Mike Henry
Encyclopedia
Michael Dennis "Mike" Henry (born August 15, 1936 in Los Angeles
, California
) is a former American football
linebacker
and actor
.
Henry's football career as a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers
(1958–1961) and the Los Angeles Rams
(1962–1964) led him to be noticed by Warner Bros.
His most prominent role was as Tarzan
in three 1960s movies, Tarzan and the Valley of Gold
(1966), Tarzan and the Great River
(1967), and Tarzan and the Jungle Boy
(1968), that were all filmed back-to-back in 1965. Henry turned down the lead of the subsequent Tarzan television series, which then went to actor Ron Ely. After leaving the Tarzan series Henry was one of many actors to be under consideration for the title role in the Batman
TV series, which was originally to have been done as a straight crime-adventure series before producer William Dozier
decided on a more satirical campy format. (The role of Batman ultimately went to Adam West
). Henry is also best known to movie audences for playing Jackie Gleason
's dim-witted son "Junior" in the Smokey and the Bandit
films opposite Burt Reynolds
and Sally Field
. Henry also portrayed "Sergeant Kowalski" in The Green Berets
, corrupt sheriff "Blue Tom" Hendricks in Rio Lobo
, and "Lt. Col. Donald Penobscot" in an episode of the television series M*A*S*H. His last acting roles were on the TV shows Gilmore Girls
and Scrubs
in the mid 2000s, after which he contracted Parkinson's Disease
and retired from acting.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) is a former American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Henry's football career as a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
(1958–1961) and the Los Angeles Rams
History of the St. Louis Rams
The following is a detailed history of the St. Louis Rams a professional American football team and member of the National Football League .-AFL Cleveland Rams :...
(1962–1964) led him to be noticed by Warner Bros.
His most prominent role was as Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
in three 1960s movies, Tarzan and the Valley of Gold
Tarzan and the Valley of Gold (film)
Tarzan and the Valley of Gold is an adventure film starring Mike Henry in his debut as Tarzan. The movie, produced by Sy Weintraub, written by Clair Huffaker, and directed by Robert Day, is remembered for its very James Bond-like portrayal of a tropical suited, globetrotting Tarzan...
(1966), Tarzan and the Great River
Tarzan and the Great River
Tarzan and the Great River is an adventure Eastmancolor film starring Mike Henry in his second outing as a James Bond-like globetrotting Tarzan of his three Tarzan movies. The movie was produced by Sy Weintraub and Steve Shagan, written by Bob Barbash , and directed by Robert Day...
(1967), and Tarzan and the Jungle Boy
Tarzan and the Jungle Boy
Tarzan and the Jungle Boy is an adventure Eastmancolor film starring Mike Henry in his third and final outing as a James Bond-like globetrotting Tarzan. Rafer Johnson and Aliza Gur co-star. The movie was produced by Sy Weintraub and Robert Day, written by Stephen Lord and directed by Robert...
(1968), that were all filmed back-to-back in 1965. Henry turned down the lead of the subsequent Tarzan television series, which then went to actor Ron Ely. After leaving the Tarzan series Henry was one of many actors to be under consideration for the title role in the Batman
Batman (TV series)
Batman is an American television series, based on the DC comic book character of the same name. It stars Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin — two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City. It aired on the American Broadcasting Company network for three seasons from January 12, 1966 to...
TV series, which was originally to have been done as a straight crime-adventure series before producer William Dozier
William Dozier
William Dozier was an American film and television producer and actor.He began in the film industry...
decided on a more satirical campy format. (The role of Batman ultimately went to Adam West
Adam West
William West Anderson , better known by the stage name Adam West, is an American actor best known for his lead role in the Batman TV series and the film of the same name...
). Henry is also best known to movie audences for playing Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason was an American comedian, actor and musician. He was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy style, especially by his character Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners, a situation-comedy television series. His most noted film roles were as Minnesota Fats in the drama film The...
's dim-witted son "Junior" in the Smokey and the Bandit
Smokey and the Bandit
Smokey and the Bandit is a 1977 American film starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams, and Mike Henry. It inspired several other trucking films, including two sequels, Smokey and the Bandit II, and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3...
films opposite Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds
Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
and Sally Field
Sally Field
Sally Margaret Field is an American actress, singer, producer, director, and screenwriter. In each decade of her career, she has been known for major roles in American TV/film culture, including: in the 1960s, for Gidget or Sister Bertrille on The Flying Nun ; in the 1970s, for Sybil , Smokey and...
. Henry also portrayed "Sergeant Kowalski" in The Green Berets
The Green Berets (film)
The Green Berets is a 1968 war film featuring John Wayne, George Takei, David Janssen, Jim Hutton and Aldo Ray, nominally based on the eponymous 1965 book by Robin Moore, though the screenplay has little relation to the book....
, corrupt sheriff "Blue Tom" Hendricks in Rio Lobo
Rio Lobo
Rio Lobo is a 1970 Western movie starring John Wayne. The film was the last film directed by Howard Hawks, from a script by Leigh Brackett. The film was shot in Technicolor with a running time of 114 minutes...
, and "Lt. Col. Donald Penobscot" in an episode of the television series M*A*S*H. His last acting roles were on the TV shows Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...
and Scrubs
Scrubs (TV series)
Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
in the mid 2000s, after which he contracted Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
and retired from acting.