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Shuler Hensley

Shuler Hensley, who wowed Broadway and London audiences as Jud Fry in the internationally acclaimed revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, brings his titanic talent to the silver screen in Van Helsing.

Hensley's other upcoming projects include the independent film Cheer the Brave and The Jury, a new series produced by Fontana Levinson Company, directed by Barry Levinson.

Hensley garnered the coveted Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Olivier and Theatre World Awards for his show stopping portrayal of tormented farmhand Jud Fry in recent the groundbreaking revival of Oklahoma! One of only two cast members imported to Broadway from the acclaimed London production (directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Susan Stroman), Hensley has been hailed by critics as compelling, (The New York Times), magnificent, (Evening Standard) and a name to watch (Sunday Telegraph). As the Sunday Telegraph enthusiastically declared in response to Hensley's Lonely Room solo, He very nearly steals the show.

Hensley's performance in Oklahoma! quickly made him a favorite among drama critics and theater fans. Hensley is no stranger to Broadway, however, having delivered another showstopping performance in October 2000, when he made his Broadway debut as Javert in the long-running musical Les Misérables. New York Post drama critic Clive Barnes praised Hensley's powerful presence as the ruthless Javert.

A Marietta, Georgia native whose mother was the Founder and Artistic Director of The Georgia Ballet, Hensley has always had show business in his blood. He made his performance debut at the age of four in a production of The Nutcracker, directed by his mother. At age nine, he became a member of The Atlanta Boys' Choir, one of the most renowned choirs in the United States. Hensley has also been driven by a lifelong love of sports due to the influence of his father, who was an All-American football player at Georgia Tech. He pursued his dual passions, attending the University of Georgia on a baseball scholarship and serving as a pitcher for the school's baseball team. During his tenure at the university, the very busy business major also performed with the school's concert choir and glee club.

Finding it impossible to occupy the two extremely consuming worlds of theatre and sports, Hensley left the University of Georgia to pursue an acting career in New York. He studied opera at The Manhattan School of Music and attended graduate school at the prestigious Curtis School of Music, performing leading roles in Don Giovanni, La Boheme, The Magic Flute and other beloved operas. Throughout his eclectic career, Hensley has also appeared as a guest soloist in numerous concerts, including Happy End by Kurt Weill at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London; The American Songbook Tribute to Frank Loesser at Lincoln Center; and Juilliard's recent Richard Rodgers 100th birthday celebration featuring Julie Andrews, Glenn Close, Bernadette Peters, Christopher Plummer and Elaine Stritch.

After completing his graduate studies, Hensley performed extensively with numerous theatres in the United States, amassing an eclectic list of musical theatre credits, including A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sweeney Todd, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and The Most Happy Fella.

Hensley's television appearances have included a recurring role on NBC-TV's Ed and a featured role in the TNT movie Monday Night Mayhem, as well as a recent guest-starring role on NBC's popular series Law & Order: Criminal Intent. His feature film credits include the romantic comedy Someone Like You, starring Hugh Jackman and Ashley Judd, and the multiple award-winning film The Bread, My Sweet.

Shuler Hensley resides in New York City with his wife Paula and their daughter Skyler Elizabeth - with a new arrival expected in May.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2004.

Shuler Hensley Facts

OccupationActor
BirthdayMarch 6, 1967 (57)
SignPisces
BirthplaceAtlanta, Georgia, USA
Height6' 5" (1m96)  How tall is Shuler Hensley compared to you?

Selected Filmography

A Wedding for Bella
American Experience: Murder of a President
Van Helsing
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!
King Kong / The Mummy
Oklahoma!
Monday Night Mayhem
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