
Barry Shabaka Henley
​
​
Born: September 15, 1954
Birthplace: New Orleans, LA
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
​
​
​
Career and Life
​
Barry Shabaka Henley is an American character actor. Henley has appeared as a regular in a number of television series, has numerous film credits, and is a fixture in films by director Michael Mann, having worked with the director five times. His stage name, Shabaka, is taken from a Pharaoh from Egypt's 25th dynasty, who ruled from 721-707 BC.
​
Henley made his first appearance at the age of 37 in the unsold television pilot Clippers.
​
In Ali, Henley played Herbert Muhammad. In Collateral, he portrayed a sensitive jazz musician living on borrowed time. He played Buddy in the 1998 film How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Pokerface in the 1999 film Life. In 2004 he appeared in Steven Spielberg's The Terminal, playing an airport U.S. Customs Officer. He also appeared in the 2016 film Paterson.
​
Henley appeared in the television series Robbery Homicide Division and Barbershop. From 2009 to 2010 he played FBI Agent Vreede in the television series FlashForward. In 2010 Henley played Dr. Olson in the season 3 Lie to Me episode "Veronica". In 2011 he appeared as the murderer in the Body of Proof episode "Letting Go" and in 2012 he reunited with Michael Mann for the TV series Luck, playing a parole officer. In 2015 he played a police detective in the Breaking Bad spin-off series Better Call Saul.
​
In 2019, Henley joined the cast of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise.
​
Henley is a regular cast member on the CBS TV sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola (2019–present), appearing as Abishola's Uncle Tunde.
​
As a stage actor, Henley's honors include the Drama Desk, Obie, and Olivier Awards. He was also a member of the West Coast Black Repertory Theatre and the San Francisco Mime Troupe.
​
​