There are motivational speakers, and then there are “motivational do-ers.” Terry Crews is the latter. This bonafide powerhouse—actor, activist, best-selling author, former athlete, and beyond—has inspired countless individuals to “do something about it.” “It” can mean many different things to many different people: a difficult career choice, a seemingly unattainable goal, an addiction, an abusive relationship, or just life in general. Crews speaks from his experience—something he encourages everyone to do—but in the process, he is able to relate to universal stories of struggle.
Having endured abuse in childhood, Crews managed to turn his nascent passion for art into a prestigious scholarship at a young age, a path that would lead to an athletic scholarship at Western Michigan University and, eventually, Crews’ storied career in the NFL. Not content to slow down after retiring, Crews set his sights on Hollywood and launched the career for which he is most famous today. However, Crews will be the first to tell you that it was no easy ride. Between financial difficulties, confronting the challenges of a toxic masculine culture that included treatment for pornography addiction and an initial hesitance to talk about his experience with sexual assault in order to heal, Crews could have given up many times over. But he refused.
Crews believes that “whatever is meant to destroy you can be your salvation.” With a combination of radical honesty, effortless charisma, and infectious enthusiasm, Crews inspires audiences to overcome fear and shame, be honest, do the work, and live life to its highest potential.
Action-movie hero, sitcom star, children’s book illustrator, advertising pitchman, playable video game character, talent show host, high-end furniture designer, and human rights activist all describe the man that is Terry Crews. The unstoppable Crews starred on the NBC Golden Globe Award-winning hit series Brooklyn Nine-Nine hosts NBC’s top rated alternative series America’s Got Talent and spin offs AGT Champions, and AGT Extreme, and stars in the Netflix animated film The Willoughby’s. Crews is also the face (and muscles) of Old Spice, a playable character in Microsoft’s Xbox One game, Crackdown 3, and a force in the design and art world where his high-end furniture collection, in partnership with iconic Bernhardt Designs, has been picking up awards across the country.