Award-winning screenwriter Gregory Allen Howard, who wrote Remember the Titans, has died after a brief illness in Miami, Florida. he was 70 years old. A publicist for Howard confirmed the news, the actor passed away on Friday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Howard was best known for writing the screenplay for the classic 2000 sports movie Remember the Titans, starring Denzel Washington and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Based on a true story, the film follows the story of new African-American football coach Herman Boone training a high school team in their first season as a racially integrated group.
Howard began writing at the age of 48 and his first project was the Harriet Tubman biopic Harriet. However, the film didn’t materialize until 2015, when Howard joined producers Debra Martin Chase and Daniella Taplin Lundberg, and Kasi Lemmons co-wrote the script. “Harriet,” starring Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monae, and Joe Alwyn, was released in 2019.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the red carpet premiere of Harriet, Howard said: #OscarsSoWhite and [more] Diversity in Hollywood. Because whoever gave this movie the go-ahead was putting their jobs and careers in jeopardy. “
Let’s not forget Titans and Harriet, the writer was part of several other notable projects namely Ali, Harlem Renaissance, Misty and This Little Light. Received praise. He received his NAACP Image His Award, the prestigious Christopher Award, and Howard University’s Paul Robson His Award for Artistic Excellence twice.
Howard was credited with writing Michael Mann’s Ali, the 2001 biopic of sports legend Muhammad Ali. Nominated for two Oscars, the film starred Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, and Jon Voight, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Howard had a number of projects in development, including The Magician, a biopic about quarterback Marlin “The Magician” Briscoe.
Howard is survived by his sister Lynette Henry, brother Michael Henry, nieces Robin Bacon and Valencia Camara, nephew Robert Henry, grand-niece and two grand-nephews and cousins Pierre Gatling and Patricia Henley. Variety reports that Cole survived.