Johnny Lee Davenport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnny Lee Davenport
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| Born | July 24, 1950 Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Died | February 2, 2020 (aged 69) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
Johnny Lee Davenport (born July 24, 1950 – died February 2, 2020) was a talented American actor. He was best known for playing Marshal Henry in the popular 1993 movie The Fugitive. He played this role again in the 1998 film U.S. Marshals. Johnny Lee Davenport passed away on February 2, 2020, due to leukemia.
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Early Life and Acting Start
Johnny Lee Davenport was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. He grew up in Aurora, Illinois. While attending West Aurora High School, he discovered his love for acting. He was cast in the school's musical, Carousel.
Later, as a student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, he helped create the school's own acting group. This showed his early dedication to theater.
Movies and Film Roles
Johnny Lee Davenport appeared in several movies throughout his career. He often played serious roles, like law enforcement officers. His most famous role was Deputy Marshal Henry.
He played this character in two big action films. First, in The Fugitive (1993), and then again in U.S. Marshals (1998).
Here are some of the films he appeared in:
| Year | Movie Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Package | MP |
| 1993 | The Fugitive | Deputy Marshall Henry |
| 1996 | Chain Reaction | Caleb Williams |
| 1998 | U.S. Marshals | Deputy Marshall Henry |
| 2010 | Locked In | Jim Sanders |
| 2012 | Ted | Husband |
| 2013 | Time and Charges | Boreas Victorious |
| 2015 | Joy | Ray Cagney |
| 2016 | The Ascendants Anthology | The Guide, Sebastian |
Shakespearean Plays
Johnny Lee Davenport had a deep love for the plays of William Shakespeare. In 1988, he played Antonio in Twelfth Night at the Stratford Festival of Canada. This experience made Shakespeare a big part of his acting life.
The next year, he joined Shakespeare & Company. This is a theater group in Lenox, Massachusetts. He performed with them for 16 seasons!
He played many famous Shakespearean characters, including:
- Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- The main role in Othello
- Roles in As You Like It, Twelfth Night, and Richard III
- Parts in Henry IV (Parts 1 & 2), Richard II, A Winter’s Tale, Measure for Measure, Hamlet, and Henry V
Other Stage Performances
Besides Shakespeare, Johnny Lee Davenport performed in many other plays. In the 1990s, he often acted in Chicago. He performed at famous places like the Steppenwolf, Court, and Goodman Theaters.
Some of the plays he appeared in include Miss Julie, Cry, the Beloved Country, and Comedians. He also played Chris in "Anna Christie" by Eugene O'Neill in Boston in 2018.
Awards and Recognitions
Johnny Lee Davenport was recognized for his amazing acting skills. He won and was nominated for several awards throughout his career.
He won the Elliot Norton Award twice:
- In 2011, for "Outstanding Actor, Midsize Theater" for his role in Broke-ology.
- In 2014, for "Best Actor (Play), Midsize Theater" for Driving Miss Daisy.
He was also named "Best Actor" in Boston Magazine for all his work during the 2010–2011 theater season. He also received the Helen Hayes Award in Washington, D.C.
