life-changing incident happened when Howard was just two years old; he witnessed a tragic altercation involving his father, Tyrone Howard, in a Cleveland department store in 1971.

The altercation, famously known as the “Santa Line Slaying,” occurred during a dispute over who was next in line to see Santa Claus.

What began as a heated argument quickly escalated, culminating in Tyrone fatally stabbing another man, Jack Fitzpatrick, in front of their families.

Tyrone Howard was subsequently sentenced to prison on manslaughter charges, serving 11 months before being paroled for good behavior. This incident led to his separation from his then-wife, Anita Williams.

Despite the trauma of the event, Howard recalls his father imparting crucial life lessons to him.

Tyrone instilled in his son a strong sense of never backing down and always standing up for himself.

Howard remembers his father’s words vividly: “Never take the vertebrae out of your back or the bass out of your throat. I ain’t raisin’ sheep. I raised men. Stay a man.”

FAQs

Why Terrence Howard Is Suing CAA?

Terrence Howard is suing his former agency, CAA, for allegedly paying less than his white contemporaries.

How Rich Is The Oscar-Nominated Actor Terrence Howard?

Terrence Howard is estimated to have a net worth of around $4 million.