Johnny Lee Davenport (July 24, 1950 – February 2, 2020) was an American actor, known for his role as Marshal Henry in 1993's The Fugitive, a role he reprised in 1998's U.S. Marshals.

Johnny Lee Davenport
Born(1950-07-24)July 24, 1950[1]
DiedFebruary 2, 2020(2020-02-02) (aged 69)
OccupationActor

Early life

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Davenport was born in Shreveport, Louisiana and grew up in Aurora, Illinois. There, he attended West Aurora High School, where he was cast in the school's production of the musical Carousel . As a student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, he helped start that school's acting company.[2]

Death

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He died on February 2, 2020, from leukemia.[3]

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1989 The Package MP
1993 The Fugitive Deputy Marshall Henry
1996 Chain Reaction Caleb Williams
1998 U.S. Marshals Deputy Marshall Henry
2010 Locked In Jim Sanders
2012 Ted Husband
2013 Time and Charges Boreas Victorious
2015 Joy Ray Cagney
2016 The Ascendants Anthology The Guide, Sebastian

Shakespeare

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After being cast as Antonio in the Stratford Festival of Canada's production of Twelfth Night in 1988, Davenport made the plays of Shakespeare a major part of his acting repertoire. The following year he became a member of the theater group Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Massachusetts, and went to perform with the company 16 seasons.[4] His credits in that venue include Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2, Richard II, the title role in Othello, A Winter's Tale, Measure for Measure, Richard III, Hamlet, and Henry V.

Other Stage roles

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During the 1990s he performed frequently in Chicago venues, including the Steppenwolf, Court, and Goodman Theaters. Plays in which he appeared include Miss Julie, Cry, the Beloved Country, and Comedians.[2] He also appeared as Chris, the father of Anna Christie in "Anna Christie" by Eugene O'Neill at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston (April 6-May 6, 2018).[5]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2008 Elliot Norton Award Outstanding Actor, Small/Midsize Company A House With No Walls Nominated
2008 Elliot Norton Award Outstanding Actor, Small/Midsize Company Love's Labour's Lost Nominated
2011 Elliot Norton Award Outstanding Actor, Midsize Theater Broke-ology Won
2011 IRNE Award Best Supporting Actor (play), Large Theater Vengeance is the Lord's Nominated
2012 IRNE Award Best Actor (Play), Small Theater Broke-ology Nominated
2013 IRNE Award Best Actor (Play), Small Theater "Master Harold"...and the Boys Nominated
2014 Elliot Norton Award Best Actor (Play), Midsize Theater Driving Miss Daisy Won
2014 IRNE Award Best Supporting Actor (play), Large Theater Invisible Man Nominated
2015 Elliot Norton Award Best Actor (Play), Midsize Theater The Whipping Man Nominated
2016 IRNE Award Best Actor (Play), Midsize Theater Beowulf Nominated
2017 IRNE Award Best Supporting Actor (Play), Midsize Theater Bootycandy Nominated
2018 IRNE Award Best Solo Performance, Small Theater Thurgood Nominated
2019 IRNE Award Best Supporting Actor (Play), Small Theater Thurgood Nominated

Davenport was named Best Actor in Boston Magazine for his body of work during the 2010–2011 season and was a recipient of Washington, D.C.'s Helen Hayes Award.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Johnny Lee Davenport: July 24, 1950 – February 2, 2020
  2. ^ a b O'Donnell, Maureen (2020-02-03). "Johnny Lee Davenport, actor in 'The Fugitive,' Chicago plays, dead at 69". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  3. ^ O'Donnell, Maureen (February 3, 2020). "Johnny Lee Davenport, actor in 'The Fugitive,' other movies, TV shows, Chicago plays, dead at 69". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  4. ^ "Johnny Lee Davenport - Actor". WGBH Forum Network. Retrieved 2020-04-09. In 1989, he trained at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Mass., and became a company member. He continues to perform with the company today.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Anna Christie | Lyric Stage Company of Boston". Archived from the original on 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  6. ^ "Johnny Lee Davenport". American Players - Theater. Retrieved 2020-04-09. Johnny has been named Boston Magazine's "Best of Boston": Best Actor, … and D.C.'s Helen Hayes Award.
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