Henry Oswald Simmons (born July 1, 1970)[citation needed] is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Alphonso "Mack" Mackenzie in the ABC superhero drama series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2014-2020) and Baldwin Jones in the ABC police drama series NYPD Blue (2000–2005).

Henry Simmons
Simmons in 2019
Born
Henry Oswald Simmons

(1970-07-01) July 1, 1970 (age 54)
Alma materFranklin Pierce University
OccupationActor
Years active1994–present
Spouse
(m. 2010)

Early life and education

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Simmons was born in Stamford, Connecticut. He is the son of Aurelia, a school teacher, and Henry Simmons Sr., an IRS Revenue Officer.[1] He is one of three children, including his twin sister, and another sister. Simmons earned a basketball scholarship to Franklin Pierce University, where he earned a business degree.[2]

While attending Franklin Pierce University, he experimented in theater.[2] After graduating from college, he briefly worked at a Fortune 500 company in Stamford. Unhappy with his job, Simmons moved to New York City and began to study acting and after a few bit roles, he landed a recurring role on the soap opera Another World.

Career

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Simmons played Detective Baldwin Jones on the ABC drama NYPD Blue for six seasons. He had a leading role in the CBS legal drama Shark, a leading role in World's Greatest Dad, and the ABC-TV comedy series Man Up!

His film work includes the 2004 action/comedy film Taxi, From the Rough, and 2014's No Good Deed.[3]

Simmons won the Grand Jury Award for Best Actor at the American Black Film Festival, for his portrayal of Dr. Walter Chambers in the 2007 film South of Pico.

From 2014 to 2020, Simmons starred in the ABC superhero drama series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., portraying S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Alphonso "Mack" Mackenzie.[4] After being a recurring character in the second season, he was promoted to a series regular for season 3,[5] and for all remaining seasons.

In 2021 he starred as the lead in the Ava DuVernay series, Cherish the Day.[6]

Next he will star in the MGM+ drama series, Emperor Of Ocean Park, with Forest Whitaker.

Personal life

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Simmons married actress Sophina Brown in May 2010.[7]

Filmography

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Film

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Film roles
Year Title Role Notes
1994 Above the Rim Starnes
1995 Coincidents Tiger Short
1997 13 Bourbon St. -
1999 On the Q.T. Peter
Let It Snow Mitch Jennings
2001 On the Q.T. Peter
2002 A Gentleman's Game Walter Kane
2004 Taxi Jesse
2005 Are We There Yet? Carl
Lackawanna Blues Jesse TV movie
2006 Something New Kyle
Madea's Family Reunion Issac
The Insurgents Marcus
2007 South of Pico Dr. Walter Chambers
2009 World's Greatest Dad Mike Lane
Georgia O'Keeffe Jean Toomer TV movie
2011 From the Rough Kendrick Paulsen Jr.
2012 Superman vs. The Elite Efrain Baxter (voice) Video
2013 Stalkers Cliff Wagner TV movie
2014 No Good Deed Jeffery Granger
Saint Francis Peter TV movie
2015 Two Bellmen Ivan Short
Synapse Agent 805
2018 Bedtime Story Therapist Short

Television

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Television roles
Year Title Role Notes
1994 Saturday Night Live Johnny Episode: "Martin Lawrence/Crash Test Dummies"
The Cosby Mysteries Kevin Lewis Episode: "Expert Witness"
1994–1995 New York Undercover Jackson / Trapp Episode: "The Friendly Neighborhood Dealer" & "High on the Hog"
1997–1999 Another World Tyrone Montgomery Regular Cast
2000–2005 NYPD Blue Detective Baldwin Jones Main cast: season 7-12
2004 Spartacus Draba TV mini series
2006 Pepper Dennis Curtis Wilson Recurring cast
2006–2008 Shark Issac Wright Main cast
2009 The Cleaner Bobby Carmichael Episode: "Standing Eight"
CSI: Miami Andrew Ballard Episode: "Point of Impact"
Raising the Bar Officer Howard Episode: "Oh, Say Can You Pee"
2011 Let's Stay Together Mike Episode: "Daddy's Home"
Man Up Grant Sweet Main cast
2012 Common Law Morgan Watkins Episode: "The Ex-Factor"
2013 Bones Tom Molnor Episode: "The Corpse on the Canopy"
Second Generation Wayans Baron 'The Truth' Fouse Recurring cast
Coogan Auto Louis Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Visit"
2013–2014 Ravenswood Simon Beaumont Recurring cast
2014 Transparent Derek Episode: "Original Pilot"
Reckless Dr. Charles Briggs Episode: "And So It Begins"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Shakir Wilkins Episode: "American Disgrace"
2014–2020 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Alphonso "Mack" Mackenzie Recurring cast: season 2, main cast: season 3-7
2016 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Academy Himself Episode: "Skydive Challenge"
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot Alphonso "Mack" Mackenzie Episode: "Progress"
2022 Dynasty Kevin 2 episodes
Cherish The Day Ellis Moran Main cast
2024 The Emperor of Ocean Park Addison Garland Main cast

References

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  1. ^ Henry Simmons: Actor. People.com (May 8, 2000). Retrieved on 2016-11-19.
  2. ^ a b Henry Simmons. Cbs.com. Retrieved on November 19, 2016.
  3. ^ Henry Simmons (Wiki, Wife, Divorce, Gay, Shirtless, Net Worth) Archived December 5, 2023, at the Wayback Machine. Unapix.com. Retrieved on November 19, 2016.
  4. ^ Strom, Marc (August 7, 2014). "Henry Simmons Joins Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D." Marvel. Archived from the original on March 23, 2015.
  5. ^ White, Brett (June 4, 2015). ""Agents Of SHIELD" Ups Henry Simmons To Series Regular". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on May 4, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  6. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 7, 2021). "Henry Simmons & Joy Bryant to Star in Season 2 of OWN Anthology Drama Series 'Cherish the Day'". Deadline. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  7. ^ Miller, Gerri (October 17, 2011). "Henry Simmons Lightens Up: He plays it for laughs in Man Up!". BET.com.
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