Brad William Henke


Brad William Henke was an American actor and professional football player in the National Football League and Arena Football League. He was best known for his role as Corrections Officer Desi Piscatella on Orange Is the New Black, for which he won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2016.
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Early life and education

Henke was born in Columbus, Nebraska. He attended the University of Arizona and played football as a defensive lineman.

Career

Football career

Henke was drafted by the New York Giants in the 1989 NFL draft but got cut during training camp. He was picked up by the Denver Broncos, and he played in Super Bowl XXIV against the San Francisco 49ers. Repeated injuries, which required six ankle surgeries, led to his retirement from professional football in 1994.

Acting

Henke began acting in 1994, starting with commercials. He appeared in October Road, Around June, The Amateurs, World Trade Center, In the Valley of Elah, Choke, Sherrybaby, Must Love Dogs and Fury.
His television career includes roles in Arliss, ER, Dexter, Lost, Justified, The Office, Orange Is the New Black, ''Sneaky Pete, Grimm, Big Sky, and MacGyver.
Henke's breakout role was on Orange Is the New Black as Desi Piscatella, a gay corrections officer at Litchfield Federal Penitentiary. He joined OITNB'' in the fourth season. He was part of the cast that won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for 2016.

Personal life and death

Henke was married to actress Katelin Chesna from 2001 to 2008.
In an Instagram post dated May 15, 2021, Henke stated that he had a 90 percent blockage of an artery. In another post dated June 29, 2021, he stated that he had two stents put in his heart and that his spleen and half of his pancreas were removed to treat a "golf ball sized" tumor.
Henke died in his sleep on November 29, 2022, at the age of 56.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996Mr. WrongBob
1996Space JamStars Catcher
1996The FanTjader
1999Dill ScallionBartender
1999The Thirteenth FloorCop #1
2000Gone in 60 SecondsUncredited
2003Love ObjectDotsonCredited as Brad Henke
2004The Assassination of Richard NixonMartin Jones
2005Must Love DogsLeo
2005The AmateursRon
2005North CountryMr. Lattavansky
2005Me and You and Everyone We KnowAndrew
2006SherrybabyBobby Swanson
2006World Trade CenterAllison's brother
2006HollywoodlandRuss Taylor
2006AlteredDuke
2008ChokeDenny
2008Around JuneHenry
2009Short Term 12DenimLater adapted into the 2013 film
2010The Space BetweenWill
2011The Trouble with BlissSteven 'Jetski' JouseskiAlso known as East Fifth Bliss
2011Magic ValleyJerry Garabrant
2012I Am Not a HipsterBradley Haines
2012Struck by LightningPrincipal Gifford
2013JobsPaul Terrell
2013Pacific RimConstruction foreman
2013The Frozen GroundCarl Galenski
2014Draft DayTony 'Bagel' Bagli
2014FurySgt. DavisCredited as Brad Henke
2015Pure LoveDetective Dillard
2016The TankDane Hankeard
2016Pee-wee's Big HolidayGrizzly Bear Daniels
2016SplitJohn Cooke
2017BrightDorghu
2018Cold BrookChip
2019WoundsEric
2019Inherit the ViperTedd Wallace
2020ArkansasTim
2022The RayBillings
2022Block PartyBuddy Frank