Taraji P Henson Biography
Taraji P Henson is an American actress best known for Baby Boy (2001), The Karate Kid (2010), Think Like a Man (2012), Empire (2015-2020) Acrimony (2018), and What Men Want (2019). She rose to fame after playing a prostitute in Hustle & Flow (2005) and a single mother in David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008).
Taraji P Henson Career
In 1988, Henson received his diploma from Maryland’s Oxon Hill High School. After attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, she transferred to Howard University to pursue drama instead of electrical engineering. She worked as a singing and dancing waitress on the Spirit of Washington dinner cruise ship in the evenings to pay for her college education. She also worked mornings as a secretary at The Pentagon. Additionally, Henson has made appearances on a number of television programs as a guest performer, including Smart Guy on The WB, House on Fox in 2005, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation on CBS in 2006. She made an appearance in a Sister, Sister episode as well.
Henson played Shug, DJay’s (Terence Howard) love interest in the indie film Hustle & Flow from 2005. In the movie, she made her singing debut. It received two Academy Award nominations and one win. Additionally, she co-starred with Brad Pitt in the 2008 drama picture The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, directed by David Fincher. In the role of Benjamin’s mother Queenie, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In 2008, Henson appeared in Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys, and in 2009, he appeared in I Can Do Bad All By Myself. Alongside Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, she starred in the 2010 reimagining of The Karate Kid. Despite receiving poor reviews, the movie did well at the box office. Henson has also appeared in a number of TV series as a cast member, such as The Division on Lifetime and a one-season run of Boston Legal on ABC. On ABC’s Eli Stone, she plays a recurring role as Angela Scott. Her casting for the crime-suspense series Person of Interest on CBS was announced in 2011. Henson’s character, “Joss” Carter, was killed in the November 20, 2013, episode of “The Crossing” as part of the new plot for the series, despite costarring for 2.5 years.
Henson played Tiffany Rubin in the Lifetime Movie Network production of Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story in 2011. Based on actual circumstances, it told the story of a New York lady whose son Kobe was kidnapped and taken to South Korea by his biological father. Positive reviews were given to her depiction of Rubin, and she was nominated for multiple awards for it, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie. Based on Steve Harvey’s 2009 book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, Henson starred in the huge ensemble cast picture Think Like a Man (2012). In the June 2014 release of the film’s sequel, Think Like a Man Too, she played the same character again.
Henson was chosen to star in the 2015 Fox series Empire, a musical drama centered on the hip-hop recording industry. In the show, she plays Cookie Lyon, opposite Terrence Howard, who was formerly her co-star in Hustle & Flow. The series premiered on January 7, 2015, to a favorable reception from critics and widespread economic success after Fox ordered the pilot in May 2014. Additionally, Henson received both public and critical praise for the part. Following her submission of the show’s pilot for Emmy voting in July 2015, she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. This made her the first African-American woman to win the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series.
In addition, she became the third African-American actress to win the Golden Globe for Best Actress – Television Series Drama for Empire in January 2016, following Regina Taylor (1992) and Gail Fisher (1972). Furthermore, she won Entertainer of the Year at the 46th NAACP Image Awards in 2015 for her performances in Empire and No Good Deed. Henson and Howard collaborated in 2015 to create and present Taraji and Terrence’s White Hot Holidays, a variety holiday spectacular for Fox. In 2016 and 2017, the special was rerun sans Howard.
Henson played the lead role in the 2016 biographical drama film Hidden Figures, which was a huge box office hit. The film was nominated for multiple awards, including two Golden Globes (Best Original Score and Best Supporting Actress for Octavia Spencer) and three Oscars (Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress for Spencer). Moreover, it won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
As part of her two-year first-look deal with 20th Century Fox Television through her production company, TPH Entertainment, it was revealed in July 2020 that Henson was producing and starring in an Empire spin-off series centered on her character, Cookie Lyon. The agreement covers the creation of network projects for several platforms. According to Henson, her goal was to foster new, youthful voices while addressing a variety of delicate subjects. As a result, FOX has chosen to halt the spin-off and has placed the series on hold.
Henson started presenting the Peace of Mind with Taraji discussion program on Facebook Watch in December 2020. She additionally performed as Miss Hannigan in Annie Live! on NBC on December 2, 2021. In addition, Henson co-starred with Danielle Brooks as Shug Avery in the 2023 movie The Color Purple. December 25, 2023, saw the film’s premiere. Henson sang for the first time in the movie Hustle & Flow, contributing the vocals to the Three 6 Mafia song “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp”.
With the song’s 2006 Academy Award triumph for Best Original Song, Three 6 Mafia made history by being the first African-American hip-hop group to win in that category. The song was sung by Henson and the ensemble on March 5, 2006, during the live Oscar ceremony. The 2006 charity album Unexpected Dreams – Songs From the Stars featured a performance of “In My Daughter’s Eyes” by her as well. Additionally, Henson has appeared on television and in a number of music videos. Her roles in music videos for Tyrese Gibson’s song “Stay” and rapper Common’s “Testify” both featured her as the soon-to-be-convicted murderer’s wife in 2005. Her guest co-hosting role on Live! with Kelly and Michael on March 16, 2015, was as Kelly Ripa’s replacement.
In late August 2016, Henson worked with MAC Cosmetics to develop the Taraji P. Henson makeup line. The next month marked the launch of the #MACTaraji collection. Along with Jussie Smollett, she once more worked with MAC in November 2016 as the spokesperson for their Viva Glam Campaign, which benefited the MAC HIV/AIDS fund. February 2017 saw the release of their compilation. Henson has performed in a few stage productions, such as Above the Fold at the Pasadena Playhouse and August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. In addition, she established the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation. It addresses cultural mental illness and bears her father’s name. Henson was added to the President’s Board of Advisors for Historically Black Colleges and Universities on April 1, 2022, by President Joe Biden.
Taraji P Henson Age
Henson was born on September 11, 1970, in Washington, D.C., United States. She is 53 years old as of 2023 and she celebrates her birthday on the 11th of September every year.
Taraji P Henson Height and Weight
Henson stands at a height of 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 meters) and weighs 60 kg (132 lbs).
Taraji P Henson Family
Henson was born in Southeast Washington, D.C., to Bernice Gordon and Boris Lawrence Henson. Her mother is a corporate manager at Woodward & Lothrop, while his father is a janitor and metal fabricator. Taraji (meaning “hope”) and Penda (meaning “love”) are her Swahili first and middle names. Her matrilineal descent can be traced back to the Masa people of Cameroon, as determined by a mitochondrial DNA examination.
Matthew Henson, the North Pole explorer, was “the brother of [her] great-great-grandfather,” according to what she has revealed. She was raised alongside her sister, April MzCockee Henson and, and her brother Shawn Henson. Henson often speaks of the influence of her maternal grandmother, Patsy Ballard, who accompanied her at the Academy Awards the year she was nominated
Taraji P Henson Husband and Children
Henson gave birth to her son Marcell in 1994. In 2003, William LaMarr Johnson, Henson’s high school sweetheart, was killed. In 2014, Henson claimed that her son had been the victim of police discrimination and that during a traffic stop in Glendale, California, his car had been unlawfully searched. According to a video obtained by the Los Angeles Times, Marcell acknowledged consuming marijuana two hours before driving, gave verbal agreement for a search of his car, and then drove past a lit crosswalk when a pedestrian was crossing.
Inside the car, there was marijuana and hashish oil. Henson and former NFL player Kelvin Hayden got engaged on May 13, 2018. However, on the October 19, 2020, episode of The Breakfast Club, she revealed that their engagement had ended.
Taraji P Henson Salary
Henson earns an annual salary of about $500,000-$1 million.
Taraji P Henson Net Worth
Henson has an estimated net worth of about $12 Million which she has earned through her career as an actress.
Taraji P Henson Empire
Henson stars as Loretha “Cookie” Lyon in the 2015 musical drama television series, Empire, alongside members of the Lyon Family, Terrence Howard, Bryshere Y. Gray, Jussie Smollett, and Trai Byers. Supporting casts in the film include Grace Byers, Kaitlin Doubleday, Gabourey Sidibe, Ta’Rhonda Jones, Serayah, Malik Yoba, and Vivica A. Fox. The mother of Lucious’s three kids and a forthright wife, Loretha “Cookie” Lyon, was sentenced to 17 years in jail for drug dealing.
Although she cofounded Empire Entertainment with Lucious, she saw herself as the sacrificial lamb for him. She took the blame for him while managing the same drugs that supported Lucious’s early career. Cookie is committed to reuniting the Lyon family and taking back her portion of Empire Entertainment after her release from jail. Later in the second season, Cookie launches her own record label, Lyon Dynasty, and departs from the Empire group. Additionally, she allows Lyon Dynasty to be acquired by Empire Entertainment, then rejoins Empire as co-CEO and Head of A&R.
Taraji P Henson The Karate Kid
Henson stars as Sherry Parker, Dre’s mother in the 2010 martial arts drama film, The Karate Kid. In the story, 12-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) of Detroit, Michigan, moves to Beijing, China with his mother (Taraji P. Henson), where he encounters Cheng (Zhenwei Wang), the neighborhood bully. Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), an elderly maintenance worker and kung fu expert, proves to be an unexpected ally, teaching him the techniques of self-defense.
Taraji P Henson Coffee & Kareem
Henson stars as Vanessa Manning in the 2020 action comedy film, Coffee & Kareem. In addition, the film stars Ed Helms, Terrence Little Gardenhigh, Betty Gilpin, RonReaco Lee, Andrew Bachelor, and David Alan Grier. The film revolves around, police officer James Coffee (Ed Helms) enjoys his new relationship with Vanessa Manning. However, Kareem (Terrence Little Gardenhigh), her adored 12-year-old son, schemes to end their relationship. Kareem attempts to hire Orlando Johnson (Ron Reaco Lee), a criminal fugitive, to take out his mom’s boyfriend in an effort to permanently scare him away. His family becomes the latest target of a covert network of criminal activities involving drugs and dishonest police officers after he unintentionally reveals a secret network of criminal activity and witnesses a shooting. Kareem pairs up with Coffee, the partner he never wanted, for a perilous chase throughout Detroit in an attempt to save Vanessa.
Taraji P Henson What Men Want
Henson stars as Ali Davis in the 2019 romantic comedy film, What Men Want. Ali Davis, a successful sports agent in Atlanta who feels marginalized by her male coworkers, is portrayed in the movie. Nick, her supervisor at Summit Worldwide Management, tells her that she doesn’t get along with men when she isn’t given a promotion. Ali declares she will sign rising basketball player Jamal Barry, demonstrating her resolve to achieve in a world dominated by men.
Ali flirts with Will, the bartender, after enjoying drinks with her father. They have intercourse at his house, where she also sees a picture from their wedding and meets his small son Ben. During a picture shoot, Ali defends her client, which infuriates Jamal’s manager and father, Joe “Dollah” Barry.
Ali meets Sister, a psychic, at her friend Mari’s bachelorette party. She is given tea made from “fey lougawou” (Kalanchoe pinnata) by Sister in an attempt to help her “connect with men”. Ali gets knocked out in a club while dancing with her buddies.
When Ali wakes up, she can hear her doctor’s thoughts. She and her assistant, Brandon, discover that Ali has developed the capacity to hear men’s thoughts. After they locate Sister, she persuades Ali that her power is a strength. With her newfound skill, she finds out about a poker game that Joe and her other agents are playing. Joe extends an invitation to her to attend Summit’s meeting with Jamal after she unexpectedly turns there. Kevin, Ali’s coworker, approaches her later and admits that he voted to make Ali his partner after Ali saves his pitch to Joe and Jamal.
Realizing that Joe won’t trust a single mother without children, Ali poses as her son and introduces Will and Ben, who have come to retrieve her lost driver’s license. Unbeknownst to Will or Ben, Ali exploits her “family” to further impress Joe when she extends an invitation to an NBA game after Ben discloses his mother’s passing. Ali overhears James’ thoughts while on a double date with Will, Mari, and James’ fiancé, Mari. In addition, she learns that Will is thinking exclusively about her. Ali uses Will’s thoughts to satiate him completely throughout their sexual encounter.
The news that agent Ethan has resigned and signed Jamal himself, pulling him out of the NBA draft to play in China, shocks the Summit office. Nick scolds Ali, telling her that the only reason she won’t be fired is because she’s a woman of color. When he tells Will about her family’s trick, Will advises Ali to avoid both Ben and him. Ali overhears James thinking while at Mari’s wedding. She violently rejects Brandon’s effort to step in and declares incoherently that James had slept with Mari’s cousin. There is a fight after she admits that her friend Ciarra’s husband is unfaithful to her. Ali is rendered unconscious once more.
At the hospital, Ali discovers she is no longer able to read minds when she awakens. Ali makes amends with Brandon and her friends on the counsel of her father. When she locates Jamal, he informs her that he doesn’t want to travel to China. Ali advises him to follow his instincts. Jamal chooses to stay and is selected first overall in the NBA draft. After being made a partner, Ali resigns to form her own firm with Kevin and Brandon, thus granting him agency status. Will grant her request for another chance. As Ali shares further plans for her agency, the three of them go for a stroll.
Taraji P Henson Movies and TV Shows
- Streetwise
- The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
- Book of Love
- The Family That Preys
- Think Like a Man
- Madly Madagascar
- Think Like a Man Too
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
- Seasons of Love
- Lip Sync Battle
- Empire Loretha “Cookie” Lyon
- Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade
- Soul of a Nation
Taraji P Henson Social Media Platform
Henson is very active on her Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages. She has 5.4M followers on Twitter 21.6M followers on Instagram, and 11.5M followers on Facebook.