Brad William Henke Movies And TV Shows: The Ultimate Guide to His Career

Brad William Henke Movies And TV Shows: Brad William Henke was an American actor and former football player, best known for his work as Desi Piscatelli on Orange Is the New Black (for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Award) as well as in acclaimed movies such as Fury, Choke, World Trade Center and Bright. Unfortunately he passed away aged 56 due to a pancreatic tumor.

Early Life and Football Career

Henke was born April 10, 1966, in Columbus, Nebraska. While at the University of Arizona he played as a defensive lineman. Drafted by the New York Giants but cut prior to training camp; eventually joined Denver Broncos where he appeared in Super Bowl XXIV against San Francisco 49ers; injuries necessitating six ankle surgeries led to his retirement from professional football in 1994.

Acting Career Of Brad William Henke

Henke began acting professionally in 1994 with commercials. His film debut was in 1996 in Mr. Wrong with Ellen DeGeneres starring. Since then he has made many other film appearances often taking on tough or imposing characters in different projects including;

1. Denny is an antagonist from Chuck Palahniuk’s novel Choke (2008) who becomes friends with its protagonist.
2. Construction Foreman (Giulio del Toro, 2013). A group of construction workers led by Construction Foreman helps the protagonists escape a giant monster in Pacific Rim (2013) directed by Guillermo del Toro.
3. Sergeant Davis plays the mentor to Brad Pitt’s protagonist in Fury (2014), a World War II war drama featuring tank commanders as key characters.
4. Andrew appears as a neighbor and love interest of the protagonist in Miranda July’s indie comedy-drama Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005), an indie comedy-drama written and directed by Miranda July.
5. Dorghu, an orc gang leader and antagonist from Bright (2017) is featured as an antagonist. Set in an alternate world where humans live alongside mythical creatures, Will Smith plays Dorghu.
6. Henke had an equally successful television career, appearing in numerous shows of different genres and popular programs. Notable roles include:

• Henke played Desi Piscatella, a gay corrections officer who abuses his power and becomes the central antagonist in Orange Is the New Black (2016-2018), an award-winning comedy-drama series set in a women’s prison. For his performance he received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Series in 2016.
• Manhunt (2020), a true crime anthology series, features Big John as a survivalist and leader of a militia group who assists the FBI in tracking down serial bomber.
• Tom Cullen is a mentally handicapped individual who joins a band of survivors after an epidemic wipes out most of humanity in The Stand (2020-2021), a miniseries adapted from Stephen King’s novel of the same name.
• Del Lucan is a truck driver and close ally to the protagonists in Big Sky (2022), an action crime series by David E. Kelley.
• Jonah Walsh is a former CIA agent and adversary to MacGyver (2018)’s protagonist in this modern reboot of a classic action-adventure series.

Personal Life and Death

Henke was married to actress Katelin Chesna from 2001 until 2008. In May 2021, Henke announced on Instagram that he had an artery blocked 90 percent and needed heart surgery. Later that month he shared that he had developed a tumor in his pancreas which necessitated removal of half his pancreas and half of his spleen as well as fan support and prayers from fans and thanked them all for being there during his ordeal.

On November 29th 2022 at 56 years old he passed away peacefully, confirmed by Sonja Henke posting an online tribute in his honor via social media posts from Sonja Henke who posted her tribute post to honoring him online.

Henke will long be remembered by fans and colleagues as a talented, kindhearted individual who brought life and energy to his performances. His legacy of memorable performances will continue to bring entertainment and inspire audiences for years to come.