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John Wesley Shipp
John Wesley Shipp in 2024
Shipp at GalaxyCon Oklahoma City in 2024
Born (1955-01-22) January 22, 1955 (age 70)
Occupation Actor
Years active 1980–present

John Wesley Shipp (born January 22, 1955) is an American actor. He is well-known for playing different characters on TV shows. He was the main hero, Barry Allen, in the superhero show The Flash from 1990 to 1991.

He also played Mitch Leery, the father of the main character, on the drama series Dawson's Creek from 1998 to 2001. John Wesley Shipp has also been in many daytime soap operas. These include Kelly Nelson on Guiding Light and Douglas Cummings on As the World Turns. He even won an award for his role in As the World Turns.

Later, he returned to the world of The Flash. He played Barry Allen's father, Henry, on the CW's The Flash series. He also played an older version of The Flash, Jay Garrick, from another Earth.

Early life and education

John Wesley Shipp was born in Norfolk, Virginia. His father was a farmer who went back to school when John was young. After studying at a seminary, his father became a pastor at a church near Wake Forest, North Carolina.

John later spoke to a graduating class in 1999. He shared stories about how his father tried to bring people together in their community in the late 1960s. John Wesley Shipp went to Butler Traditional High School in Louisville, Kentucky. After high school, he studied at Indiana University.

Acting career highlights

John Wesley Shipp started his acting journey in daytime soap operas. He played Dr. Kelly Nelson on Guiding Light from 1980 to 1984. After that, he took on other soap opera roles. He played Douglas Cummings on As the World Turns and won his first Daytime Emmy Award in 1986.

He also played Martin Ellis on Santa Barbara and won another Daytime Emmy Award for it. He had small roles in other shows too, like Fantasy Island.

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Shipp in 2010, at Florida Supercon

A big role for Shipp was playing Barry Allen / The Flash in the CBS series The Flash. This show was on TV from 1990 to 1991. After that, he had a repeating role as Lucky on the NBC show Sisters.

In 1998, he got the role of Mitch Leery. He was the father of the main character, Dawson, in the popular show Dawson's Creek. He was a main part of the show for its first four seasons.

In 2010, Shipp returned to soap operas for a short time. He played Eddie Ford on One Life to Live. He also appeared in a Lifetime series called Drop Dead Diva. In 2012, he was in three episodes of the MTV series Teen Wolf. He played Mr. Lahey, the father of one of the characters.

Shipp came back to the world of The Flash in 2014. He was cast in a special role on The CW series The Flash. It was later revealed he would play Henry Allen, who is Barry Allen's father. In the second season of The Flash, Shipp also played Jay Garrick. Jay Garrick is another version of The Flash from a different universe. He even voiced Eobard Thawne (Professor Zoom) in the animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

From 2015 to 2018, Shipp used his voice for a podcast drama called "Powder Burns." He played Sheriff Burns in the show.

Filmography

Film appearances

Year Title Role Notes
1990 The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter Barney Bux
1994 Soft Deceit John Hobart
2002 Second to Die Jim Bratchett
2005 Starcrossed Lane Short film
2009 Port City George
2009 Grotesque Father Fahey Short film
2010 Separation Anxiety Sr. Palmer
2012 Hell and Mr. Fudge Bennie Lee Fudge
2014 Sensory Perception Lt. Thawne
2014 Golden Shoes President of the United States
2016 The Sector Stillwell
2019 Night Sweats Nick Frankenthaler

Television appearances

Year Title Role Notes
1980 The Dirtiest Show in Town N/A Television film
1980–1984 Guiding Light Kelly Nelson Regular role
1983 Fantasy Island Todd Skylar Episode: "The Songwriter" / "Queen of the Soaps"
1984 Summer Fantasy Callahan Television film
1985–1986 As the World Turns Doug Cummings Regular role
1986 Santa Barbara Martin Ellis Recurring role
1989 One Life to Live Blanchard Lovelace Recurring role
1990–1991 The Flash Barry Allen / The Flash
Pollux
  • Lead role
  • Episode: "Twin Streaks"
1991 Baby of the Bride Dennis Television film
1991 Danger Team Spec Television film; voice role
1992 All My Children Carter Jones 1 episode
1992 Human Target Garner St. John Episode: "Designated by Chance"
1994 NYPD Blue Officer Roy Larson 2 episodes
1994 Golden Gate Kenny Scanlon Television film
1994 Green Dolphin Beat Terry Lattner Television film
1994–1995 Sisters Lucky Williams Recurring role, 10 episodes
1995 JAG Gunnery Sergeant Granger Episode: "War Cries"
1996 Deadly Web Dr. Stanton Television film
1996 Strangers Jack Episode: "Visit"
1997 Lost Treasure of Dos Santos Jack Television film
1997 Soldier of Fortune, Inc. Griffin Episode: "Alpha Dogs"
1998–2001 Dawson's Creek Mitch Leery Main role (seasons 1–4); recurring role (season 5)
1999 Road Rage Jim Carson Television film
2001 The Outer Limits Coach Peter Shotwell Episode: "Lion's Den"
2004 JAG Colonel Marcus Sutter Episode: "What If"
2005 Palmetto Pointe Michael Jones Recurring role, 5 episodes
2006 CSI: NY Patrick Quinn Episode: "Sweet 16"
2007 Christie's Revenge Uncle Ray Colton Television film
2007 The Closer Chris Conroy Episode: "Culture Shock"
2010 Batman: The Brave and the Bold Professor Zoom Voice role; episode: "Requiem for a Scarlet Speedster!"
2010 One Life to Live Eddie Ford 18 episodes
2011 Drop Dead Diva Doug Bailey Episode: "He Said, She Said"
2012 One Life to Live Eddie Ford 1 episode
2012–2013 Teen Wolf Mr. Lahey 4 episodes
2014–2023 The Flash Henry Allen, Jay Garrick, Barry Allen (Earth-90) Recurring role
2017 Blindspot Dr. Katz Episode: "Draw O Caesar, Erase a Coward"
2018 Supergirl Barry Allen / The Flash Episode: "Bunker Hill" (cameo)
2018 Arrow Barry Allen of Earth-90 / The Flash 2 episodes
2019 Ruby Herring Mysteries: Her Last Breath John Herring Television film
2020 Ruby Herring Mysteries: Prediction Murder John Herring Television film
2021–2022 Stargirl Jay Garrick / The Flash 2 episodes

Awards and recognition

John Wesley Shipp has won several awards for his acting. At the 14th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in 1987, he won the Outstanding Guest Performer Award. He was the only actor to win awards two years in a row from different daytime shows.

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Refs
1986 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series As the World Turns Won
1987 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Guest Star in a Drama Series Santa Barbara Won

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: John Wesley Shipp para niños

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