April 16, 2018

Barry Shabaka Henley. Another unsung hero of cinema and TV


Look at that face. That hangdog expression. The "I've had it up to hear with your shite" glint in his eye. A perfect look for a character actor and Barry is a perfect character actor.  Never the lead role and always playing a certain type of role but always doing it more memorably than the stars of the film.He's someone you'd recognise from the background of dozens of TV shows and films over the last 25 years. He's an actor who didn't get his start until he was nearly 40 showing that there's hope for us all yet. He's like a big teddy bear you'd be afraid to turn your back on if you've seen his dark side onscreen. Plus anyone who takes their name from an ancient Pharaoh is cool in my book.


He's been a muse to director Michael Mann. Been father to the most famous boxer in the world. Played more senior police officers than we've had hot dinners. Been both a prison guard and a prison inmate. Played a friendly airport worker in Steven Spielberg's most sickly and saccharine film. Got kicked in the face by Jackie Chan and shot in the head by Tom Cruise. Taken on demons with Denzel Washington. He's been headmaster to a Stephen King creation and been a doctor who sadly treated Tina Turner's many injuries. The man has done everything, Sci-fi, horror, war, drama, action, comedy, thriller and probably every cop show in the last 2 decades. At the moment he's gracing our small screens in Amazon TV's magnificent show Bosch. Check out his career here


Greatest hits

Ali - Herbert Muhammad. The manager of Cassius Clay turned Muhammad Ali. A steady shoulder for a man caught in the limelight and one who takes no shit from anyone.

Collateral - Daniel. The Jazz musician who jammed with all the greats. Only appears in one scene before he gets turned into ketchup by 3 bullets but what a scene it is.

Bosch - Terry Drake. An LAPD detective who's friendly and droll exterior masks a rather sinister side. A great role in a great show.

Previous heroes

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