Actor and Ex-NFL player Brad William Henke died at age of 56
Brad Former NFL quarterback turned actor William Henke, known for roles in films like Pacific Rim and World Trade Center and TV episodes like Orange is the New Black, Justified, and Lost, has died. He was 56.
It was stated that Henke died on November 29 in his sleep, although the actual cause of his death was never made public.
All-Academic student writer and former football team captain at the University of Arizona, Henke was born on April 10, 1966, in Columbus, New Brunswick, and grew up in Littleton, Colorado. New York Giants drafted him in the first round of the 1989 NFL season. After that, he joined the Denver Broncos and played defensive line, where he was a part of their Super Bowl XXIV team.
When injuries prompted him to give up playing in 1994, Henke moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a coach. Quickly finding work after answering an open call for “big guy” for a commercial. He began appearing on television shows such as ER and Chicago Hope, as well as others like Silk Stockings, Nash Bridges, and Arli$$ before finally becoming a regular cast member this year.
The actor co-starred with Nikki Cox and Sam Trammell in the Showtime road trip drama Going to California, which aired for a single season and was a critical and ratings success. The actor’s first major recurring part was here.
In the early 2000s, Henke appeared in multiple films and numerous guest-starring parts on television shows like CSI, Crossing Jordan, and Judging Amy. Acting credits include The Assassination of Richard Nixon, Me and You and Everyone We Know, Must Love Dogs, The Zodiac, North Country, World Trade Center, and Hollywoodland prior to his portrayal as Tony Tucci on Showtime’s Dexter, a murder suspect turned near-victim who appeared in four episodes.
Henke is survived by his mother Tammy, sister Annette, wife Sonja, stepsons Aaden and Leasa, granddaughter Amirah.