Duane Henry Explained

Duane Henry
Birth Date:18 March 1985
Birth Place:Birmingham, West Midlands, England
Occupation:Actor
Known For:Clayton Reeves (NCIS)
Years Active:2004–present

Duane Henry (born 18 March 1985) is an English actor. Henry is most notable for his roles as Clayton Reeves in NCIS and Gareth Broadhurst in Doctors. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

Early life

Duane Henry was born in Birmingham, West Midlands, England. He grew up in a working class home in Handsworth. As a child, Henry attended St. Francis Catholic Primary School in Birmingham, and St. John Wall School in Handsworth, eventually studying drama at Dudley College.[1] When he was 17, Henry moved to London to explore a career in the entertainment industry.

Career

Henry first began acting in 2004, a year after moving to London on November 27, 2003. His first acting role was alongside Samantha Janus on The Afternoon Play, a British television anthology series. From 2004 to 2011, Henry made a variety of guest appearances on popular British television dramas, including Doctor Who, The Bill, and The Cut, earning him a nomination for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Screen National Award for Best Emerging Talent in 2010.[2]

From 2005 to 2013, Henry played five roles on the British medical soap opera Doctors, originally set in Birmingham. He played Gareth Broadhurst, a former soldier with PTSD in a three-part special of the show released in 2013 entitled Doctors: War Zone.[3] Henry attributes his success on Doctors to the fact that he is a native of Birmingham and is therefore automatically considered for roles on the show. Then, in 2011, Henry played a security guard in Madonna’s historical romance drama W.E.[4]

Henry moved from London to Los Angeles in November 2013.[5] [6] Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, Henry spent a year perfecting his American accent in order to expand his range as an actor. He auditioned for many roles, including a role on Jennifer Lopez's Shades of Blue, where film director Barry Levinson 'was also present.

Henry first joined the NCIS cast as MI6 agent Clayton Reeves in May 2016 for the 23rd and 24th episodes of the show’s 13th season. Henry was given an option to return for the following season.[6] In July 2016, it was confirmed that Henry’s character would be featured as a regular on the show beginning in the 14th season, which aired on September 20, 2016. According to Henry, the character of Clayton Reeves did not originally have roots in Birmingham, but he incorporated his upbringing into his character’s backstory. Henry left NCIS in the 22nd episode of the 15th season titled "Two Steps Back" in which Reeves is killed off.[7] Henry explained that neither he nor the producers were sure how to develop the character after the death of his creator and NCIS showrunner Gary Glasberg on September 28, 2016, so the decision was made to write the character out of the show at the end of season 15.[8]

Personal life

Henry was homeless for a period in his lifetime, and has connected his difficult upbringing in Birmingham to his success as an actor. His mother was a 16 year-old single parent. He eventually moved in with his aunt and held various jobs including selling shoes on Oxford Street, and in a theatre in Leicester Square, where he "was sacked for daydreaming and practising his autograph."[5] Henry did not know his father. He stated that growing up they were hit with reality, and where he grew up showed him where he does and does not want to be in life; it made him work much harder to achieve his goals.

Henry has stated that if he were not an actor, he would still be involved in the arts, perhaps teaching drama to younger generations, or as a talent scout. When asked about his inspiration as an actor, Henry replied that he reviews the struggles of people in his social circles “from A-Z” and then sees them still on their feet and smiling and draws inspiration from them to “keep on going”.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006The Road to GuantánamoGuard #1[9]
2008The Oxford MurdersPoliceman 1[10] [11]
FlickMark Jackson[12]
2011London BoulevardNation of Islam Guy Uncredited role[13] [14]
GhostedJason[15]
W.E.Dwayne / Security Guard[16]
2012The Dark Knight RisesSWAT in Dive Bar[17]
ComedownColin "Col"[18]
A ScholarshipMichael
12JamesShort film
BlastedVernonShort film
2014MontanaJunior[19]
2016Oysters Have Feelings TooDanielShort animated film
2019Captain MarvelTalos-Kree soldier

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005The Afternoon PlayRyanEpisode: "The Hitch" (S 3:Ep 1)
DoctorsAlexEpisode: "Sleepless Nights " (S 6:Ep 145)
Jermaine Lindsey[20]
2005-09Dubplate DramaDJ DramaUK Drama based on the grime scene.
2006JerichoRoy MarloweEpisode: "The First Seventeen Hours" (S 1:Ep 1–Pilot)
Dream Team 80'sKevin NelsonMini-series directed by Rob MacGillivray
2007DesperadosJake Malone
Nearly FamousLee
Blue MurderAaron MathewsEpisode: "Desperate Measures" (S 4:Ep 2)
2008West 10 LDNOrin[21]
DoctorsJack ShawEpisode: "And the Winner Is..." (S 10:Ep 9)
Doctor WhoMechanic ClaudeEpisode: "Midnight" (S4:Ep 10)
BonekickersAnthony
Coming UpTotesEpisode: "Kings of London" (S 6:Ep 4)
2009The PhilanthropistOfficer BradleyEpisode: "San Diego" (S 1:Ep 6)
The BillTyson ArcherEpisodes:
DoctorsTony FiltonEpisode: "Love All" (S 11:Ep 135)
2010The CutRory Andrews
2011Marty FlynnEpisode: "Denial" (S 4:Ep 2)
DoctorsSteve DayEpisode: "Glad Rags" (S 13:Ep 62)
2012CasualtyTommy DownsEpisode: "When the Gloves Come Off" (S 26:Ep 30)
2013DoctorsGareth Broadhurst
2015Paradise PicturesAldo Boyd[22]
2016Cruel IntentionsSullivan[23]
2016–18NCISClayton ReevesMain: seasons 14–15; guest: season 13
2018A Gingerbread RomanceAdamHallmark movie
2021Mistletoe In MontanaMark AguilarLifetime movie

Notes and References

  1. NCIS Star Duane Henry on Growing Up Poor, His Special Mom, and Moving to Hollywood. Paulette. Cohn. Parade. Athlon Media Group. United States. 1 August 2017. 15 May 2018.
  2. News: 'NCIS' Casts British Actor Duane Henry as Possible Series Regular. Wagmeister. Elizabeth. 2016-04-04. Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Los Angeles. en-US. 2016-12-01.
  3. Web site: Duane Henry. IMDb. 2016-12-07.
  4. Web site: Duane Henry. IMDb. 2016-12-01.
  5. News: How Brummie Duane Henry landed a role in NCIS. Laws. Roz. 31 May 2016. Birmingham Mail. Trinity Mirror. Birmingham. 1 December 2016.
  6. News: 'NCIS': Duane Henry Joins CBS Series. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. United States. 4 April 2016. 15 May 2018.
  7. 'NCIS': Pauley Perrette Sends Farewell Message to Duane Henry After Emotional Exits. Michael. Hein. Pop Culture. Entertainment Tonight and TV Guide Network. United States. 8 May 2018. 8 May 2018.
  8. Why NCIS Really Killed Off That Main Character In Abby's Final Episode. Nick. Venable. CinemaBlend. CinemaBlend. United States. 9 May 2018. 9 May 2018.
  9. Web site: The Road to Guantánamo. Turner Classic Movies. Turner Broadcasting System. United States. 9 May 2018.
  10. Web site: The Oxford Murders. Turner Classic Movies. Turner Broadcasting System. United States. 9 May 2018.
  11. Book: Martínez, Guillermo. Guillermo Martínez (writer)

    . The Oxford Murders. Guillermo Martínez (writer). Penguin Books. 2006. Westminster, London. Reprint. 978-0143037965.

  12. Web site: Flick. Turner Classic Movies. Turner Broadcasting System. United States. 13 May 2018.
  13. Web site: London Boulevard. Turner Classic Movies. Turner Broadcasting System. United States. 13 May 2018.
  14. Book: Bruen, Ken. Ken Bruen

    . London Boulevard. Ken Bruen. Minotaur Books. New York City. 2001. Reprint. 2009. 978-0312561680.

  15. Web site: Ghosted. Turner Classic Movies. Turner Broadcasting System. United States. 13 May 2018.
  16. News: Madonna directs 'W.E.,' which clumsily contrives parallel stories about Wallis Simpson and a modern Manhattanite named Wally.. Betsy. Sharkey. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. 9 December 2011. 13 May 2018.
  17. Web site: The Dark Knight Rises. Turner Classic Movies. Turner Broadcasting System. United States. 14 May 2018.
  18. Web site: Comedown. Turner Classic Movies. Turner Broadcasting System. United States. 14 May 2018.
  19. Web site: Montana. Turner Classic Movies. Turner Broadcasting System. United States. 14 May 2018.
  20. News: 7/7 London bombings: What happened on 7 July 2005?. BBC News Staff. BBC News. BBC. London. 6 July 2015. 8 May 2018.
  21. Book: Newland, Courttia. Courttia Newland

    . Society Within. Courttia Newland. Abacus Publishing. London. 2000. 978-0349111803.

  22. News: Denyse Tontz & Duane Henry Board USA's 'Paradise Pictures' Pilot. Denise. Petski. Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. United States. 17 July 2015. 14 May 2018.
  23. Web site: Cruel Intentions: NBC May Still Order Series. Cindy. McLennan. TV Series Finale. United States. 14 May 2016. 14 May 2014.