Lenny Henry

Comedian, Actor, Presenter, Writer

British-Jamaican Dudley, West Midlands, England

Quick Info

ProfessionComedian, Actor, Presenter, Writer
NationalityBritish-Jamaican
Date of Birth29/08/1958
Age67 years
BirthplaceDudley, West Midlands, England

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Bio/Wiki

SummarySir Lenworth George Henry is a British-Jamaican comedian, actor, presenter and writer who became one of Britain's best-known and most highly respected comic actors. He was the most prominent black British comedian of the late 1970s and 1980s, with much of his material celebrating and parodying his African-Caribbean roots.

Educational Qualification(s)

PhDMedia Arts

Career

StartedAge 16 as a comedian
Major TV Shows
  • Tiswas (children's entertainment)
  • Three of a Kind (sketch comedy, 1981-83)
  • The Lenny Henry Show (1984-2005)
  • Chef! (sitcom, 1993-96)
  • Lenny Henry in Pieces
  • Hope & Glory
  • New Faces (ITV talent show finalist, 1975)
FilmTrue Identity (1991)
TheatreOthello in Northern Broadsides production at Trafalgar Studios (West End debut)
Awards
  • London Evening Standard Milton Shuman Award for Outstanding Newcomer
  • Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Comedy Awards
  • British Academy Television Special Award
  • Knighthood (2015) for services to charity and drama
OtherFellow of the Royal Television Society

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Co-founded Comic Relief charity in 1985
2. BBC One aired The Lenny Henry Birthday Show in 2018 to celebrate his career
3. Won a TV talent contest in his teens
4. Hosted the first Red Nose Day in 1988, which raised more than £15 million and was watched by 30 million viewers
5. Has hosted every Red Nose Day since 1988
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