The last time Terry worked on a TV show set, he says he blew the director away by drawing on his life experiences to lend depth and authenticity to his character.
"I try to put everything I've experienced in life onto the screen, and directors have told me they really feel that," he said.
He always dreamed of being an entertainer. Now that dream is finally coming true. It took courage, discipline, recovery, and the support of a community that believed in him to make it a reality.
Terry grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, with a single mother and an abusive stepfather, and, at an early age, turned to alcohol to cope. His habit soon became an addiction that disrupted his entire life.
"I lost jobs, family, friends, and I ended up sleeping in cars, bus stops, and depending on the Salvation Army for food and showers," he said.
"I was getting into fights, going to places I shouldn't go, and hanging with people I didn't need to be around."
Eventually, like 80% of justice-impacted individuals in the country today, his choices brought him into contact with the criminal justice system. He says it was the wakeup call he needed.
"I decided I didn't want to live the rest of my life like that, so I checked myself into a treatment program."
The program introduced him to the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) in Cleveland, where, in 2023, he worked transitional jobs with daily pay, beautifying highways and cleaning out properties for the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority. He also received one-on-one job coaching, help with resume drafting and application completion, and assistance in finding long-term employment. Even more importantly, he met Marlon, a mentor at CEO with a similar history to his own.
"He was in recovery just like me, and he had an addiction counseling certification," Terry said.
"He became a peer supporter for me, and we developed a powerful relationship because we went through a lot of the same things."
For Terry, connecting with the team at CEO and knowing that some people with similar journeys were the key to believing in himself. The support and understanding he received from the community at CEO played a crucial role in his recovery.
"I could look every person in the eye and see that they really wanted to help people realize that, if you work hard, the sky's the limit," he said.
"That culture influenced me and pushed me to take the necessary steps to turn my life around."
Terry completed his treatment program, moved into his own apartment, and secured two new jobs: one as a food runner at a restaurant and another as a state government employee, providing free cell phones and service to people on government assistance. Through his discipline and hard work, he now has financial independence and has been clean and sober for nearly a year. The stability that employment and a clean living environment have afforded him has also allowed him to embrace and pursue a childhood dream.
"I always liked entertaining people, making them smile and laugh, and people always thought that I would look great on camera and belong in the movies," he said.
"So, as soon as I got out of the treatment center and found work, I went to and graduated from acting school."
Today, in addition to his other two jobs, Terry is paid to act in independent films, streaming programs on Amazon Prime and Tubi, and star in his own television show, set to start filming in December. His next goal? Using his experience and talents as a motivational speaker to inspire today's youth.
"I would love to go to elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools to share my story. I want kids to know that as long as you have breath in your lungs and wake up every day, you have a chance to do anything you want in the world. My journey, with the help of CEO, is a testament to that."
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