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Ken Bray, born Kenneth Harper II, is an American actor, powerlifter, and healthcare advocate of Senegalese descent[1]. Born August 13, 1969, in Cleveland, Ohio, Bray is renowned for his versatile acting career, impressive achievements in the world of powerlifting, and his inspiring journey as a prostate cancer[2] survivor.
Military Service
editA decorated veteran, Ken Bray served in the United States Army during the Desert Storm era. As a member of the elite Military Police Special Reaction Team[3], he received specialized weapons, explosive and close quarters combat training and earned the nickname "Spiderman" for his ability to one-bound Australian Rappel[4] from a 5 story building. During his six years of dedicated service, he completed deployments to South Korea, Panama, and Cuba. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant on his birthday in 1995. His military experience undoubtedly shaped his character and resilience.
Powerlifting Career
edit
Bray is a dominant force in the world of Powerlifting[5]. Currently ranked as the number one powerlifter in the United States[6] and number five in the world[7] within his age and weight class, he has achieved international acclaim. His most notable accomplishments include securing Silver medals at both the 2022 IPF[8] Masters World Powerlifting Championships in St. John's, Newfoundland, and the NAPF[9] North American Powerlifting Championships in Panama City, Panama in 2022 where he also claimed the NAPF North American Deadlift record of 280.5kG (618.4lbs).[10]
| Medal | Date | Location | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | 10/22 | St. John's Newfoundland | 2022 World Masters Powerlifting Championships |
| Silver | 8/22 | Panama City, Panama | 2022 North American Regional Powerlifting Championships |
| Gold | 6/22 | Orlando, Florida, USA | 2022 Powerlifting America Raw Nationals |
| Silver | 3/21 | Orlando, Florida, USA | 2021 Military/Police/Fire National Championships |
| Gold | 3/21 | Orlando, Florida, USA | 2021 Military/Police/Fire National Championships |
| Gold | 8/20 | Cincinnati, Ohio, USA | 2020 Ohio Open |
| Gold | 3/20 | Orlando, Florida, USA | 2020 Military/Police/Fire National Championships |
| Gold | 5/19 | Columbus, OH, USA | 2019 Ohio State Championships |
| Gold | 5/18 | Richfield, OH, USA | 2018 Ohio State Championships |
| Goldx3 | 6/17 | Columbus, OH, USA | 2017 Ohio State Championships |
| Silver | 5/16 | Aurora, Colorado, USA | 2016 Open Nationals |
| Silver | 3/16 | Orlando, Florida, USA | 2016 Military/Police/Fire National Championships |
| Bronze | 3/16 | Orlando, Florida, USA | 2016 Military/Police/Fire National Championships |
| Silver | 3/16 | Columbus, OH, USA | Arnold Classic Nextlifter Ohio |
| Silver | 10/15 | Scranton, Pennsylvania | 2015 Raw Nationals |
| Gold | 8/15 | Erie, Pennsylvania, USA | 2015 Great Lakes Sports Festival Pro Raw Deadlift |
| Goldx2 | 7/15 | Columbus, Ohio, USA | 2015 Ohio State Championships |
| Silver | 5/15 | San Antonio, Texas, USA | 2015 Men's and Women's Nationals |
| Gold | 4/15 | Copley, Ohio, USA | 18th Annual Battle of the Great Lakes |
| Gold | 3/15 | Atlanta, GA, USA | 2015 Military/Police/Fire National Championships |
| Gold | 11/14 | Springboro, Ohio, USA | 2014 Ohio State Powerlifting Championships |
| Silver | 7/14 | Aurora, Colorado, USA | 2014 Raw Nationals |
| Gold | 6/14 | Copley, Ohio, USA | BIG K's 13th Annual Powerlifting Championships |
| Gold | 4/14 | Copley, Ohio, USA | Battle of the Great Lakes |
Ken Bray's acting journey began at the age of 44 when he was cast in a background role as police officer Gravers in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. That brief exposure to filmmaking at the highest level was enough to convince him that it might be possible to actually earn a living while a full-time undergraduate student. He signed with his first agent and began to take on part-time commercial work that he could schedule around his intensive pre-med course load. After Bray transitioned to acting full-time in 2022, his acting career gained significant momentum and attention through roles in both television and film[12]. He portrayed a compelling homeless character in the critically acclaimed television series, "Mayor of Kingstown." Additionally, he brought depth to his characters in the feature films "Down to the Felt" as Loanshark, Jimmy Good Hair, and "Life Lessons" as drug dealer Thad. These performances showcased his versatility as an actor and earned him a strong supporting role in the upcoming feature film, "Boy Soul, Man Heart." His previous experience behind the camera as a director, cinematographer, and editor has contributed to his exceptional on-screen presence, making him a highly directable actor.
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Gastric | Jackson Reeves |
| 2024 | Slay | Priest |
| 2025 | Boy Soul Man Heart | Coach Warren |
| 2024 | Down to the Felt | Jimmy Good Hair |
| 2024 | Mayor of Kingstown | Homeless Man |
| 2024 | Culturegeist | Trent Gallagher |
| 2018 | Life Lessons | Thad the Connect |
| 2014 | Captain America: The Winter Soldier | Officer Gravers |
Education and Healthcare Advocacy
editKen Bray is a dedicated Dean's List scholar who graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in biology at the age of 49 from Cleveland State University[13] in 2018. A year later he was accepted into Kent State University's College of Podiatric Medicine at the age of 50, but could not complete the rigorous program due to health challenges related to his prostate cancer. His personal battle with the disease, candidly documented in his self-produced documentary series, "Chasing 600[14]," brought national attention to his story and inspired countless individuals. He remains a vocal advocate for early detection and treatment of the disease.
More on Ken Bray
editCanvas Rebel Magazine interview[15]
Voyage Ohio Magazine interview[16]
- ^ "Senegal | Culture, History, & People | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-07-27. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "Prostate cancer - Symptoms and causes". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "Special Reaction Team | U.S. Army". www.americanspecialops.com. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ Cano, Ruddy (2022-11-11). "Why the Australian Rappel is as cool as it looks". We Are The Mighty. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ Segal, Dayva. "What Is Powerlifting?". WebMD. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "Powerlifting Rankings". www.openpowerlifting.org. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "Powerlifting Rankings". www.openpowerlifting.org. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "International Powerlifting Federation IPF - International Powerlifting Federation IPF". www.powerlifting.sport. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "North American Powerlifting Federation NAPF - North American Powerlifting Federation". www.powerlifting-napf.com. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "Records - North American Powerlifting Federation". www.powerlifting-napf.com. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "Ken Bray | Actor, Director, Writer". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "Ken Bray | Actor, Director, Writer". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "Physical is therapy for determined nontraditional student". www.csualumni.com. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "Chasing 600 | Documentary short series". YouTube. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ Insights, Stories & (2024-06-13). "Meet Ken Bray". CanvasRebel Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ Stories, Local (2022-08-11). "Check Out Ken Bray's Story - Voyage Ohio Magazine". voyageohio.com. Retrieved 2024-08-01.