Barry Shabaka Henley

Last updated
Barry Shabaka Henley
Barry Shabaka Henley 2011.jpg
Henley in 2011
Born
Barry Joseph Henley

(1954-09-15) September 15, 1954 (age 70)
OccupationActor
Years active1988–present

Barry Shabaka Henley (born Barry Joseph Henley; September 15, 1954) is an American character actor. Henley has appeared as a regular in a number of television series, has numerous film credits, and is a fixture in films by director Michael Mann, [1] having worked with the director three times. Since 2019, he has co-starred in the CBS sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola .

Contents

His stage name, Shabaka, is taken from a Pharaoh from Egypt's 25th dynasty, who ruled from 721 to 707 BC.

Early life

Henley was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His mother was a dance teacher, and he often tagged along to watch recitals. During his childhood his family moved to San Francisco, and he attended the San Francisco Polytechnic High School, where he was taught by Johnny Land. Henley's first true audition came at age 17 when he heard that the Encore Theatre was looking for a certain type. He was given the script but did not think he was a good fit for the part and determined not to read it. But, Henley has said, "On the bus from 45th and Quintara to Mason and Geary, it hit me...You know what, I guess this guy wants me to memorize this stuff. So I memorized it on the bus." He spent the next several years acting on stage before moving to the screen. His early stage work included appearances with the San Francisco Mime Troupe, and a performance as "Factwino." [2] [3]

Career

Henley made his first appearance at the age of 37 in the unsold television pilot Clippers.

In Ali , Henley played Herbert Muhammad. In Collateral , he portrayed a sensitive jazz musician living on borrowed time. He played Buddy in the 1998 film How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Pokerface in the 1999 film Life . In 2004 he appeared in Steven Spielberg's The Terminal , playing an airport U.S. Customs Officer. [2] He portrayed Crockett and Tubbs' boss Lieutenant Martin Castillo in the movie version of Miami Vice in 2006. He also appeared in the 2016 film Paterson .

Henley appeared in the television series Robbery Homicide Division and Barbershop . From 2009 to 2010 he played FBI Agent Vreede in the television series FlashForward . In 2010 Henley played Dr. Olson in the season 3 Lie to Me episode "Veronica". In 2011 he appeared as the murderer in the Body of Proof episode "Letting Go" and in 2012 he reunited with Michael Mann for the TV series Luck , playing a parole officer. In 2015 he played a police detective in the Breaking Bad spin-off series Better Call Saul .

In 2019, Henley joined the cast of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. , part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise, as Marcus Benson. [4]

Henley was a regular cast member on the CBS TV sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola , appearing as Abishola's Uncle Tunde.

As a stage actor, Henley's honors include the Drama Desk, [2] Obie, and Olivier Awards. He was also a member of the West Coast Black Repertory Theatre and the San Francisco Mime Troupe.

Filmography

Film roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
1993 Fear of a Black Hat Geoffrey Lennox
What's Love Got to Do with It El Paso Doctor
The Thing Called Love Reverend Raymond
1994 The Scout McDermott
1995 Destiny Turns on the Radio Dravec
Lord of Illusions Dr. Toffler
Devil in a Blue Dress Woodcutter
1998 Fallen Uniformed Cop
Bulworth Man at Frankie's
How Stella Got Her Groove Back Buddy
Rush Hour Bobby
Patch Adams Emmet
1999 Life Pokerface
2001 Ali Jabir Herbert Muhammad
2004 The Terminal Officer Thurman
Collateral Daniel
2005 Four Brothers Councilman Douglas
Shackles VirgilDirect-to-video
2006 Miami Vice Castillo
2009 Horsemen Tuck
State of Play Gene Stavitz
Streets of Blood Captain FriendlyDirect-to-video
2010 The Dry Land Col. Stephen Evans
Virginia Willie
2011 The Big Year Dr. Neil Kramer
2012 Stolen Reginald
2013 Water & Power Preacher Broyard
Carrie Principal Morton
2016 Paterson Doc
2017 Mad Families Pops
Lucky Joe
2018 Office Uprising Clarence
A Star Is Born Little Feet
2019 Dolemite Is My Name Demond
Television roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
1991-1992 The Royal Family Willis TillisRecurring role, 8 episodes
1992-1994 Roc ErnieRecurring role, 7 episodes
1993 Johnny Bago Detective Venezia2 episodes
1994 ER Detective1 episode
1995 Married... with Children Charlie1 episode
1995 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Horrible Looking Giant #1 (voice)1 episode
1995 The Client Linton Bell1 episode
1995; 2004 NYPD Blue Roger Billings/Archie Day3 episodes
1996 Malcolm & Eddie Mr. Derian1 episode
1996 Sparks Stan Lawrence1 episode
1997 Duckman Additional voices1 episode
1998 Brooklyn South Mr. Anders1 episode
2000 The Steve Harvey Show Tom Cunningham1 episode
2000 City of Angels Delmar Forchette1 episode
2001 Oz Lieutenant Schmand1 episode
2001 Crossing Jordan Omar Maltese1 episode
2002 Providence Mr. Adams1 episode
2002-2003 Robbery Homicide Division Sgt. Albert SimmsMain role, 13 episodes
2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Asante Odufemi1 episode
2005 Lackawanna Blues Shakey WinfieldTelevision film
2005 Grey's Anatomy Mr. Patterson1 episode
2005-2006 Close to Home Detective Lou DrummerRecurring role, 9 episodes
2005-2006 Barbershop EddieMain role, 10 episodes
2006 Numbers Coach Grady1 episode
2007 Hustle Thomas Jackson1 episode
2007 Heroes Detective Bryan Fuller4 episodes
2009-2010 FlashForward Agent Shelly VreedeRecurring role, 13 episodes
2010 The Good Guys Dr. Vincent Olson1 episode
2010 Lie to Me Al Chapman1 episode
2012 Fairly Legal Agent Donovan1 episode
2012 Luck Parole Officer4 episodes
2012 Veep Fast Food Executive1 episode
2013 Shameless Judge Glen AufseeserEpisode: "A Long Way from Home"
2013 Remember Sunday BaptisteTelevision film
2013 The Crazy Ones Pete1 episode
2015 Better Call Saul Detective Sanders3 episodes
2015 Extant Senator Gabel1 episode
2015 Black-ish T Jackson1 episode
2015 Unforgettable Leo Hackett1 episode
2016 NCIS: New Orleans Baton Rouge Detective Todd Lamont1 episode
2017 Elementary Wendell Hecht1 episode
2017 NCIS Earl Goddard1 episode
2017 Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television Captain Jackson #3 / Female Captain Jackson #82 episodes
2017–2018 Bosch Terry DrakeRecurring role, 7 episodes
2019 Station 19 Oscar Delgado1 episode
2019 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Dr. Marcus Benson Recurring role, 5 episodes
2019–2024 Bob Hearts Abishola Babatunde "Tunde" OlatunjiMain role, 80 episodes (season 1–4)
Recurring role, 6 episodes (season 5)
2019 Black Jesus Judge Horation Homey1 episode
TBA Death by Lightning Blanche Bruce Upcoming miniseries

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References

  1. Rybin, Steven (2007-08-30). The Cinema of Michael Mann. Lexington Books. pp. 169–. ISBN   9780739120439 . Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Vigil, Delfin (June 3, 2007). "An acting pioneer". SF Gate. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  3. "Henley, Barry Shabaka 1954– | Encyclopedia.com".
  4. Mitovich, Matt Webb (April 30, 2019). "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 6: Your First Look at Karolina Wydra's Galactic Mercenary and Other New Characters". TVLine . Archived from the original on April 30, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2019.