Terrence Howard almost starred in a biopic of legendary soul singer Marvin Gaye, but there was one major hold-up for the actor.
During a recent appearance on Bill Maher‘s “Club Random” podcast, Howard said that the “biggest mistake” of his career was turning down the starring role in a Smokey Robinson biopic, a role the musician personally asked him to play.
Howard explained that he turned Robinson down because he was already in “conversation with Lee Daniels about playing Marvin Gaye” in a different biopic.
Maher supported Howard’s decision, adding that Gaye’s life story was “much more interesting.” He went on to say that Howard “would’ve been perfect as Marvin Gaye, and that is a story that needs to be told.”
However, Howard ended up missing out on the Gaye biopic as well. The “Empire” star said he passed on the project after he found out about Gaye’s sexuality from another music great, Quincy Jones.
“I was over at Quincy Jones’ house and I’m asking Quincy, ‘I’m hearing rumors that Marvin was gay’ and I’m like, ‘Was he gay?’” Howard explained. “And Quincy’s like, ‘Yes.’”
After that revelation, Howard decided he “could not” star in the movie.
“They would’ve wanted to do that, and I wouldn’t have been able to do that,” he said of portraying a gay man in a movie.
Maher went on to ask, “You mean you couldn’t kiss a guy on screen in a movie?” Howard responded, “No. Because I don’t fake it.”
“That would fuck me,” Howard added. “I would cut my lips off. If I kissed some man, I would cut my lips off.”
Maher said he wouldn’t go as far as Howard, but understands why he would be uncomfortable. Howard then said, “It does not make me homophobic to not want to kiss a man.”
Howard explained that it was more a matter of committing to the role than anything else.
“I can’t play that character 100 percent,” Howard said. “I can’t surrender myself to a place that I don’t understand.”
