Lenny Henry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir Lenny Henry CBE
Henry signing books in 2023
Born	Lenworth George Henry (1958-08-29) 29 August 1958 (age 66) Dudley, Worcestershire, England
Education	W. R. Tuson College Open University (BA) Royal Holloway, University of London (MA, PhD)
Occupation	Comedian actor presenter writer
Years active	1975–present
Known for	The Lenny Henry Show Chef! Comic Relief
Spouse(s)	Dawn French ​ ​ (m. 1984; div. 2010)​
Partner(s)	Lisa Makin (2010–present)
Children	1

Sir Lenny Henry is a famous British comedian, actor, and writer. He was born on August 29, 1958. He became well-known in the late 1970s and early 1980s for his stand-up comedy and impressions. His popular TV show, The Lenny Henry Show, started in 1984. At that time, he was one of the most recognized Black British comedians. Much of his comedy celebrated and playfully made fun of his Caribbean background.

In 1985, he helped start the charity Comic Relief with writer Richard Curtis. He has been in many TV shows, including the children's show Tiswas and the comedy series Chef!. More recently, he has focused on acting in plays and movies. He even appears in the Amazon Prime series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. In 2006, he was voted number 18 in a poll of "TV's 50 Greatest Stars" in the UK.

Lenny Henry was also the leader, or chancellor, of Birmingham City University for eight years. He announced in February 2024 that he would be stepping down from this role.

Early Life and Education

Lenny Henry was born Lenworth George Henry in Dudley, England, on August 29, 1958. His parents, Winston and Winifred Henry, had moved to Britain from Jamaica. Lenny was the first of their seven children to be born in the United Kingdom.

He went to St John's Primary School and then The Blue Coat School in Dudley. He finished his school studies at W.R. Tuson College in Preston, Lancashire.

Comedy and Acting Career

Starting Out in Comedy

Lenny Henry began his comedy career performing in clubs. He would do impressions of popular characters and famous people. His first TV appearance was on a talent show called New Faces in 1975, when he was just 16 years old. He won the show with his funny impressions.

He later performed in a touring stage show. He has since said that he regretted being part of this show because of the way it was presented. In 1976, he appeared in The Fosters, which was one of Britain's first TV comedy series with a mostly Black cast.

Becoming a Star in the 1980s

Henry in the 1980s

In the early 1980s, Lenny Henry became a co-host on the children's TV show Tiswas. He played many funny characters on the show, like Algernon Razzmatazz and Trevor McDoughnut. He also wrote for and performed in another show called Three of a Kind.

Around this time, he joined a group of comedians called The Comic Strip. Here, he met comedian Dawn French, who he later married. She encouraged him to try a new style of comedy called "alternative comedy." This helped him become a very successful stand-up comedian. He created characters that both made fun of and celebrated Black British culture, like the radio DJ Delbert Wilkins.

In 1984, the first series of The Lenny Henry Show began on the BBC. The show featured his stand-up comedy, funny spoofs of music videos, and his popular characters. This show continued on and off for nearly 20 years.

A very important moment in Lenny Henry's career was in 1985 when he helped create the charity Comic Relief. This organization raises money to help people in need. In 1988, the first-ever Red Nose Day was held. Many celebrities took part in a long BBC broadcast, which was watched by millions and raised a lot of money.

Hollywood and TV Roles in the 1990s

In the early 1990s, Lenny Henry starred in the Hollywood movie True Identity. In this film, his character pretended to be a white person to escape from a criminal group. He also starred in the BBC drama Alive and Kicking in 1991.

He is also well-known for playing the angry chef Gareth Blackstock in the TV comedy series Chef! from the 1990s. In 1999, he took on a serious acting role in the BBC drama Hope and Glory. He also helped create the BBC drama Neverwhere in 1996.

Voice Acting and Charity Work in the 2000s

Henry on Red Nose Day 2005

In 2003, Lenny Henry was named one of the fifty funniest acts in British comedy. He lent his voice to the British speaking clock for two weeks in March 2003 to help raise money for Comic Relief.

He also did voice work for children's shows and movies. He was the voice of the "shrunken head" on the Knight Bus in the 2004 movie Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. He also voiced Sporty on the children's show Little Robots and read the audiobook for Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys.

In 2007, he presented Lenny's Britain, a comedy documentary series. He also hosted a stand-up comedy tour across the UK. In 2008, his series lennyhenry.tv was broadcast, featuring funny online videos. He also voiced Big and Small in the CBeebies children's program Big & Small.

New Projects in the 2010s

Henry (right) and Lucian Msamati in the Royal National Theatre production of The Comedy of Errors in 2011

In 2010, Lenny Henry became the face of the hotel chain Premier Inn. He also presented a magic series called The Magicians on BBC One in 2011.

In March 2011, he took part in a BBC documentary for Comic Relief called Famous, Rich and in the Slums. In this show, he and other celebrities visited communities in Kenya to highlight poverty. He also wrote and produced Danny and the Human Zoo, a TV film shown in 2015. It was a fictional story inspired by his own teenage life in the 1970s.

In 2017, he had a recurring role in the third series of the crime drama Broadchurch. In 2019, he guest-starred in Doctor Who as a technology billionaire named Daniel Barton.

Recent Work in the 2020s

In December 2020, it was announced that Lenny Henry would be part of the cast for Amazon Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which premiered in September 2022. He also appeared as a contestant on The Masked Singer in 2021, disguised as "Blob."

In 2022, he voiced Martin Tenbones in The Sandman, a magical dog-like creature. He also wrote a six-part drama series called Three Little Birds, which was inspired by his mother's experiences moving to the UK. In January 2024, he announced that the Comic Relief fundraiser in March 2024 would be his last time hosting the event. In 2024, he voiced Mr. Convenience in Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.

Shakespearean Roles

Lenny Henry explored the plays of Shakespeare in a 2006 radio series called Lenny and Will. In February 2009, he played the main character in a play called Othello in Leeds. His performance received great praise from critics. People said he showed amazing courage and feeling in the role.

He later said he felt a connection to Othello because he was often the only Black person in the places he worked, especially early in his career at the BBC. In November 2011, he performed in Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors at the Royal National Theatre in London. His performance was again well-received.

Other Interests

Music

In 2015, Lenny Henry created a show for Sky Arts called Lenny Henry's Got The Blues. He worked with musicians to create an album called New Millennium Blues. The album included both classic blues songs and new songs he helped write.

Writing Books

Lenny Henry has written four books. Two are about his own life, and two are young adult fantasy stories.

His memoir, Who Am I, Again? (2019), tells the story of his early life, from his parents arriving in Dudley to his first successes in comedy. His second memoir, Rising to the Surface, continues his story, covering his rise to fame with shows like Tiswas and The Lenny Henry Show.

He wrote his two young adult fantasy books because he felt there weren't enough non-white characters in fantasy stories for young readers. The Boy With Wings is about a boy who grows wings and learns to fly, then has to save the world with his friends. The Book of Legends features two Black siblings who go on an adventure to another world when their mother disappears.

Personal Life

Lenny Henry met comedian Dawn French through their work. They married in 1984 and adopted a daughter. In 2010, they announced they were separating and later divorced. Since 2010, Lenny Henry has been in a relationship with Lisa Makin, a casting director.

He has continued his education throughout his life. He earned a degree in English Literature from the Open University in 2007. He then earned a Master's degree and a PhD from Royal Holloway, University of London. His PhD research focused on the role of Black people in the media.

Lenny Henry has often spoken out about the lack of diversity on British television. He believes it's important to have more people from different backgrounds working in and appearing on TV. In March 2021, he wrote an open letter encouraging people to get the COVID-19 vaccination, stressing the importance of trusting facts and protecting the community.

He is a lifelong fan of West Bromwich Albion Football Club.

Awards and Recognition

Lenny Henry has received many awards for his work and charity efforts.

• In 1999, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
• He received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Comedy Awards in 2003.
• In 2015, he was made a knight by the Queen for his contributions to drama and charity. This means he is now called "Sir Lenny Henry."
• In July 2016, he became the chancellor of Birmingham City University, a role he held until 2024.
• He has been listed in the Powerlist as one of the 100 most influential Black Britons.
• In 2016, he received the Alan Clarke Award at the BAFTA TV Awards.
• In 2022, he won the Special Recognition award at the 27th National Television Awards.
• In 2025, he was made a Freeman of the City of London.

Narration Work

Lenny Henry has narrated several audiobooks, including:

• White Teeth by Zadie Smith (2000)
• Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (2005)
• My Name Is Leon by Kit de Waal (2016)
• Who Am I, Again? by Lenny Henry (2019)

Film and Television Appearances

Film Roles

Television Roles

Stage Roles