He later was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as a pimp and drug dealer in Hustle & Flow (2005).

During his career he acted in films such as Biker Boyz (2003), Ray (2004), Crash (2004), Four Brothers (2005), August Rush (2007), Winnie Mandela (2011), Red Tails (2012), The Butler (2013), and Prisoners (2013).

He starred as the lead character Lucious Lyon in the Fox musical drama series Empire from 2015 to 2020.

He continued being cast in television and movie roles, and co-starred as Greg Sparks in the late-1990s short-lived television series Sparks, with James L. Avery Sr. and Miguel A. Nunez Jr. Howard also appeared in The Best Man (1999), in Ashanti's music video for her 2002 single "Foolish", and in Mary J. Blige's video for "Be Without You".

[11][12] In 2008, he made his Broadway debut, playing Brick in an all-African-American production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Debbie Allen.

During rehearsals, he allegedly attacked and seriously injured musical composer Tex Allen (brother of the director).

[13] In 2010, Howard joined the cast of Law & Order: Los Angeles, playing Deputy District Attorney Joe Dekker.

He alternated shows with Alfred Molina, who portrayed Deputy District Attorney Ricardo Morales.

[27] Ghent filed for a restraining order in December 2011, accusing Howard of being physically abusive toward her.

that he had earned a PhD degree in chemical engineering from South Carolina State University (SCSU) that year.

Instead, Howard was awarded an honorary degree of "Doctorate of Humane Letters" (DHL) from SCSU after speaking at its commencement ceremony in 2012.

[38][40][41] In a 2015 interview with Rolling Stone, Howard explained that he had formulated his own language of logic, which he called "Terryology", and which he was keeping secret until he had patented it.

[42] He also stated that he spends many hours a day constructing models of plastic and wire that he patented and claims to confirm his belief.

[45] In July 2024, Howard returned to The Joe Rogan Experience in order to debate his theories with Eric Weinstein, who has a doctorate in mathematical physics from Harvard University.

[46] Howard's statements and beliefs, along with his use of language and terminology, have been criticized as blatantly erroneous, nonsensical, conspiratorial, and misleading by many scholars,[failed verification] including Neil deGrasse Tyson, who posted a video to YouTube in June 2024 in response to Terryology.

[47] Howard was arrested in 2001 for a variety of charges related to a violent attack on his estranged first wife, including simple assault, terroristic threats, harassment, and stalking.

According to police reports, he arrived at her house after an argument on the phone, forced entry into her home by breaking in doors, and chased her into the backyard where he punched her in the face twice.

[49] On December 5, 2011, a judge granted Howard's then-wife Michelle Ghent a restraining order based on her claims that Howard had caused her physical injuries that required medical attention, once broke her computer in half, repeatedly threatened her, and stalked her by telephone and on the Internet.

[50] In August 2013, Ghent obtained a second restraining order against him after showing up in court with a black eye she said he gave her.

[51] In a September 2015 interview with Rolling Stone, Howard admitted to hitting his first wife in 2001, saying: "She was talking to me real strong, and I lost my mind and slapped her in front of the kids.