E-mail a friendMay 6, 2005
In the second panel discussion on Crash's study of L.A. race relations, Tavis talks to actors Matt Dillon, Terrence Howard and Ludacris plus civil rights attorney Connie Rice.
Matt Dillon
Matt Dillon
Matt Dillon successfully made the leap from teen idol to mature star. One of the most diverse actors of his generation, his film credits include There's Something About Mary and Crash. Dillon was discovered by talent scouts at age 14, while cutting class and, with no previous acting experience, ended up in his first feature, Over the Edge. He made his directorial debut in '97 with an episode of HBO's Oz and, in '02, wrote, directed and starred in City of Ghosts. His latest film is the biopic, Factotum.
Terrence Howard
Terrence Howard
With a chemical engineering degree, Terrence Howard didn't initially set his sights on Hollywood. Raised in Cleveland, he started on the small screen and has since appeared in more than 30 films, including Dead Presidents, The Best Man, Mr. Holland's Opus, Ray and Crash. His TV credits include Sparks, Lackawanna Blues and ABC's Muhammad Ali biopic. Howard triumphed this year at Sundance with his lead role in the festival's hottest film, Hustle & Flow. He's also a self-taught musician and plays the piano and guitar.
Ludacris
Ludacris
Grammy-nominated rapper Ludacris grew up with old-school influences. At age 12, he joined a Chicago-based hip-hop group, The Loudmouth Hooligans. He soon moved to Atlanta and wound up producing a new urban radio show. He started rapping on station promos and became as recognizable as some of the DJs. He saved enough money to release the album, "Incognegro," which caught the ear of Def Jam Records' president. Ludacris' latest release is 'Red Light District.' He also stars in the films Crash and Hustle & Flow.
Connie Rice
Connie Rice
Connie Rice was named one of California's top 10 most influential lawyers. A successful litigator, she's filed class action civil rights cases redressing police misconduct and race discrimination. Previously co-director of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund's L.A. office, Rice co-founded the nonprofit Advancement Project, which provides support for community organizations working for racial and social justice. She also has a family connection to the Bush administration - her cousin is Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.