*Terrence Howard walked away from two major biopic roles–Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson–for very different reasons. Speaking on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, the actor opened up about passing on the chance to play the legendary Motown stars.
As AOL reports, Howard admitted that turning down the Smokey Robinson role, despite being personally asked by the singer, was the “biggest mistake” of his career. At the time, he had already been in talks with director Lee Daniels to portray Marvin Gaye, a project he considered more compelling. Maher agreed, saying, “That is a story that needs to be told,” and praised Howard as a perfect fit for the role.
However, Howard ultimately declined that opportunity, citing personal discomfort with portraying aspects of Gaye’s life. He said a conversation with Quincy Jones influenced his decision. “I’m hearing rumors that Marvin was gay,” Howard said, to which Jones allegedly confirmed, “Yes.”
That revelation proved to be a dealbreaker. “They would’ve wanted to do that, and I wouldn’t have been able to do that,” Howard explained. When Maher asked, “You mean you couldn’t kiss a guy on screen in a movie?” Howard responded: “No. Because I don’t fake it… I would cut my lips off.”
Howard defended his stance, insisting it wasn’t rooted in homophobia. “I can’t play that character 100 percent. I can’t surrender myself to a place that I don’t understand,” he said.
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Terrance Howards says the biggest mistake he made in his career is turning down Smokey Robinson’s request to play him in a biopic because he already committed to playing Marvin Gaye
He later passed on that role as well when Quincy Jones told him that Marvin Gaye was gay
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— Glock Topickz (@Glock_Topickz) April 28, 2025
In related news, Howard is preparing to launch a podcast that promises to shine a light on what he calls the entertainment industry’s “dark side.”
The actor explained to TMZ that the show will delve into behind-the-scenes injustices, including his ongoing lawsuit against Creative Artists Agency over alleged pay disparities on Empire. Describing the project as “a studio’s nightmare and every actor’s wet dream,” Howard says he’s not out for revenge, just the truth.
MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: Terrence Howard Plans Podcast to Expose ‘Shady’ Hollywood
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