It's not surprising that big, burly and bald Crews formerly played for the NFL, but he is a much more nuanced actor than most ex-athletes. After retiring from football in 1998, the imposing-looking Crews made his acting debut on the short-lived, syndicated extreme-sports series
Battle Dome. Understandably typecast as a heavy, Crews played an assortment of goofy thugs on both the big and small screens. A role in the 2005 remake of
The Longest Yard introduced Crews to Chris Rock, who handpicked him to play the strict but infinitely huggable patriarch on the semi-autobiographical sitcom
Everybody Hates Chris.
Terry Crews Fast Facts:
- Studied art at Michigan's Interlochen Center for the Arts.
- Attended Western Michigan University on art and football scholarships.
- Was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the 11th round (as the 281st player taken) of the 1991 NFL draft, and played for five teams before retiring in 1998.
- Painted a line of licensed NFL lithographs.
- Fifth child, a son, born in June 2005.
- Terry Crews Relationships:
- Azriel Crews - Daughter
- Naomi Crews - Daughter
- Rebecca Crews - Wife
- Tera Crews - Daughter
- Wynfrey Crews - Daughter
- College:
- Attended Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI