Henry Simmons
{{short description|American actor}}
{{other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Henry Simmons
| image = Henry Simmons by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Simmons in 2019
| birth_name = Henry Oswald Simmons
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|7|1}}
| birth_place = Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
| othername =
| alma_mater = Franklin Pierce University
| occupation = Actor
| yearsactive = 1994–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Sophina Brown|2010}}
}}
Henry Oswald Simmons (born July 1, 1970){{citation needed|date=September 2018}} is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Alphonso "Mack" Mackenzie in the ABC superhero drama series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2014-2020) and Baldwin Jones in the ABC police drama series NYPD Blue (2000–2005).
Early life and education
Simmons was born in Stamford, Connecticut. He is the son of Aurelia, a school teacher, and Henry Simmons Sr., an IRS Revenue Officer.[http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20131151,00.html Henry Simmons: Actor]. People.com (May 8, 2000). Retrieved on 2016-11-19. He is one of three children, including his twin sister, and another sister. Simmons earned a basketball scholarship to Franklin Pierce University, where he earned a business degree.[https://web.archive.org/web/20080315052932/http://www.cbs.com/primetime/shark/bio/hsimmons.shtml Henry Simmons]. Cbs.com. Retrieved on November 19, 2016.
While attending Franklin Pierce University, he experimented in theater. After graduating from college, he briefly worked at a Fortune 500 company in Stamford. Unhappy with his job, Simmons moved to New York City and began to study acting and after a few bit roles, he landed a recurring role on the soap opera Another World.
Career
Simmons played Detective Baldwin Jones on the ABC drama NYPD Blue for six seasons. He had a leading role in the CBS legal drama Shark, a leading role in World's Greatest Dad, and the ABC-TV comedy series Man Up!
His film work includes the 2004 action/comedy film Taxi, From the Rough, and 2014's No Good Deed.[http://unapix.com/biographies/henry-simmons-biography.html Henry Simmons (Wiki, Wife, Divorce, Gay, Shirtless, Net Worth)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205183431/http://unapix.com/biographies/henry-simmons-biography.html |date=December 5, 2023 }}. Unapix.com. Retrieved on November 19, 2016.
Simmons won the Grand Jury Award for Best Actor at the American Black Film Festival, for his portrayal of Dr. Walter Chambers in the 2007 film South of Pico.
From 2014 to 2020, Simmons starred in the ABC superhero drama series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., portraying S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Alphonso "Mack" Mackenzie.{{cite news|url=http://marvel.com/news/tv/23056/henry_simmons_joins_marvels_agents_of_shield.|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150323234053/http://marvel.com/news/tv/23056/henry_simmons_joins_marvels_agents_of_shield.|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 23, 2015|title=Henry Simmons Joins Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.|publisher=Marvel|author=Strom, Marc|date=August 7, 2014}} After being a recurring character in the second season, he was promoted to a series regular for season 3,{{cite news|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/agents-of-shield-ups-henry-simmons-to-series-regular|title="Agents Of SHIELD" Ups Henry Simmons To Series Regular|website=Comic Book Resources|author=White, Brett|date=June 4, 2015|access-date=July 18, 2016|archive-date=May 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504170423/http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/agents-of-shield-ups-henry-simmons-to-series-regular|url-status=dead}} and for all remaining seasons.
In 2021 he starred as the lead in the Ava DuVernay series, Cherish the Day.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2021-07-07 |title=Henry Simmons & Joy Bryant to Star in Season 2 of OWN Anthology Drama Series 'Cherish the Day' |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/henry-simmons-joy-bryant-to-star-in-season-2-of-own-anthology-drama-series-cherish-the-day-1234787832/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
Next he will star in the MGM+ drama series, [https://deadline.com/2024/02/bryan-greenberg-henry-simmons-cast-emperor-of-ocean-park-1235816507/ Emperor Of Ocean Park], with Forest Whitaker.
Personal life
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Film roles ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
| 1994
| Starnes | |
| 1995
| Coincidents | Tiger | Short |
| 1997
| 13 Bourbon St. | - | |
| rowspan=2| 1999
| On the Q.T. | Peter | |
| Let It Snow
| Mitch Jennings | |
| 2001
| On the Q.T. | Peter | |
| 2002
| Walter Kane | |
| 2004
| Taxi | Jesse | |
| rowspan=2| 2005
| Carl | |
| Lackawanna Blues
| Jesse | TV movie |
| rowspan=3| 2006
| Kyle | |
| Madea's Family Reunion
| Issac | |
| {{sortname|The|Insurgents}}
| Marcus | |
| 2007
| Dr. Walter Chambers | |
| rowspan=2| 2009
| Mike Lane | |
| Georgia O'Keeffe
| TV movie |
| 2011
| Kendrick Paulsen Jr. | |
| 2012
| Efrain Baxter (voice) | Video |
| 2013
| Stalkers | Cliff Wagner | TV movie |
| rowspan=2| 2014
| Jeffery Granger | |
| Saint Francis
| Peter | TV movie |
| rowspan=2| 2015
| Two Bellmen | Ivan | Short |
| Synapse
| Agent 805 | |
| 2018
| Bedtime Story | Therapist | Short |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Television roles ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
| rowspan=2| 1994
| Johnny | Episode: "Martin Lawrence/Crash Test Dummies" |
| {{sortname|The|Cosby Mysteries}}
| Kevin Lewis | Episode: "Expert Witness" |
| 1994–1995
| Jackson / Trapp | Episode: "The Friendly Neighborhood Dealer" & "High on the Hog" |
| 1997–1999
| Tyrone Montgomery | Regular Cast |
| 2000–2005
| Detective Baldwin Jones | Main cast: season 7-12 |
| 2004
| Draba | TV mini series |
| 2006
| Curtis Wilson | Recurring cast |
| 2006–2008
| Shark | Issac Wright | Main cast |
| rowspan=3| 2009
| Bobby Carmichael | Episode: "Standing Eight" |
| CSI: Miami
| Andrew Ballard | Episode: "Point of Impact" |
| Raising the Bar
| Officer Howard | Episode: "Oh, Say Can You Pee" |
| rowspan=2| 2011
| Mike | Episode: "Daddy's Home" |
| Man Up
| Grant Sweet | Main cast |
| 2012
| Morgan Watkins | Episode: "The Ex-Factor" |
| rowspan=3| 2013
| Bones | Tom Molnor | Episode: "The Corpse on the Canopy" |
| Second Generation Wayans
| Baron 'The Truth' Fouse | Recurring cast |
| Coogan Auto
| Louis | Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Visit" |
| 2013–2014
| Simon Beaumont | Recurring cast |
| rowspan=3| 2014
| Derek | Episode: "Original Pilot" |
| Reckless
| Dr. Charles Briggs | Episode: "And So It Begins" |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
| Shakir Wilkins | Episode: "American Disgrace" |
| 2014–2020
| Recurring cast: season 2, main cast: season 3-7 |
| rowspan="2" | 2016
| Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Academy | Himself | Episode: "Skydive Challenge" |
| Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot
| Episode: "Progress" |
| rowspan=2| 2022
| Dynasty | Kevin | 2 episodes |
| Cherish The Day
| Ellis Moran | Main cast |
| 2024
| Addison Garland | Main cast |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Henry Simmons}}
- {{IMDb name|0005431}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simmons, Henry}}
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:Franklin Pierce University alumni
Category:Male actors from Stamford, Connecticut
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors