Stephen McKinley Henderson (born August 31, 1949) is an American actor. Henderson trained at Juilliard School for acting and later became a resident member of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis from 1976 to 1981. He came to prominence as a character actor often performing the plays of August Wilson. He has received nominations for two Tony Awards, a Drama Desk Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2021 Vulture named Henderson as one of "The 32 Greatest Character Actors Working Today".
Henderson made his Broadway debut in Wilson's King Hedley II in 2001. He earned Tony Award nominations for his performances in Wilson's Fences in 2010 and Stephen Adly Guirgis's Between Riverside and Crazy in 2023. He acted in the Broadway revival of A Raisin in the Sun in 2014. He made his film debut in A Pleasure Doing Business (1979) and has appeared in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011), Lincoln (2012), Fences (2016), Manchester by the Sea (2016), Lady Bird (2017), Dune (2021), Causeway (2022), Beau Is Afraid (2023), and Civil War (2024).
His television debut came in 1984 in PBS's The Killing Floor. He has appeared in Law & Order (1995–2010), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2005–2006), The Newsroom (2013), The Blacklist (2018), Wu-Tang: An American Saga (2019–2020), Devs (2020), and A Man on the Inside (2024).
Early life and education Stephen McKinley Henderson was born on August 31, 1949, in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Ruby Naomi and Elihue Henderson.Stephen Henderson Biography (1949–). Filmreference.com. Retrieved on September 23, 2016.
He spent a year at Lincoln University, Missouri and was originally part of Group 1 at the Juilliard School Drama Division before he left. He finished his BFA in Acting at the North Carolina School of the Arts (1972). He later studied at Purdue University, where he received his Master of Arts in Theatre (1977). He spent summer sessions at Rose Bruford College in London and William Esper Studios in New York City. Henderson is included in the List of Purdue University alumni.
Career Stage Henderson won the 2015 Obie Award for Best Actor for his starring role of Walter "Pops" Washington in the Atlantic Theatre Company and Second Stage productions of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Between Riverside and Crazy.2015 Obie Award Winners Announced. Obie Awards. Retrieved on September 23, 2016. He portrayed Jim Bono in the 2010 Broadway revival of August Wilson's Fences, starring Denzel Washington, for which Henderson received a nomination for a Tony Award as a supporting actor, as well as the Richard Seff Award from Actor's Equity. He reprised the role in Washington's 2016 film adaptation.
On Broadway, he performed in Drowning Crow, the revival of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and the premiere of King Hedley II. Henderson is recognized as a veteran performer of August Wilson's oeuvre.
His signature August Wilson role is the gossipy Turnbo in Jitney, for which he won a Drama Desk Award as part of the ensemble. He had created the role in the 1996 premiere at the Pittsburgh Public Theater, then honed it in other regional theaters before its arrival Off-Broadway in 2000. Though it did not transfer to Broadway, he and the core of the cast took Jitney to London, where it won the 2002 Olivier Award for best new play. In addition, he appeared in A Raisin in the Sun and directed Zooman and the Sign.
In 2005 Henderson appeared as Pontius Pilate in the production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman at the Public Theater.Stephen McKinley Henderson. americantheatrewing.org He appeared as Van Helsing in the Broadway production of Dracula, the Musical.
In 2023, he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Lucille Lortel Awards ceremony.2023 Lucille Lortel Awards Nominations. Lucille Lortel Awards. Retrieved on May 8, 2023.
Screen Henderson's films include his role as Cooper's husband in the TV film Marie (1985), Bobo in A Raisin in the Sun (1989), Arthur in Everyday People (2004),"Everyday People" website. Hbo.com (November 12, 2011). Retrieved on 2016-09-23. Lester in the film Tower Heist (2011), and White House servant William Slade in Steven Spielberg's film Lincoln (2012), along with roles in the films Keane (2004) and If You Could Say It in Words (2008).
In 2016, Henderson appeared in Kenneth Lonergan's film Manchester by the Sea. The following year, he played the role of Father Leviatch in Greta Gerwig's 2017 film Lady Bird, and in 2021 he appeared in Dune.
In addition to his films, Henderson was a series regular on the Fox series New Amsterdam, which premiered in early 2008. His other television work includes Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Newsroom, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Tyler Perry's House of Payne, Third Watch, Blue Bloods, and Devs.
Personal life Henderson married Pamela Reed. They have a child together.
Filmography Film +Key Denotes works that have not yet been released YearTitleRole(s)Notes1979A Pleasure Doing BusinessBank teller1985MarieCooper's husband 2004KeaneGarage employee2006Waltzing AnnaPete2008If You Could Say It in WordsBaseball fan2009The Good HeartPsychiatrist 2011Tower HeistLester DayExtremely Loud & Incredibly CloseWalt the locksmith 2012Red Hook SummerDeacon YancyLincolnWilliam Slade 2014 Da Sweet Blood of Jesus Deacon Yancy The Romans Birdman 2016 Manchester by the Sea Mr. Emery The American Side Stickney All at Once Robert Fences Jim Bono 2017 Lady Bird Father Leviatch 2019 Native Son Mr. Green The True Adventures of Wolfboy Nicholas 2020 Bruised Pops 2021 Dune Thufir Hawat 2022 Causeway Dr. Lucas 2023 Beau Is Afraid Therapist2024 Dune: Part Two Thufir Hawat Deleted scenes Civil War Sammy 2025 The Dutchman Dr. Amiri A King's CurtainMellShort film Good Fortune Azrael 2026 The Mandalorian and Grogu Gatori (voice) Filming
Television Year Title Role(s) Notes 1984 The Killing Floor James Cheeks Television film 1989 A Raisin in the Sun Bobo Television film 1995–2010 Law & Order Judge Marc Kramer 7 episodes 1995 New York News Sherman Wakes Episode: "Fun City" 2000 Third Watch Boudreaux Episode: "Know Thyself" 2001 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Abernathy Episode: "The Faithful" 2004 Everyday People Arthur Television film 2005–2006 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Judge Bernard 2 episodes 2006 Conviction Judge 2 episodes 2008 New Amsterdam Omar York Main cast, 8 episodes 2008 Brotherhood 2 episodes 2008 Tyler Perry's House of Payne Fred Jones Episode: Father's Day 2012 Blue Bloods Judge Harlan Haywood Episode: "Reagan V. Reagan" 2012 The Newsroom Solomon Hancock 3 episodes 2012 Elementary Groundskeeper Edison Episode: "One Way to Get Off" 2017 Survivor's Remorse Solomon Episode: "Future Plans" 2018 The Resident Darryl Phillips Episode: "The Elopement" 2018 The Blacklist Dr. Francis Woerner Episode: "Nicholas T. Moore (No. 110)" 2018 Strangers Billy Caldwell 2 episodes 2018 Fear the Walking Dead Clayton Episode: "Blackjack" 2019 Proven Innocent Judge Fry Episode: "Acceptable Losses" 2019–2021 Wu-Tang: An American Saga Uncle Hollis 3 episodes 2020 Devs Stewart Miniseries; 8 episodes 2020 Run John Episode: "Run" 2024 Extended Family Dr. Eldridge Davenport Episode: "The Consequences of Gaming" 2024–present A Man on the Inside Calbert Graham 17 episodes 2024 The Madness Isiah Miniseries
Theatre Year Title Role(s) Venue1986 A Raisin in the Sun BoboUnion Square Theatre, Off-Broadway1994 Zooman and the Sign Emmett TateMcGinn/Cazale Theatre, Off-Broadway2000 Jitney TurnboSecond Stage Theater, Off-Broadway2001 King Hedley II Stool Pigeon Virginia Theatre, Broadway 2003 Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Slow Drag Royale Theatre, Broadway 2004 Drowning Crow Sammy Bow Biltmore Theatre, Broadway2004–2005 Dracula, the Musical Abraham Van Helsing Belasco Theatre, Broadway2005 The Last Days of Judas Iscariot Pontius Pilate/Uncle PinoThe Public Theater, Off-Broadway2006 Seven Guitars Red CarterPeter Norton Space, Off-Broadway2007 King Hedley II Elmore Peter Norton Space, Off-Broadway2010 Fences Jim Bono Cort Theatre, Broadway2014 A Raisin in the Sun Bobo Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway2014 Between Riverside and Crazy Walter "Pops" Washington Linda Gross Theater, Off-Broadway2015 Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway2017 A Doll's House, Part 2 Torvald Helmer John Golden Theatre, Broadway2022–2023 Between Riverside and Crazy Walter "Pops" Washington Helen Hayes Theatre, Broadway
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominee Result2000 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Ensemble Performance Jitney 2010 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Play Fences 2015 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a PlayBetween Riverside and Crazy Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Play Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play 2016 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture Fences 2017 Lady Bird 2023 Tony Award Best Actor in a Play Between Riverside and Crazy Lucille Lortel Award Lifetime Achievement Award Drama Desk Award Harold Prince Lifetime Achievement Award
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