Former NFL player and actor Brad William Henke has died at age 56.
On Tuesday, sources close to Brad’s family revealed that he had passed away in his sleep. The cause of death is still unknown.
Brad is most commonly known for his role as a prison guard in ‘OITNB’, where he was present during one of the show’s most intense and emotional scenes- the death of Poussey Washington.
In addition to his work on television shows like “Justified” and “Lost,” he also had roles in films such as “Pacific Rim” and “World Trade Center.”
After Brad retired from the NFL in 1994 because of ankle injuries, he started his acting career. He had played football for the University of Arizona before being drafted by the New York Giants in 1989.
Not only was Brad a defensive lineman, but he also played for the Denver Broncos. In fact, he even got on the field during Super Bowl XXIV against the San Francisco 49ers.
Brad’s journey to Hollywood first began with acting in commercials, after which he started landing guest spots on well-known TV series such as “ER,” “Arli$$,” “Nash Bridges,” “Silk Stalkings”, and more.
With a staggering one hundred acting credits to his name, Brad has also made appearances on well-known shows such as “CSI,” “Judging Amy,” and “Crossing Jordan.”
His manager, Matt DelPiano, said, “Brad was an incredibly kind man of joyous energy. He was a very talented actor, he loved being a part of this community….and we loved him back. Our thoughts are with his wife and family.”