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

(1954-09-15) September 15, 1954 (age 70)
Nationality American
Occupation Actor
Years active 1988–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, having worked with the director five times. Since 2019, he has co-starred in the CBS sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola.

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."

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. 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.

Henley is a regular cast member on the CBS TV sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola (2019–present), appearing as Abishola's Uncle Tunde.

As a stage actor, Henley's honors include the Drama Desk, 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
Year Title Role Notes
1988 Nincompoop
1993 Fear of a Black Hat Geoffrey Lennox
1993 What's Love Got to Do with It El Paso Doctor
1993 The Thing Called Love Reverend Raymond
1994 The Scout McDermott
1995 Destiny Turns on the Radio Dravec
1995 Lord of Illusions Dr. Toffler
1995 Devil in a Blue Dress Woodcutter
1998 Fallen Uniformed Cop
1998 Bulworth Man at Frankie's
1998 How Stella Got Her Groove Back Buddy
1998 Rush Hour Bobby
1998 Patch Adams Emmet
1999 Life Pokerface
2001 Go for the Fro Short film
2001 Ali Jabir Herbert Muhammad
2003 Market
2004 The Terminal Officer Thurman
2004 Collateral Daniel
2005 Four Brothers Councilman Douglas
2005 Shackles Virgil Direct-to-video
2006 Miami Vice Castillo
2009 Horsemen Tuck
2009 State of Play Gene Stavitz
2009 Streets of Blood Captain Friendly Direct-to-video
2010 The Dry Land Col. Stephen Evans
2010 Virginia Willie
2011 The Big Year Dr. Neil Kramer
2012 Stolen Reginald
2013 Water & Power Preacher Broyard
2013 Carrie Principal Morton
2016 Paterson Doc
2017 Mad Families Pops
2017 Lucky Joe
2017 The Off Season VR: Ship's Helm Motel Sid Short film
2017 Chasing Titles Vol. 1 Luke Parker Short film
2018 Miscreant Detective Lambert Short film
2018 Office Uprising Clarence
2018 A Star Is Born Little Feet
2018 American Nightmares Bishop Love
2019 Dolemite Is My Name Demond
Television roles
Year Title Role Notes
1991 Clippers Teddy TV Pilot
1991-1992 The Royal Family Willis Tillis Recurring role
1992 Till Death Us Do Part Judge Barton TV movie
1992-1994 Roc Ernie Recurring role
1993 Johnny Bago Detective Venezia 2 episodes
1994 ER Detective Episode: "Chicago Heat"
1995 Married... with Children Charlie 1 episode
1995 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Horrible Looking Giant #1 (voice) Episode: "The Valiant Little Tailor"
1995 The Client Linton Bell Episode: "Them That Has..."
1995 NYPD Blue Roger Billings Episode: "Heavin' Can Wait"
1996 Malcolm & Eddie Mr. Derian Episode: "Eddie by Moonlight"
1996 Sparks Stan Lawrence Episode: "Penal Envy"
1997 Die Gang Sam Otero Recurring role
1997 Duckman Additional voices Episode: "Ebony, Baby"
1998 Brooklyn South Mr. Anders Episode: "Don't You Be My Valentine"
2000 The Steve Harvey Show Tom Cunningham Episode: "Boy Trouble"
2000 City of Angels Delmar Forchette Episode: "The Prince and the Porker"
2001 Oz Lieutenant Schmand Episode: "Revenge Is Sweet"
2001 Crossing Jordan Omar Maltese Episode: "Born to Run"
2002 Providence Episode: "The Good Fight"
2002 Pavement Lieutenant Marks TV movie
2002-2003 Robbery Homicide Division Sgt. Albert Simms Main cast
2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Asante Odufemi Episode: "Ritual"
2004 NYPD Blue Archie Day 2 episodes
2005 Lackawanna Blues Shakey Winfield TV movie
2005 Grey's Anatomy Mr. Patterson Episode: "Shake Your Groove Thing"
2005-2006 Close to Home Detective Lou Drummer Recurring role
2005-2006 Barbershop Eddie Main cast
2006 Numbers Coach Grady Episode: "Hardball"
2007 Hustle Thomas Jackson Episode: "Big Daddy Calling"
2007 Heroes Detective Bryan Fuller Recurring role
2007 Alibi Bean TV movie
2009-2010 FlashForward Agent Shelly Vreede Recurring role
2010 The Good Guys Dr. Vincent Olson Episode: "Veronica"
2010 Lie to Me Al Chapman Episode: "Letting Go"
2012 Fairly Legal Agent Donovan Episode: "Start Me Up"
2012 Luck Parole Officer 4 episodes
2012 Veep Fast Food Executive Episode: "Baseball"
2013 Shameless Judge Glen Aufseeser Episode: "A Long Way from Home"
2013 Remember Sunday Baptiste TV movie
2013 The Crazy Ones Pete Episode: "The Stan Wood Account"
2013 2cool 4school Louis Perry TV Pilot
2015 White Water Rev. Stokes TV movie
2015 Better Call Saul Detective Sanders 3 episodes
2015 Extant Senator Gabel Episode: "Change Scenario"
2015 Black-ish T Jackson Episode: "Chop Shop"
2015 Unforgettable Leo Hackett Episode: "Behind the Beat"
2016 NCIS: New Orleans Baton Rouge Detective Todd Lamont Episode: "Means to an End"
2016 Pearl Doctor Hudson TV Pilot
2016 Brothers in Atlanta Buddy TV Pilot
2017 Elementary Wendell Hecht Episode: "Crowned Clown, Downtown Brown"
2017 NCIS Earl Goddard Episode: "Pandora's Box, Part I"
2017 Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television Captain Jackson #3 / Female Captain Jackson #8 2 episodes
2017 The Off Season 4 episodes
2017-2018 Bosch Terry Drake Recurring role
2019 Station 19 Oscar Delgado Episode: "I Fought the Law"
2019 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Dr. Marcus Benson Recurring role (Season 6)

5 episodes

2019–present Bob Hearts Abishola Babatunde "Tunde" Olatunji Main role
2019 Black Jesus Judge Horation Homey Episode: "Boonie Comes Up"

See also

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