I’ve always said the hallmark of a truly great friend is when they hate the people you hate. Just because you hate them. It’s touching really. Similarly, the hallmark of a truly great parent or family member is when they threaten to kill whoever dates you. Okay reading over the previous sentences, I see that I might have some issues to deal with. Nonetheless, actor Terrence Howard admits he threatened to kill his young daughter’s boyfriend. And to me, that makes him a great dad right there.

Actor Terrence Howard has proved his credentials as the ultimate over-protective father – he threatened to kill his daughter Aubrey’s teenage boyfriend. The Iron Man star didn’t appreciate his 14-year-old daughter dating a classmate he disapproves of, and “intervened” by forcing her to ditch the unfavorable suitor.

He says, “She’s supposedly in love with some guy. I made her break up with him and I’ve threatened to kill him. I was like, ‘You picked a green fruit from the tree that’s far from ripe.’”

And Howard ensures he keeps a tight-leash on his beloved kids – warning Aubrey she will be cut out of any future inheritance if she is not “obedient”. He tells his daughter, “I’ve set a lot of things aside for you, but those things are only yours as long as you’re obedient to me.” However, the actor has put a crafty plan into action to make sure the teenager doesn’t fall back into her unsuitable relationship.

He adds, “She’s OK now. Though, I’m sure he’s still kind of her boyfriend. This summer I’ll take her off to another country where her phone won’t work, and he’ll start dating someone else.”

[From Hip Hop Elements]

That’s a smart dad right there. It seems pretty rare that you hear about over-protective parents anymore. Maybe I’m old fashioned, but it makes me happy to hear that some dads are still involved in their daughters’ lives, and care enough to threaten the crap out of some boy. Isn’t that a rite of passage for everyone? I honestly believe one of the reasons my dad sucks is that he never threatened anyone on my behalf. After I broke up with a guy I’d been with for two and a half years, my mom told me my dad thought the guy had the personality of a serial killer. Where was my beat down?

I’m guessing that Aubrey Howard was/is pretty pissed at her dad. That’s another important rite of passage. But how many kids parents are in a position to take them to some far-flung locale to get them away from a guy? And then get rewarded for good behavior with all the money their dad has “set aside” for them? Bribery. Also a good parenting tactic.

Here’s Terrence Howard at the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Iron Man’ at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on April 30th. Images thanks to WENN.