Barry Shabaka Henley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barry Shabaka Henley
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Henley in 2011
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| Born |
Barry Joseph Henley
September 15, 1954 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1988–present |
Barry Shabaka Henley (born Barry Joseph Henley; September 15, 1954) is an American character actor. A character actor is someone who often plays unique or unusual supporting roles instead of the main hero. Henley has appeared in many TV shows and movies. He has worked with director Michael Mann three times. Since 2019, he has been a co-star in the CBS TV show Bob Hearts Abishola.
His stage name, Shabaka, comes from an ancient Pharaoh (king) of Egypt. This pharaoh ruled from 721 to 707 BC.
Early Life and First Steps in Acting
Henley was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His mother was a dance teacher. He often went with her to watch dance shows. When he was a child, his family moved to San Francisco. He went to San Francisco Polytechnic High School there.
Henley's first real try-out for a role was when he was 17. He heard that the Encore Theatre needed a certain type of actor. He got the script but didn't think he was right for the part. He decided not to read it. But, on the bus ride home, he realized the theater wanted him to learn the lines. So, he memorized them on the bus! He spent several years acting on stage before moving to movies and TV. He performed with the San Francisco Mime Troupe.
Barry Shabaka Henley's Acting Career
Henley started his screen acting career at age 37. His first appearance was in a TV pilot called Clippers.
He has played many different characters in movies. In the film Ali, he played Jabir Herbert Muhammad. In Collateral, he was a jazz musician. He played Buddy in the 1998 movie How Stella Got Her Groove Back. He was Pokerface in the 1999 film Life. In 2004, he appeared in Steven Spielberg's The Terminal. He played a U.S. Customs Officer at an airport. He also played Lieutenant Martin Castillo in the 2006 movie Miami Vice. In 2016, he was in the film Paterson.
Henley has also been busy on television. He appeared in the TV series Robbery Homicide Division and Barbershop. From 2009 to 2010, he played FBI Agent Vreede in FlashForward. In 2011, he was in an episode of Body of Proof. In 2012, he worked with director Michael Mann again for the TV series Luck. He played a parole officer in that show. In 2015, he played a police detective in the show Better Call Saul. This show is a spin-off of Breaking Bad.
In 2019, Henley joined the cast of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. This show is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He played Dr. Marcus Benson. Henley was also a regular actor on the CBS TV show Bob Hearts Abishola. He played Uncle Tunde, who is Abishola's uncle.
As a stage actor, Henley has won several important awards. These include the Drama Desk, Obie, and Olivier Awards. He was also a member of the West Coast Black Repertory Theatre and the San Francisco Mime Troupe.
