Top 10 Coolest Things About Bryan Tyree Henry

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Bryan Tyree Henry has built a career that cuts across prestige TV, big-budget blockbusters, intimate indies, and acclaimed theater, all while collaborating with top-tier directors and earning major awards recognition. Here are ten stand-out highlights from his screen and stage work that show how wide—and how sharp—his range truly is.

‘Atlanta’ (2016–2022) – Breakout role as Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles with major awards recognition

'Atlanta' (2016–2022) - Breakout role as Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles with major awards recognitionFX Productions

Henry’s turn as rising rapper Paper Boi anchored the show’s mix of comedy and social commentary, earning multiple nominations from top television academies. His performance tracks fame, family, and industry pressures with grounded detail that became a series signature. The role also expanded his profile internationally and led to offers across film and voice work.

‘Causeway’ (2022) – First Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor

'Causeway' (2022) - First Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting ActorExcellent Cadaver

Opposite Jennifer Lawrence, Henry portrays a mechanic forming an unexpected friendship with a returning soldier, a quiet character study built on precise, empathetic acting. Industry groups singled out his performance throughout awards season, culminating in an Oscar nomination. The film reinforced his reputation for nuanced, emotionally intelligent roles.

‘Eternals’ (2021) – Introduced Phastos, the MCU’s first openly gay superhero

'Eternals' (2021) - Introduced Phastos, the MCU’s first openly gay superheroMarvel Studios

As Phastos, Henry plays a brilliant inventor whose technology shapes human progress, bringing representation to a global franchise. The role situates him within the Marvel Cinematic Universe while highlighting a family storyline central to the film’s thematic core. His portrayal emphasized both world-saving scale and everyday domestic warmth.

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (2023) – Voice of Jefferson Davis across the animated franchise

 Across the Spider-Verse' (2023) - Voice of Jefferson Davis across the animated franchiseColumbia Pictures

Henry voices Miles Morales’s father, a police officer whose guidance and conflicts shape the hero’s journey. His vocal performance deepened the parent-child dynamic, adding humor, authority, and vulnerability to the multiverse saga. He previously voiced the character in ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,’ creating continuity across the series.

‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ (2021) – Scene-driven turn as conspiracy podcaster Bernie Hayes continued in a franchise sequel

'Godzilla vs. Kong' (2021) - Scene-driven turn as conspiracy podcaster Bernie Hayes continued in a franchise sequelLegendary Pictures

Henry’s Bernie Hayes tracks titan secrets from within a tech corporation, supplying plot clues and comic relief amid large-scale action. The role connected him to Legendary’s Monsterverse, where he returned in ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.’ His character’s podcast framing became a recurring narrative device for exposition and fan lore.

‘Bullet Train’ (2022) – Memorable “Lemon” partnership with Aaron Taylor-Johnson

'Bullet Train' (2022) - Memorable “Lemon” partnership with Aaron Taylor-JohnsonColumbia Pictures

Playing one half of an assassin duo, Henry integrated character quirks—like a fixation on ‘Thomas & Friends’ archetypes—into the film’s heist-style structure. The pairing became a central engine for momentum across intersecting plotlines. Their chemistry carried through major set pieces, from train-car showdowns to ensemble standoffs.

‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ (2018) – Key supporting role in Barry Jenkins’s acclaimed adaptation

'If Beale Street Could Talk' (2018) - Key supporting role in Barry Jenkins’s acclaimed adaptationAnnapurna Pictures

As Daniel Carty, Henry delivers a pivotal conversation that illuminates the justice system’s toll on ordinary lives. His scene functions as a thematic hinge, deepening the film’s emotional stakes for the central couple. The ensemble received broad critical praise, underscoring his strength in literary adaptations.

‘Widows’ (2018) – Turn as Jamal Manning in Steve McQueen’s crime-political thriller

'Widows' (2018) - Turn as Jamal Manning in Steve McQueen’s crime-political thriller20th Century Fox

Henry’s character navigates the overlap of city politics and organized crime, bringing tension to negotiations with the lead ensemble. The performance fits within McQueen’s meticulous, character-driven action framework. It demonstrated his ability to hold the screen opposite an award-winning cast in complex, multi-threaded storytelling.

‘The Outside Story’ (2020) – Low-key lead in a character-driven indie

'The Outside Story' (2020) - Low-key lead in a character-driven indieSamuel Goldwyn Films

As Charles Young, a video editor locked out of his apartment, Henry carries a gentle, neighborhood-scale narrative. The film showcases his capacity for quiet humor and everyday relatability without relying on genre spectacle. Festival buzz highlighted his ease in intimate, slice-of-life storytelling.

‘Lobby Hero’ (2018) – Tony-nominated performance on Broadway

'Lobby Hero' (2018) - Tony-nominated performance on BroadwayTHR/figcaption>

Before and alongside his screen work, Henry’s stage credentials include a Tony nomination for this Kenneth Lonergan play. His portrayal added moral complexity to a story about authority, loyalty, and truth in a Manhattan lobby. The recognition cemented him as a performer equally at home onstage and onscreen.

Have a favorite Bryan Tyree Henry performance or moment I missed? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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