How Terrence J Landed His Breakout Role in “Think Like A Man”

Terrence J’s journey to stardom serves as a reward to taking risks and seizing unexpected opportunities. The media personality, who rose to fame as the host of 106 & Park, transitioned into acting with his breakout role in the 2012 hit film Think Like a Man.

Directed by Tim Story, the romantic comedy featured a star-studded cast including Taraji P. Henson, Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union, Regina Hall, Meagan Good, and Michael Ealy.

In a recent interview on Cam Newton’s Funky Friday podcast, Terrence J shared the story behind landing his role in the film. He revealed that the opportunity came unexpectedly when film producer Will Packer called him to audition after another actor dropped out at the last minute.

Packer asked if Terrence J could fly to Los Angeles for a table read. Despite not knowing what a table read was, Terrence J seized the chance, skipping work at 106 & Park to attend the session at Sony’s production lot.

With the pressure on, he memorized his lines the night before, but his nerves were palpable as he found himself in a room filled with Hollywood heavyweights. “Taraji P. Henson is sitting over here.

Meagan Good is right here. Gabrielle Union is right here,” he recalled, feeling out of place at first. He quickly adapted, treating the read like an audition and performing his lines with confidence.

His preparation paid off. After the table read, Kevin Hart approached him, impressed by his performance, even though he was not yet familiar with him as an actor. “You crushed that,” Hart told him. “I don’t know you as an actor, but I’ve seen you on TV, and you crushed that.” That moment secured Terrence J his role in the film.

Despite being offered no upfront payment—due to the film’s already tight budget—Terrence J took a risk and accepted the role on the condition of receiving a back-end bonus if the movie performed well. The gamble paid off. Think Like a Man became a massive hit, earning $96 million worldwide, far exceeding its $12 million budget.

Terrence J’s faith in the project was rewarded when he received a life-changing bonus check. “I opened up my mailbox one day… and I had a check for a million dollars,” he said, reflecting on the profound impact the experience had on his life. “I’m from a small town in North Carolina… I never saw anything like that.”

The success of Think Like a Man led to further movie roles for Terrence J, including the 2014 sequel Think Like a Man Too and the 2016 romantic comedy The Perfect Match. His journey continues to inspire, as the HBCU alumnus, and BLACK ENTERPRISE 2022 40 Under 40 honoree, uses his platform to uplift the next generation of Black creatives.

In addition to his acting career, Terrence J is dedicated to giving back to the community, recently partnering with Maytag to donate fully stocked fridges to Boys & Girls Club of America.