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Darrin Henson
Darrin Henson 2019.png
Henson at the Valder Beebe Show in 2019
Born
Darrin Dewitt Henson

(1972-05-05) May 5, 1972 (age 52)
Occupation
  • Choreographer
  • dancer
  • actor
  • director
  • producer
Years active 1990–present
Children 4

Darrin Dewitt Henson (born May 5, 1972) is an American choreographer, dancer, actor, and producer. Hensen was a brief member of freestyle music 1980s group Trilogy and was featured on their single "Good Time". He worked as a choreographer for various artists and received the 2000 MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography for "Bye Bye Bye" by NSYNC.

Henson made his acting debut starring as Lem Van Adams in the Showtime drama series, Soul Food (2000–2004), for which he received two NAACP Image Awards nominations. He later appeared in films The Salon (2005), Stomp the Yard (2007), The Express: The Ernie Davis Story (2008), Tekken (2009), Black Coffee (2014), and Chocolate City (2015). From 2018 to 2022 he starred as Orlando Duncan in the BET+ crime drama series, The Family Business.

Life and career

Henson was born in The Bronx, New York. He attended Prep for Prep, a non-profit organization whose vision is to prepare New York City's top minority students for success in education and in life. Hensen was a brief member of freestyle music 1980s group Trilogy and was featured on their single "Good Time". He has choreographed music videos and concerts for such popular music artists as New Kids on the Block, Jordan Knight, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Hi-Five, 98 Degrees, NSYNC and The Spice Girls. He is the winner of the 2000 MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography for "Bye Bye Bye" by NSYNC. Henson is also known for his instructional dance video Darrin's Dance Grooves (which was heavily marketed in 2001 and 2002),

As an actor, Henson made his Broadway debut appearing in Ron Link's playStand-up Tragedy in 1990, and later performed in off-Broadway of David E. Talbert's play Fabric of a Man. He made his television debut appearing as a dancer in the 1999 made-for-television drama film Double Platinum starring Diana Ross and Brandy. In 2000 he was cast as Lem Van Adams, one of leading characters in the Showtime drama series, Soul Food, the longest-running drama at that time with a predominantly African-American cast in television history. Henson was twice nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, in 2004 and 2005, for his portrayal as the struggling young husband and father in this series. The series ended in 2004.

After Soul Food, Henson moved to film, starring alongside Vivica A. Fox in the 2005 comedy-drama The Salon. In 2007 he appeared opposite Queen Latifah in the drama film Life Support, which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, and starred in the dance drama Stomp the Yard. The film received mixed reviews from critics but grossed $75 million worldwide. In 2008, Henson played football player Jim Brown in the sports film, The Express: The Ernie Davis Story. In 2009 he starred in the science fiction box-office bomb Tekken. Henson later co-starred in films Blood Done Sign My Name (2010), The Inheritance (2011), and The Last Fall (2012). In 2011, Henson starred in the Gospel Music Channel's debut of John Ruffin's stage play The Ideal Husband, which also stars Jackée Harry, Ginuwine, Clifton Powell, Shirley Murdock, Shanti Lowry and Erica Hubbard. He later guest-starred in Single Ladies and Being Mary Jane.

In 2014, Henson played the leading role in the romantic comedy film, Black Coffee. In 2015 he starred in the comedy-drama film Chocolate City. He later reprised his role in its sequels, Chocolate City: Vegas Strip (2017) and Chocolate City 3: Live Tour (2021). He also appeared in other films in later years, notable South African romantic comedy Zulu Wedding (2019), for which he received nomination for an Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the 16th Africa Movie Academy Awards. In 2018, Henson began starring in the BET crime drama series, The Family Business playing the role of Orlando Duncan. He was also interviewed by director Maria Soccor for the documentary Freestyle Music: The Legacy in 2022.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Longshot Male Flight Attendant
2005 The Salon Michael
The Fabric of a Man Joshua King
2006 The Last Stand TD
2007 Stomp the Yard Grant
April Fools Detective Ward
2008 The Hustle Brother Efrom
A Good Man Is Hard to Find Clarence
The Express: The Ernie Davis Story Jim Brown
2009 Tekken Raven
2010 Blood Done Sign My Name Eddie McCoy
Kiss the Bride Thomas
2011 The Inheritance Tyrone
2012 The Marriage Chronicles David Jones
The Last Fall Rell Lee
The Great Divide Randy
2013 The Hotel Devin Short film
Four of Hearts Derrick Also producer
The Last Letter Doctor Jacobs
Frat Brothers Quincy Cooper Also executive producer
2014 Black Coffee Robert
After Andy
2015 Ex-Free Robert
Chocolate City Magnus
What Love Will Make You Do Trey Boston Also producer
A Christmas to Remember Michael
Sons 2 the Grave Detective David Reynolds
2016 Silent Cry Aloud Lemar
Pee-Wee's Big Holiday Police Officer
Bad Girl Pastor Charles Robinson
2017 Zulu Wedding Tex Wilson Nominated — Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip Magnus
Candid - Short
2018 The Products of the American Ghetto Easy Also executive producer
The Choir Director Aaron Mackie
Nothing Like Thanksgiving Kenneth Swain Also executive producer
Intensive Care Jeremiah
It's a Date Wesley Franks
Kinky Bradley
2019 The Last Astronaut General James Rex Nominated — WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actor
Submission Cowboy
Staged Killer Trent
2020 Happiness
2022 Sons 2 the Grave Detective David Reynolds
2022 Chocolate City 3: Live Tour Magnus
2023 Forbidden Daughter Shannon
2023 Till Death Do Us Pastor Marcus
2024 Spawns Ian Banks
2024 Bid for Love 2 Mr. Neely

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Double Platinum Dancer TV movie
2000–04 Soul Food Lem Van Adams Main cast
2007 Life Support MJ2 TV movie
2007–08 Lincoln Heights Ruben Recurring cast: season 2-3
2010 Gillian in Georgia Terrance Recurring cast
2011 Single Ladies Blake Episode: "Cry Me a River" & "... Proposal"
Champion Road the Series Benjamin TV mini series
2011 The Ideal Husband Devin TV movie
2011 Milk & Honey Damon Episode: "Pilot"
2013 In the Meantime Kwame TV movie
2014 Being Mary Jane - Episode: "The Huxtables Have Fallen"
2017 Vivica's Black Magic Choreographer/Self TV series
2018 The Avengers of Extreme Illusions General James Rex Episode: "The Last Astronaut"
2018–2022 The Family Business Orlando Duncan Main cast
2020 Steppin' Back to Love Derrick TV movie
2020–2024 Double Cross Detective Ryan Main cast, also producer
2022 I Got a Story to Tell Detective Carlson Episode: "I'm So Fatefull"

Awards

Year Award Category Production Result
2000 MTV Video Music Awards Best Choreography "Bye Bye Bye" (by NSYNC) Winner
2004 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Soul Food Nomination
2005 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Soul Food Nomination
2019/20 High Maintenance Award Author of the Year Book: Pregnant With Thought Winner
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