Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: September 11, 1970

Age: 53 years old

Birth Place: Washington, D.C.

Actress Taraji P. Henson began to catch the attention of film audiences with supporting roles in John Singleton's "Baby Boy" (2001) and "Four Brothers" (2005), but her breakout performance opposite Terrence Howard in the acclaimed urban drama "Hustle & Flow" (2005) really set the critical buzz in motion. A virtual unknown when she was flooded with award nominations for her performance and her singing on the film's soundtrack single "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," Henson's image as a feisty, independent woman led to steady series television work and another round of accolades for the acclaimed period biopic "Talk to Me" (2007). When Henson found herself sharing the screen with Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008) the following year, it was clear that her long-held dream of being a respected A-list actress was quickly becoming reality.

Credits

Screen Actors Guild Awards

Self
Awards
2024

The Color Purple: Extras

Actor
Show
2024

HSN Today with Tina & Friends

Guest
Show
2024

TPH by Taraji Haircare

Guest
Show
2023

Wake Up Beautiful With Valerie - Summer Beauty's Best Buys

Guest
Show
2023

The List With Debbie D - Celebrity Hot List

Guest
Show
2023

TPH by Taraji Haircare Premiere / The Lip Bar Premiere

Guest
Show
2023

TPH by Taraji Haircare Premiere / IntelliWHiTE

Guest
Show
2023

TPH by Taraji Haircare Premiere

Guest
Show
2023

The Color PurpleStream

Actor
Shug Avery
Movie
2023
82%

PAW Patrol: The Mighty MovieStream

Voice
Victoria Vance
Movie
2023
71%

Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni ProjectStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2023
97%

Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni ProjectStream

Voice
Movie
2023
97%

Sherri

Guest
Talk
2022

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Guest
Talk
2022

Today Exclusive: Minions: The Rise of Gru

Self
Show
2022

2022 BET Awards

Host
Show
2022

Sneak Peek: Minions: The Rise of Gru

Actor
Show
2022

BET Awards 2022: Look Back & React With BET Awards Host Taraji P. Henson

Host
Show
2022

The List With Debbie D

Guest
Show
2022

Minions: The Rise of GruStream

Voice
Belle Bottom
Movie
2022
70%

Annie Live! Sing-Along!

Actor
Show
2021

Annie Live!Stream

Actor
Miss Hannigan
Special
2021

That's My JamStream

Guest
Game Show
2021

Muppets Haunted MansionStream

Actor
Constance Hatchaway
Special
2021

CBS Mornings

Guest
News
2021

Hart to HeartStream

Guest
Talk
2021

2021 BET Awards

Host
Show
2021

Soul of a NationStream

Host
News
2021

Mary J Blige's My Life

Self
Movie
2021

2020 American Music Awards

Host
Show
2020

Phoenix Awards

Actor
Show
2020

Beauty Report With Amy Morrison - Hello Gorgeous

Guest
Show
2020

Feeding America Comedy Festival

Actor
Show
2020

Celebrity IOUStream

Self
Reality
2020

Coffee & Kareem

Actor
Vanessa Manning
Movie
2020

A Little Late With Lilly Singh

Guest
Talk
2019
82%

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2019

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

Host
Talk
2019

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Guest
Show
2019

Desus & Mero

Guest
Show
2019

Strahan & Sara

Guest
Show
2019

What Men WantStream

Actor
Ali Davis
Movie
2019
42%

What Men WantStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2019
42%

The Best of Enemies

Actor
Ann Atwater
Movie
2019

Geniale Köpfe

Actor
Katherine G. Johnson
Show
2018

Today 3rd Hour

Guest
Show
2018

The Alec Baldwin ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2018
0%

GMA Day

Guest
News
2018

A Little Help With Carol BurnettStream

Guest Star
Series
2018

The Jess Cagle Interview

Guest
Show
2018

The Van Jones Show

Guest
Show
2018

Ralph Breaks the InternetStream

Voice
Yesss
Movie
2018
88%

AcrimonyStream

Actor
Melinda
Movie
2018
18%

Proud MaryStream

Actor
Mary
Movie
2018
25%

Proud MaryStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2018
25%

This Changes Everything

Self
Movie
2018

Ralph Breaks the Internet

Voice
Yesss
Movie
2018

Taraji's White Hot Holidays

Host
Show
2017

Access

Guest
Show
2017

Not So Silent Night

Actor
Show
2017

Sister Circle

Guest
Talk
2017

Black Girls Rock!

Host
Show
2017

Deadline: White House

Guest
Show
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

The Making Of: Hidden Figures

Actor
Show
2016

Taraji's White Hot Holidays

Host
Special
2016

Lincoln Empire Facebook Live Post Show

Actor
Show
2016

Harry

Guest
Talk
2016

Tinder Takeover

Guest
Show
2016

Sunday Today With Willie Geist

Guest
Talk
2016

Empire Aftershow

Actor
Show
2016

Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade

Voice
Ethel
Show
2016

Celebration of Gospel 2016

Host
Show
2016

Term Life

Actor
Samantha Thurman
Movie
2016

Hidden FiguresStream

Actor
Katherine Johnson
Movie
2016
93%

Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade

Voice
Ethel
Movie
2016

Taraji and Terrence's White Hot Holidays

Host
Show
2015

Taraji and Terrence's White Hot Holidays

Music Performer
Show
2015

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Close Up With The Hollywood Reporter

Guest
Show
2015

Lip Sync BattleStream

Contestant
Reality
2015

Lip Sync BattleStream

Self
Reality
2015

The Late Late Show With James CordenStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Hot OnesStream

Guest
Reality
2015

EmpireStream

Actor
Cookie Lyon
Series
2015
84%

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

Guest
Show
2014

Inside Empire

Guest
Show
2014

Empire: Extras

Actor
Show
2014

Celebration of Gospel 2014

Host
Show
2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Guest
Talk
2014

No Good DeedStream

Actor
Terry
Movie
2014
12%

No Good DeedStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2014
12%

Think Like a Man TooStream

Actor
Lauren
Movie
2014
24%

Seasons of Love

Actor
Jackie
Movie
2014

Miłosne pory roku

Actor
Movie
2014

The Queen Latifah Show

Guest
Talk
2013

The Arsenio Hall Show

Guest
Show
2013

The Real

Guest
Talk
2013

Hollywood Game Night

Guest
Game Show
2013

Madly Madagascar

Voice
Okapi
Show
2013

From the RoughStream

Actor
Catana Starks
Movie
2013

Anderson Live

Host
Show
2012

Steve Harvey

Guest
Talk
2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Guest
Talk
2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Host
Talk
2012

Entertainment Studios.TV

Guest
Show
2012

Think Like a Man

Guest Star
Show
2012

Beauty Report With Amy Morrison

Guest
Show
2012

Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain

Actor
Taraji
Show
2012

CBS This Morning

Guest
Show
2012

Think Like a ManStream

Actor
Lauren
Movie
2012
54%

LIVE with Kelly

Host
Talk
2011

The Chew

Guest
Talk
2011

Person of InterestStream

Actor
Joss Carter
Series
2011
92%

Dish Nation

Guest
Talk
2011

An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Chaka Khan

Guest Star
Show
2011

Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story

Actor
Tiffany Rubin
Movie
2011

Larry CrowneStream

Actor
B'Ella
Movie
2011
37%

Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain

Actor
Taraji
Movie
2011

The Good Doctor

Actor
Nurse Theresa
Movie
2011

2010 Soul Train Awards

Host
Show
2010

ConanStream

Guest
Talk
2010

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

Date NightStream

Actor
Det. Arroyo
Movie
2010
67%

The Karate KidStream

Actor
Sherry Parker
Movie
2010
66%

Once Fallen

Actor
Pearl
Movie
2010

Peep World

Actor
Mary
Movie
2010

2009 Soul Train Awards

Host
Show
2009

Lopez Tonight

Guest
Show
2009

The Mo'Nique Show

Actor
Show
2009

The Cleveland ShowStream

Guest Voice
Chanel
Series
2009

ES.TV

Guest
Show
2009

The Dr. Oz Show

Guest
Talk
2009

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Guest
Talk
2009

Hurricane Season

Actor
Dayna Collins
Movie
2009

Not Easily BrokenStream

Actor
Clarice Johnson
Movie
2009
31%

I Can Do Bad All by MyselfStream

Actor
April
Movie
2009
61%

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Eli StoneStream

Guest Star
Angela Scott
Series
2008
60%

The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonStream

Actor
Queenie
Movie
2008
71%

The Family That PreysStream

Actor
Pam
Movie
2008
53%

Today With Kathie Lee & Hoda

Guest
Show
2007

The Better Show

Guest
Show
2007

Smokin' Aces

Actor
Sharice Watters
Movie
2007

Talk to MeStream

Actor
Vernell
Movie
2007
83%

Our World With Black Enterprise

Guest
Show
2006

etalk

Guest
Show
2006

Something NewStream

Actor
Nedra
Movie
2006
61%

Made in Hollywood

Guest
Series
2005

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Guest
Talk
2005

Four BrothersStream

Actor
Camille Mercer
Movie
2005
53%

Hustle & FlowStream

Actor
Shug
Movie
2005
82%

HouseStream

Guest Star
Moira
Series
2004
90%

Boston LegalStream

Actor
Whitney Rome
Series
2004
86%

The Insider

Guest
Show
2004

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

Hair Show

Actor
Tiffany
Movie
2004

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

Half & HalfStream

Guest Star
Series
2002

The Division

Actor
Inspector Raina Washington
Series
2001

Murder, She Wrote: The Last Free Man

Actor
Bess Pinckney
Movie
2001

Baby BoyStream

Actor
Yvette
Movie
2001
71%

All or Nothing

Actor
Kiko
Movie
2001

CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationStream

Guest Star
Series
2000

106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live

Actor
Show
2000

106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live

Guest
Show
2000

Satan's School for Girls

Actor
Paige
Movie
2000

In Performance at The White House

Host
Special
1998

Kickin' It: With Byron Allen

Guest
Show
1998

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

Access Hollywood

Guest
News
1996

Extra

Guest
News
1994

Late Night With Conan O'Brien

Guest
Talk
1993

Late Show With David Letterman

Guest
Talk
1993

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Guest
Talk
1992

The SimpsonsStream

Guest Voice
Praline
Series
1989
85%

Entertainment Tonight

Guest
News
1981

Entertainment Tonight

Host
News
1981

CBS News Sunday Morning

Guest
News
1979

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Saturday Night LiveStream

Host
Series
1975

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutTaraji P. Henson

SAG Awards

2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards: How to Watch, Presenters, Nominees & More

Hugh Laurie as Gregory House and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Juan

‘House’ Streaming on Hulu: 12 Big-Name Guest Stars You’ll See on the Series

Scott Foley, Keri Russell, and Scott Speedman of 'Felicity'

‘Felicity’ Turns 25: See 13 Stars Who Guest Starred on the Show

Quinta Brunson and Taraji P. Henson in 'Abbott Elementary'
Q&A

Taraji P. Henson on Joining ‘Abbott Elementary’ as Janine’s ‘Hot Mess’ Mom

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson Joins ‘Abbott Elementary’ to Play [SPOILER]

John Stamos sings on 'That's My Jam'
Exclusive

‘That’s My Jam’: John Stamos Serenades Taraji P. Henson, Quinta Brunson & More in First Look (VIDEO)

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp to Make Surprise Appearance in Rihanna’s ‘Savage x Fenty Show Vol 4’

(L-R) Simu Liu, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Taraji P. Henson, and Winston Duke

Rihanna’s ‘Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4’ to Feature Sheryl Lee Ralph, Taraji P. Henson, Simu Liu & More

Taraji P. Henson and Jussie Smollett in Empire

Jussie Smollett in Psych Ward Says Brother, Taraji P. Henson Calls For His Release

'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 14 Cast, Season Trailer

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’: J.Lo, Lizzo & More to Join Season 14 (VIDEO)

'Annie Live!' Cast Comparisons, 'Annie' 1982, 'Annie' 2014 Casts

See How the ‘Annie Live!’ Cast Stacks Up Against Their Predecessors (PHOTOS)

Annie Live! Celina Smith as Annie

‘Annie Live!’: NBC Unveils First Look at Holiday Musical Event (PHOTOS)

Project Runway- Season 19
Q&A

Christian Siriano & Elaine Welteroth Preview Diverse ‘Project Runway’ Season 19 Field

Gonzo and Pepe in Muppets Haunted Mansion
Exclusive

‘Muppets Haunted Mansion’: Will Arnett & Taraji P. Henson Join Gonzo & Pepe (VIDEO)

'Muppets Haunted Mansion,' Disney+, Key Art

Disney+ ‘Muppets Haunted Mansion’ Trailer Is ‘A Party to Die For’ (VIDEO)

'Project Runway' Season 19 Hosts - Brandon Maxwell, Elaine Welteroth, Christian Siriano, Nina Garcia

Meet the Designers of Bravo’s ‘Project Runway’ Season 19 (PHOTOS)

Taraji P. Henson and American Express Launch

‘Empire’ Star Taraji P. Henson Cast as Villain in NBC’s ‘Annie Live!’

Taraji P. Henson as Cookie in Empire - Season 1

Fox Reportedly Says ‘No’ to ‘Empire’ Spinoff With Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson as Cookie in Empire

‘Empire’ Spinoff for Taraji P. Henson’s Cookie Lyon in the Works at Fox

The View cast

Our Dream Cast for the Upcoming Miniseries About ‘The View’

Empire Season 6 Cast

‘Empire’ to Conclude Series Early, Nixes Final Episodes Due to Coronavirus

FOX EMPIRE TALK LESS TARAFI P HENSON TERRENCE HOWARD DESK

Sneak Peek: ‘Empire’ Returns for Its Dramatic Final Episodes (PHOTOS)

Empire - Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson
Exclusive

The ‘Empire’ Cast Looks Back as the Final Season Nears (VIDEO)

EMP-S6_601-sc23-ch_0005

Sneak Peek at the Sixth and Final Season of ‘Empire’ (PHOTOS)

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‘Empire’ Cast Releases Letter Calling for Jussie Smollett’s Season 6 Return

Actor Jussie Smollett Appears Outside Of Court After It Was Announced That All Charges Have Been Dropped Against Him

Prosecutor Still Believes Jussie Smollett Is Guilty Despite Dropped Charges

alec-baldwin-show-tarji-p-henson

‘The Alec Baldwin Show’: Baldwin’s New Gig Has an Old-School Feel

Empire

‘Empire’ Season 4 Finale: EP Warns Music Label Is at Risk

strong-tv-women

Celebrate International Women’s Day With These 10 Badass TV Women

Taraji's White Hot Holiday -Taraji P. Henson

­Taraji P. Henson’s ‘White Hot Holidays’ Is Going Retro

Taraji White Hot Christmas
Exclusive

Exclusive First Look: ‘Taraji’s White Hot Holidays’ Returns to Fox

Empire-cast
Spoiler Alert

5 OMG Moments From ‘Empire’ Season 4 Episode 2

empire, star, crossover, returning favorites

Clash of the Titans! ‘Empire’-‘Star’ Crossover Has Fan Favorites Battling Each Other

EMPIRE - Taraji P. Henson

It’s Survival of the Fittest for the Lyon Family in ‘Empire’ Season 4 (VIDEO)

Empire Season 4

7 Things to Know About ‘Empire’ Season 4

Queen Latifah in Star

The Lyons Meet Carlotta in ‘Empire’-‘Star’ Season Premiere Crossover Event

empire-season-3-finale-hakeem-andre-jamal
Spoiler Alert

‘Empire’ Season 3 Finale: The Fall of a King (RECAP)

empire-season-3-ep-17-team-cookie
Spoiler Alert

‘Empire’ Season 3 Episode 17: The Cookie Element (RECAP)

empire-season-3-ep-16-lyons
Spoiler Alert

‘Empire’ Season 3 Episode 16: Evil Stepmom (RECAP)

Mädchen Amick as Alice Cooper on Riverdale

10 TV Moms Who Can Kick Your A**

Empire Season 3
Spoiler Alert

‘Empire’ Season 3 Episode 15: Lyons Protect Their Cubs (RECAP)

Empire - Taye Diggs as Angelo and Taraji P. Henson as Cookie
Spoiler Alert

‘Empire’ Season 3 Episode 14: True Love Waits (RECAP)

Empire - Nia Long, Terrence Howard
Spoiler Alert

‘Empire’ Season 3 Episode 13: Team Coocious (RECAP)

Empire-Season3-EP12-Hakeem-Tiana-Jamal
Spoiler Alert

‘Empire’ Season 3 Episode 12: Not So Happy Birthday (RECAP)

Empire - Lucious (Terrence Howard) tells Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) and Angelo (Taye Diggs) that he can hurt someone if he really wanted to
Spoiler Alert

‘Empire’ Season 3 Episode 11: Who Can You Trust? (RECAP)

Best Lines of the Week - March 17-23

Best Lines on TV This Week (March 17-23): ‘No. I Said I was Done With You. I Meant That.’

Empire-Cookie-Lucious-Spring-Premiere
Spoiler Alert

‘Empire’: Lucious Brings the Heat to Keep His Throne in Season 3 Spring Premiere (RECAP)

Connie Britton posts a selfie

International Women’s Day 2017: How TV’s Top Female Stars Celebrated

Empire duo, Superbowl

Fox Throws the Best Super Bowl Party Ever—And You’re Invited

Taraji P. Henson and Tyler Perry

Taraji P. Henson’s Holiday Special Includes a Cameo of Tyler Perry as Madea (PHOTOS)

Empire (Season 3)

‘Empire’: Phylicia Rashad on Going Toe-to-Toe With Cookie

Empire - Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Trai Byers, Bryshere Gray, and Jussie Smollett

‘Empire’ Puts the Focus Back On the Lyons for Season 3

Empire (Season 3)

‘Empire’: First Look at Taye Diggs As Cookie’s Well-Connected Beau

The Simpsons

‘The Simpsons’ to Air its First One-Hour Episode

Empire - Taraji P. Henson

Will Cookie Crumble When ‘Empire’ Returns This Spring?

Empire TV Show

‘Empire’ Scoop: Get Ready to Meet Another Member of the Lyon Family

The Blacklist - Megan Boone as a blond Liz Keen

Ask Matt: ‘The Blacklist’s Baby on Board, ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ vs. ‘Doctor Who’, ‘Agent Carter’ and More

Taraji P. Henson at the Golden Globes

Taraji P. Henson on Her Golden Globe-Winning Role, Handing Out Cookies

Empire - Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard

Why ‘Empire’s Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard Are the Most Powerful TV Couple

Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard in Empire

‘Empire’ Premiere: Season 2 Starts With Craziness and Questions

Taraji P. Henson - Empire

‘Empire’s Taraji P. Henson Shares Why Cookie Is Living the Dream (VIDEO)

Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard in Empire

‘Empire’ Season 2 Turns Up the Drama, With Lucious Still in Prison and Cookie Staging a Hostile Takeover

Empire - Lee Daniels and Taraji P. Henson

An ‘Empire’ Spin-off? Lee Daniels Already Has an Idea for One

Davis-Henson

These Emmy-Nominated Actresses Are Showing Support — for Each Other!

Emmy_statues_1

The Emmy Nominations Set Twitter Aflutter

Andre Braugher as Capt. Holt in Brooklyn Nine-Nine

The Emmys Show the Oscars How Diversity’s Done