It has been years since the final roar of the Lyon family echoed through our TV screens, but people are still obsessed with the cast from empire and where they all landed. Honestly? It was a lightning-in-a-bottle moment for Fox. You had Lee Daniels and Danny Strong crafting this Shakespearean hip-hop opera that basically took over the world for a few seasons.
But then things got messy.
The show didn’t just end; it sort of collided with reality in a way that left fans reeling. Between the massive legal scandals and the shifting landscape of network television, the actors who played Lucious, Cookie, and their three sons found themselves at a massive crossroads. Some pivoted to indie films, some doubled down on music, and one... well, we all know what happened with Jussie Smollett. Let’s get into the actual weeds of where these people are in 2026.
Terrence Howard and the "Retirement" That Wasn't
Terrence Howard is a complicated guy. Playing Lucious Lyon required a specific kind of terrifying charisma, and Howard nailed it. But by the time the show wrapped, he was talking about being "done" with acting. He made headlines for some pretty out-there claims about "Terryology" and the nature of the universe—specifically regarding the square root of two—which had fans wondering if he’d ever step back onto a set.
He didn't stay away. Not really.
While he hasn't chased another massive 22-episode-a-season grind, he’s been popping up in projects like The Best Man: The Final Chapters on Peacock. It felt like a full-circle moment for him. Howard has always been vocal about the "slavery" of network contracts, so it’s no surprise he’s moved toward limited series where he has more control. He’s also been embroiled in a legal battle with CAA over his Empire salary, claiming he was underpaid compared to white actors in similar roles. It’s a messy, real-world reflection of the power struggles his character faced on screen.
Taraji P. Henson: The Unstoppable Force
If the cast from empire had a definitive MVP, it was Taraji P. Henson. Cookie Lyon wasn’t just a character; she was a cultural phenomenon. You couldn't walk into a store without seeing "Cookie" inspired fashion or hearing her catchphrases.
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Since the show ended, Taraji has been the most visible and vocal member of the crew. She took on the heavy role of Shug Avery in the 2023 musical adaptation of The Color Purple, which proved she had the pipes to match the acting chops. But it wasn't all glitz. Taraji recently made waves during the press tour for that film, breaking down in tears while discussing the pay gap in Hollywood.
"The math ain't mathing," she said.
It was a raw moment that reminded everyone that even a superstar from a global hit like Empire still has to fight for her worth. She’s also leaned heavily into mental health advocacy through the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation. She’s not just an actress anymore; she’s a mogul using her platform to fix the stuff that’s broken in the industry.
The Three Sons: A Mixed Bag of Success
The Lyon brothers—Andre, Jamal, and Hakeem—were the heart of the show's conflict. In real life, their paths couldn't be more different.
Trai Byers (Andre) was always the most "serious" actor of the bunch. He’s a Yale School of Drama grad, and it showed. After Empire, he didn't chase the Hollywood blockbuster life. Instead, he took a huge swing by starring in and co-writing The 6th Amendment. He also spent a lot of time on Broadway, most notably in The Piano Lesson. He seems content to leave the "Hakeem-style" fame to the younger guys, focusing on prestige theater and projects that actually mean something to him. Plus, he's still married to Grace Byers (who played Anika), making them the only real-life "Empire" romance that actually lasted.
Then there’s Bryshere Y. Gray.
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Yazz the Greatest.
Honestly, his story is the toughest one for fans. While he was a breakout star as Hakeem, his post-show life has been overshadowed by legal troubles. There were arrests related to domestic incidents and some worrying reports about his mental health. It’s a stark contrast to the swaggering kid we saw on stage at Leviticus. He’s been relatively quiet lately, and most fans are just hoping he gets the support he needs to make a comeback.
What Really Happened With Jussie Smollett?
We have to talk about it. You can't discuss the cast from empire without the elephant in the room. Jussie Smollett’s Jamal Lyon was the moral center of the show until the 2019 incident in Chicago.
The fallout was nuclear.
The show’s final season had to be rewritten to basically erase him. Since then, it’s been a revolving door of court dates, appeals, and public scrutiny. Smollett has maintained his innocence regarding the staging of a hate crime, but the legal system hasn't been kind. He did manage to direct a film called B-Boy Blues and released some music, but the "Empire" brand is effectively severed from him. It’s a cautionary tale of how quickly a legacy can vanish.
The rest of the cast was caught in the crossfire. Some stayed silent. Others, like Taraji, have occasionally called for "justice" or "mercy," but the rift it caused in the production was irreparable. It’s part of the reason the series finale felt so rushed and disjointed—they were missing one of their leads.
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The Supporting Players Who Won Big
Sometimes the people on the sidelines of the cast from empire ended up with the most interesting careers.
- Gabourey Sidibe (Becky): She was already an Oscar nominee before the show, but Empire gave her a chance to show her comedic timing. She’s since moved into directing and had a recurring role in American Horror Story. She also got married and has been living her best life on social media.
- Ta'Rhonda Jones (Porsha): She wasn't even supposed to be a series regular! She was a find from the Chicago casting calls. Now, she’s doing lifestyle TV and acting in Lifetime movies. She’s a great example of someone who took a small opportunity and stretched it into a career.
- Serayah (Tiana): She’s still grinding in the R&B world. She’s released several singles and stayed active in the "urban" drama circuit, appearing in shows like BMF and Kingdom Business.
Why the "Empire" Legacy is Complicated
Looking back, Empire was a victim of its own success. It burned so bright and so fast that it was almost destined to crash. The ratings for the first season were historic—every single episode grew its audience, which just doesn't happen in modern TV.
But the "Lee Daniels style" of soap opera storytelling is hard to sustain. By season 4, the plots involving amnesia, secret twins, and ridiculous murders started to wear thin. The cast felt it, too. There were whispers of onset fatigue. When you're filming in Chicago in the dead of winter, doing 16-hour days for a show that's increasingly chaotic, it takes a toll.
Despite that, the music still slaps. Timbaland’s production in the early seasons set a bar that most "musical" shows still can't touch. When you listen to "Drip Drop" or "You're So Beautiful" today, it still captures that specific 2015 energy.
Practical Steps for Empire Fans
If you're looking to keep up with the cast from empire today, don't just wait for a reboot. It’s probably not happening anytime soon given the bad blood and the Smollett situation.
- Watch "The Color Purple" (2023): This is the best way to see Taraji P. Henson at the absolute peak of her powers. It’s her "Cookie" energy refined into something even more soulful.
- Check out Broadway listings: Trai Byers is a stage actor at heart. If you're in New York, that's where you'll find the most "Lyon" talent.
- Follow the music: Serayah and V. Bozeman are still releasing tracks. They’ve moved away from the "Empire" sound into more contemporary R&B that's worth a listen.
- Look for indie features: Terrence Howard has been doing smaller, grittier films. They don't get the marketing budget of a Fox show, but his performances remain as intense as ever.
The Lyon family dynasty might be over, but the impact they had on Black representation in primetime TV is permanent. They proved that a majority-Black cast could pull in "Game of Thrones" numbers, even if the off-screen drama eventually eclipsed the on-screen scripts. Support the actors in their new ventures—they're all trying to outrun the long shadow of Lucious Lyon.
Actionable Insight: To truly understand the legacy of the Empire cast, track their current involvement in labor advocacy within Hollywood. Many, led by Taraji P. Henson, have become the primary voices in the fight for better pay and mental health resources for actors of color. Supporting their current projects is a direct vote for a more equitable industry.