Barry Shabaka Henley

Barry Shabaka Henley, born Barry Joseph Henley on September 15, 1954 in New Orleans, Louisiana, has become one of the most recognizable American character actors of his generation. Raised by a mother who taught dance, he was exposed early to performance art, a background that later informed his nuanced stage presence. After his family moved to San Francisco, he attended the San Francisco Polytechnic High School where a teacher named Johnny Land sparked his interest in acting, leading to his first true audition at age seventeen for the Encore Theatre. Though initially unsure, he memorized the script on a bus ride and this determination launched a years‑long journey through the vibrant San Francisco Mime Troupe and West Coast Black Repertory Theatre, where his work earned him Drama Desk, Obie, and Olivier honors. His screen debut arrived relatively late at the age of thirty‑seven with the unsold pilot Clippers, but his talent quickly secured roles in high‑profile projects. Henley’s collaboration with director Michael Mann stands out, appearing in Ali as Herbert Muhammad, Collateral as a sensitive jazz musician, and later reuniting for the series Luck. He further impressed audiences in films such as How Stella Got Her Groove Back, The Terminal, and Miami Vice, where he portrayed Lieutenant Martin Castillo. Television fans know him for memorable parts like FBI Agent Vreede in FlashForward, a police detective in Better Call Saul, and most recently as Uncle Tunde in the CBS sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola (2019‑2024). In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he added to his diverse résumé with the role of Marcus Benson on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Throughout a career spanning over three decades, Henley’s blend of gravitas, humor, and authentic presence continues to enrich every project he joins, cementing his status as a beloved fixture in both stage and screen.