Terrence Howard claims ‘the biggest mistake’ he made was passing on a potentially career-defining role as legendary singer Smokey Robinson, due to negotiations to play another iconic crooner in Marvin Gaye.
The Oscar-nominated actor, 56, appeared on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast Sunday, saying that he passed on the coveted part of Gaye for filmmaker Lee Daniels due to scenes involving the late singer that would require scenes depicting same-sex romance.
Howard said he rejected the offer to play Robinson to ‘was being faithful to Lee Daniels because I had given him my word as man.’
The veteran actor, who’s been seen in films such as Hustle & Flow, Crash and Mr. Holland’s Opus, said Robinson, who survived a dangerous bout with coronavirus four years ago, was heartbroken when he turned down the chance to play him.
Maher told the Chicago native that he ‘would have been perfect as Marvin Gaye’ as the I Heard It Through the Grapevine singer had ‘a lot more drama’ in his life – culminating in his 1984 death after his father shot him.
The Oscar-nominated actor said that late music legend Quincy Jones told him that the late What’s Going On artist had same-sex relations in his life.
Terrence Howard claims ‘the biggest mistake’ he made was passing on a potentially career-defining role as legendary singer Smokey Robinson, due to negotiations to play another iconic crooner in Marvin Gaye
The Oscar-nominated actor, 56, appeared on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast Sunday,
The Empire star told Maher, ‘I’m asking Quincy, “I’m hearing rumors that Marvin was gay” and I’m like, “Was he gay?” And Quincy’s like, “Yes.”‘
Howard said that he ‘could not’ portray Gaye knowing those scenes would have been included, as producers ‘would’ve wanted to do that, and I wouldn’t have been able to do that.’
‘You mean you couldn’t kiss a guy on screen in a movie?’ Maher asked Howard, who replied, ‘No – because I don’t fake it.’
Maher said that he ‘couldn’t kiss a man either.’
Howard said he would be dismayed at such a task: ‘That would f*** me – I would cut my lips off – If I kissed some man, I would cut my lips off.’
Maher added, ‘It does not make me homophobic to not want to kiss a man.’
Howard said he had no issue in an of itself in playing a gay character, but didn’t want to take on a role like such himself.
Howard explained: ‘That’s fine, do what you love to do, but don’t do it at me, don’t aim it at me and I can’t play that character 100 percent, I can’t. I can’t surrender myself to a place I don’t understand.’
Howard said he passed on the coveted part of Gaye for filmmaker Lee Daniels due to scenes involving the late singer that would require scenes depicting same-sex romance
Maher told Howard that he ‘would have been perfect as Marvin Gaye’ as the I Heard It Through the Grapevine singer had ‘a lot more drama’ in his life
The eventful life of the late Marvin Gaye, choc with highs and lows, has been the focal point of a number of filmmakers looking to bring the life story of the star-crossed singer to the silver screen.
The How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) singer was fatally shot at the age of 44 on April 1, 1984 in Los Angeles by his father.
Warner Bros. four years ago acquired the rights to a Gaye biopic film with Allen Hughes directing, Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine and Andrew Lazar producing and Marcus Gardley penning the screenplay.
