Career
Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Henry moved to New Orleans, Louisiana when he was a young child. Having lived there through adulthood, he founded Henry"s Bakery and Deli near his home in the historic Tremé neighborhood of the city. The bakery was successful enough that Henry planned to open a second location of his store, until Hurricane Katrina changed his plans.
Though he had no professional training or experience as an actor, the filmmakers of Beasts of the Southern Wild cast him in the film, while still allowing him to operate his bakery regularly during shooting.
Indeed, he has agreed to open a second location of his store in Harlem in the near future. Still, he continued his acting career, and appeared in Steve McQueen"s 12 Years a Slave (2013).
He will also portray Marvin Gay, Senior, the father of the late soul music icon Marvin Gaye in the biopic Sexual Healing.
