Stephen McKinley Henderson (born August 31, 1949 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA) is an acclaimed American character actor whose work spans stage, film, and television. A Juilliard and North Carolina School of the Arts trained performer, Henderson first rose to prominence on Broadway, particularly through his definitive interpretations of August Wilson’s plays, before becoming a recognizable and respected face in Hollywood and on television.

Henderson’s film career includes supporting performances in several critically lauded and award‑nominated features. He appeared in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011), Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln (2012), and Kenneth Lonergan’s Manchester by the Sea (2016), and was widely praised for his work as Jim Bono in Fences (2016), reprising a role he had originated on Broadway. He went on to earn roles in Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird (2017), Denis Villeneuve’s Dune (2021) as Thufir Hawat, Bruised (2020), and the surreal Beau Is Afraid (2023). In recent years, Henderson continued his prolific output with significant roles in Civil War (2024) as Sammy, and 2025 films including the ensemble comedy Good Fortune (as Azrael) and The Dutchman (as Dr. Amiri), released in early 2026.

On television, Henderson has built an equally diverse résumé, from early roles in Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit to notable appearances in The Newsroom, Wu‑Tang: An American Saga, and Devs. Most recently, he has been featured as Calbert Graham on the series A Man on the Inside (2024–2025), earning industry recognition including a nomination for Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series.

A distinguished stage actor, Henderson was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 2024 and received two Tony Award nominations — first for Featured Actor in Fences (2010) and later for Best Actor in Between Riverside and Crazy (2023). His stage honors also include a Drama Desk Award as part of the ensemble in Jitney, Obie and Lucille Lortel Awards for Between Riverside and Crazy, and numerous lifetime achievement recognitions honoring his contributions to American theater.

Throughout his career, Henderson has been celebrated for his depth, versatility, and integrity as a performer — frequently appearing in films nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture — and remains a vibrant presence across mediums well into his eighth decade.