Barry Shabaka Henley

Henley is the definition of a working character actor whose face you know even if his name doesn't immediately land. I love that he can slip into a Michael Mann film like Collateral and feel completely lived-in, then turn around and bring that same gravity to the stage. There's a warmth and authority in his presence that directors clearly trust, and his theater credentials give him a depth a lot of screen-only actors lack. He's the kind of performer who quietly elevates every project, and I always feel a little more confident in a cast when I spot his name.

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Barry Shabaka Henley (born September 15, 1954) is an American actor born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a prolific character actor known for his work across film, television, and the stage. His credits include roles in films such as Collateral, Ali, and The Terminal, and he has earned recognition in the theater world.

Name (English)

Barry Shabaka Henley

Name (Japanese)

バリー・シャバカ・ヘンリー

Reading

ばりー・しゃばか・へんりー

Born

September 15, 1954 (age 72)

Origin

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Occupation

Actor / Stage actor / Television actor / Film actor / Television host

Zodiac / Chinese zodiac

Virgo / Horse

High school

San Francisco Technical High School

Awards & achievements

• Drama Desk Award
• Obie Award
• Laurence Olivier Award

• Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry%20Shabaka%20Henley
• Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%90%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A3%E3%83%90%E3%82%AB%E3%83%BB%E3%83%98%E3%83%B3%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC
• Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q809099

Tags

• Louisiana-born
• Actor
• Stage actor
• Television actor

Last updated

September 18, 2026

Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.