Lenny Henry
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Bibliography
Biography
This black British comic quickly rose to fame as a teenaged impressionist. The son of Jamaican immigrants, Lenny Henry started doing impersonations in his early teens, eventually winning the TV talent showcase "New Faces" in 1975. With his newfound fame, he went on to make guest appearances on popular comedies (i.e., "The Fosters") and children's shows (e.g., "TISWAS") before teaming with Tracey Ullman and David Copperfield for the variety show "Three of a Kind" (1981). Henry went on to headline a number of other variety series before eventually turning to character comedy. In 1984, he toured with "Stand Up-Get Down," based on his popular recording. Some found his routines abrasive and somewhat racist; wiping sweat from his brow, he would tell the predominantly white audience that it tasted like chocolate. As he matured, Henry moved into more character based comedy, eventually headlining his own sitcom (the self-titled "The Lenny Henry Show" in 1987-88). He found international fame, at least with discerning viewers of public television in the USA, playing the sometimes exasperated titular "Chef!," a sitcom he headlined for three seasons in England from 1993-96.
Henry moved to the big screen as a waiter who befriends an unhappy heiress (Mariel Hemingway) in "The Suicide Club" (1988). His concert performance film "Lenny Live/Lenny Live and Unleashed" (1989) captured his routines and proved popular in his homeland. Disney executives approached him with an offer of a possible multi-picture deal which led to his being cast in Charles Lane's "True Identity" (1991). The film's controversial premise had Henry playing an aspiring actor who is forced to hide from gangsters by pretending to be a white Italian-American. While the execution proved routine, the film did offer its lead an opportunity to impress with his facility with mimicry. The disappointing box office, however, led Disney to release Henry from his contract. More recently, he returned to the concert halls touring the UK and Australia performing comedy.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Life Events
1971
Began doing impersonations at age 13 (date approximate)
1973
Entered an impersonation contest at a local club at age 15 (date approximate)
1975
Started professional career in comedy on British TV by competing in and winning the talent showcase "New Faces"
1976
Appeared on British TV sitcoms such as "The Fosters" and the children's show "TISWAS"
1981
Co-starred with Tracey Ullman and David Copperfield in the variety series "Three of a Kind"; also wrote material
1982
Co-starred on series "OTT" (ITV)
1984
Hosted his own program "The Lenny Henry Show" (BBC)
1984
Recorded first comedy album Stand Up-Get Down
1984
Toured England with "Stand Up-Get Down" show
1985
Second national tour with "The Totally Fierce Tour"
1986
Featured on the BBC series "Lenny Henry Tonite"
1987
Feature film debut, "The Suicide Club"
1987
Once again starred on the comedy series "The Lenny Henry Show" (BBC)
1989
Wrote and starred in the concert film "Lenny Live/Lenny Henry Live and Unleashed"
1991
U.S. film debut, "True Identity"
1991
Played the Genie in the children's film "Bernard and the Genie" (released on video in the USA)
1993
Starred for three seasons on the British sitcom "Chef!" (BBC)
1999
Landed lead on BBC-1's sitcom "Hope & Glory"
2004
Cast in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," directed by Alfonso Cuarón
2006
Appeared in the fantasy comedy "Penelope"
2008
Cast in British family series "Big and Small"
2012
Voiced Peg Leg Hastings in the animated adventure "Pirates! Band of Misfits"
Family
Companions
