John Wesley Shipp - wikipedia John Wesley Shipp For other people named John Wesley, see John Wesley ( disambiguation ). John Wesley Shipp John Wesley Shipp in 2016. ( 1955 - 01 - 22 ) January 22, 1955 ( age 62 ) Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. Occupation Actor John Wesley Shipp ( born January 22, 1955 ) is an American actor known for his various television roles. He played the lead Barry Allen on CBS 's superhero series The Flash from 1990 to 1991, and Mitch Leery, the title character 's father, on the drama series Dawson 's Creek from 1998 to 2001. Shipp has also played several roles in daytime soap operas including Kelly Nelson on Guiding Light from 1980 to 1984, and Douglas Cummings on As the World Turns from 1985 to 1986 ( which earned him his first Daytime Emmy Award ). He portrays both Barry Allen 's father, Henry, and Jay Garrick / Flash on the current The Flash series on The CW network. Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Filmography 3.1 Film 3.2 Television 4 Awards and nominations 5 References 6 External links Early Life Shipp was born in Norfolk, Virginia. His father was a farmer who returned to school when Shipp was young, and after attending the seminary in Wake Forest, he became the pastor of a small church outside Wake Forest, North Carolina. Shipp later gave a keynote speech to the graduating class of Wake Forest Rolesville High School Class of 1999 to recount the tale of his father 's attempts to integrate the community in the late 1960s. Shipp attended Butler High School in Louisville, Kentucky and then attended Indiana University. Career Shipp began his career with a regular role on the daytime soap opera Guiding Light, playing Dr. Kelly Nelson from 1980 to 1984. Shipp followed this with more roles in daytime, playing Douglas Cummings on As the World Turns from 1985 to 1986 ( which earned him his first Daytime Emmy Award in 1986 ), and Martin Ellis on Santa Barbara in 1987 ( for which he won his second Daytime Emmy Award ), followed by Blanchard Lovelace on One Life to Live in 1989, and Carter Jones on All My Children in 1992. He also had guest appearances on primetime series, such as playing a peeper on an episode of Fantasy Island in 1983. John Wesley Shipp at Florida Supercon in 2010 Shipp won the title role of Barry Allen / The Flash on the CBS series The Flash, which aired in the 1990 -- 91 season. He followed this with the recurring role of Lucky on the NBC series Sisters from 1994 to 1995. Shipp also appeared on stage in the 1990s, starring in Erik Jendresen 's The Killing of Michael Malloy in 1993. In 1998, he was cast as Mitch Leery, the father of the lead character Dawson, on The WB drama series Dawson 's Creek ; Shipp remained part of the series ' main cast through its first four seasons, exiting in 2001. In November 2010, Shipp returned to daytime in the short - term role of villainous Eddie Ford on One Life to Live, who was killed off in a murder mystery in mid-December. In the summer of 2011, he guest - starred on the Lifetime series Drop Dead Diva, playing the ex-husband of the character played by comedian Kathy Griffin. Shipp filmed three episodes of the MTV series Teen Wolf which aired during the summer of 2012. Also in 2012, he starred in the independent film Hell and Mr. Fudge, with Mackenzie Astin and Eileen Davidson. Shipp returned to involvement with The Flash in the 2010s. He was cast in a `` mysterious '' role on The CW series The Flash in early 2014, which was later revealed to be the recurring role of Henry Allen, the father of titular character. In the second - season finale of The Flash, Shipp played Jay Garrick, an alternate universe counterpart of The Flash and continues to guest star in the role of Garrick into the fourth 2017 - 2018 season He also provided the voice to the villain Professor Eobard `` Zoom '' Thawne, the Reverse - Flash, in a 2010 episode of the animated series Batman : The Brave and the Bold. Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes The NeverEnding Story II : The Next Chapter Barney Bux 1994 Soft Deceit John Hobart 2002 Second to Die Jim Bratchett 2005 Starcrossed Lane Short film 2008 Karma Police Barrington Freeman 2009 Port City George 2009 Grotesque Father Fahey Short film Separation Anxiety Sr. Palmer 2012 Hell and Mr. Fudge Bennie Lee Fudge 2014 Sensory Perception Lt. Thawne 2014 Golden Shoes President of the United States 2016 The Sector Stillwell Completed 2016 Night Sweats Nick Frankenthaler Post-production Television Year Title Role Notes 1980 The Dirtiest Show in Town Television film 1980 -- 1984 Guiding Light Kelly Nelson Fantasy Island Todd Skylar 1984 Summer Fantasy Callahan Television film 1985 -- 1986 As the World Turns Doug Cummings 1986 Santa Barbara Martin Ellis One Life to Live Blanchard Lovelace 1990 -- 1991 The Flash Barry Allen / The Flash Lead role ; also portrayed evil Flash clone Pollux in episode `` Twin Streaks '' 1991 Baby of the Bride Dennis Television film 1991 Danger Team Spec Television film ; Voice role 1992 All My Children Carter Jones 1992 Human Target Garner St. John 1994 NYPD Blue Officer Roy Larson 1994 Golden Gate Kenny Scanlon Television film 1994 Green Dolphin Beat Terry Lattner Television film 1994 -- 1995 Sisters Lucky Williams Recurring role 1995 JAG Gunnery Sergeant Granger Deadly Web Dr. Stanton Television film Strangers Jack 1997 Lost Treasure of Dos Santos Jack Television film 1997 Soldier of Fortune, Inc. Griffin 1998 -- 2001 Dawson 's Creek Mitch Leery Main role ( seasons 1 -- 4 ) 1999 Road Rage Jim Carson Television film The Outer Limits Coach Peter Shotwell JAG Colonel Marcus Sutter 2005 Palmetto Pointe Michael Jones 2006 CSI : NY Patrick Quinn 2007 Christie 's Revenge Uncle Ray Colton Television film 2007 The Closer Chris Conroy Batman : The Brave and the Bold Professor Zoom Voice role 2010, 2012 One Life to Live Eddie Ford 2011 Drop Dead Diva Doug Bailey 2012 -- 2013 Teen Wolf Mr. Lahey 2014 -- present The Flash Dr. Henry Allen / Jay Garrick Recurring role 2017 Blindspot Dr. Katz Episode : `` Draw O Caesar, Erase a Coward '' Awards and nominations At the 14th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in 1987, Shipp won the Outstanding Guest Performer Award ( in a category that included Celeste Holm, Eileen Heckart and Terrance Mann ) becoming the only actor with consecutive wins from two different daytime dramas. Year Award Nominated work Result Refs 1986 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series As the World Turns Won Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series Santa Barbara Won References ^ Jump up to : `` John Wesley Shipp ''. TV Guide. Retrieved May 18, 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` John Wesley Shipp ''. Hollywood.com. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ Hirsch, Lynda ( August 7, 1999 ). `` Dawson 's Creek Dad A Veteran of Daytime ''. Sun - Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Retrieved May 18, 2016. ^ Jump up to : Mark Walters ( April 29 -- 30, 2006 ). `` John Wesley Shipp Interview ''. Bigfanboy.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ `` As a matter of fact ''. The Courier - Journal. January 31, 1982. p. 50. Retrieved October 18, 2016 -- via Newspapers.com. John Wesley Shipp, who created the role of Kelly Nelson in February 1980, is a graduate of Butler High School in Louisville and Indiana University. Jump up ^ GL 's `` Kelly Nelson '' character profile at Soapcentral.com Jump up ^ `` ' Guiding Light ' alumni ''. Variety. January 24, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ ATWT 's `` Douglas Cummings '' character profile at Soapcentral.com Jump up ^ Buck, Jerry ( December 21, 1990 ). `` Actor Seeks Substance Under Hero 's Surface ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 21, 2010. Jump up ^ Tucker, Ken ( March 29, 1991 ). `` Why you should be watching `` The Flash '' ``. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Top 10 Comic to TV Adaptations ''. IGN. June 21, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ Everett, Todd ( April 24, 1995 ). `` Review : ' Sisters a Fighting Chance ' ''. Variety. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ Meeks, Christopher ( October 14, 1993 ). `` Review : ' The Killing of Michael Malloy ' ''. Variety. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ Tucker, Ken ( January 23, 1998 ). `` Dawson 's Creek ''. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ Levine, Stuart ( September 13, 2001 ). `` New face in familiar places ''. Variety. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ Kroll, Dan J ( October 31, 2010 ). `` John Wesley Shipp docks in Llanview ''. SoapCentral.com. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ Kroll, Justin ( June 17, 2011 ). `` Players ''. Variety. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( February 11, 2014 ). `` Original ' Flash ' Star Joins CW Reboot ; Todd Grinnell & Bret Ernst Cast In ' Mason Twins ' ''. Deadline.com. Jump up ^ Friedlander, Whitney ( February 11, 2014 ). `` Original TV Flash to Guest on CW 's ' Flash ' Reboot ''. Variety. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ Abrams, Natalie ( May 27, 2014 ). `` The Flash : John Wesley Shipp 's Role Finally Revealed ''. TV Guide. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ Abrams, Natalie ( May 24, 2016 ). `` The Flash reveals man in the iron mask ! ''. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 25, 2016. Jump up ^ http://comicbook.com/dc/2017/09/02/the-flash-john-wesley-shipp-legends-crossover-victor-garber/ Jump up ^ Scott, Tony ( June 27, 1994 ). `` Review : ' Fox Night at the Movies Green Dolphin Beat ' ''. Variety. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ Scott, Tony ( April 15, 1996 ). `` Review : ' Nbc Monday Night at the Movies Deadly Web ' ''. Variety. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ Speier, Michael ( October 1, 1999 ). `` Review : ' Road Rage ' ''. Variety. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ `` ' Young and Restless ' Wins 3 Daytime Emmy Awards ''. Toledo Blade. Block Communications. Associated Press. July 18, 1986. p. 19. Retrieved May 18, 2016. In other drama awards, John Wesley Shipp, who plays Douglas Cummings in CBS ' `` As the World Turns, '' won for best supporting actor... Jump up ^ Lewis, Errol ( November 6, 2014 ). `` ON THE RECORD : David Michaels Talks New Daytime Emmy Categories, Overall Changes and That Red Carpet Situation ! ''. Soap Opera Network. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Actor John Wesley Shipp was the first and last actor to receive the Outstanding Guest Performer in a Daytime Drama Series Emmy Award all the way back in 1987 for his portrayal of Martin Ellis on `` Santa Barbara '' during the 1986 eligibility year. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Wesley Shipp. John Wesley Shipp on IMDb Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series Hugh McPhillips ( 1980 ) John Wesley Shipp ( 1987 ) Donna Mills, Fred Willard, Ray Wise ( 2015 ) Obba Babatundé ( 2016 ) Jim O'Heir ( 2017 ) Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Peter Hansen ( 1979 ) Warren Burton ( 1980 ) Larry Haines ( 1981 ) David Lewis ( 1982 ) Darnell Williams ( 1983 ) Justin Deas ( 1984 ) Larry Gates ( 1985 ) John Wesley Shipp ( 1986 ) Gregg Marx ( 1987 ) Justin Deas ( 1988 ) Justin Deas ( 1989 ) Henry Darrow ( 1990 ) Bernard Barrow ( 1991 ) Thom Christopher ( 1992 ) Gerald Anthony ( 1993 ) Justin Deas ( 1994 ) Jerry verDorn ( 1995 ) Jerry verDorn ( 1996 ) Ian Buchanan ( 1997 ) Steve Burton ( 1998 ) Stuart Damon ( 1999 ) Shemar Moore ( 2000 ) Michael E. Knight ( 2001 ) Josh Duhamel ( 2002 ) Benjamin Hendrickson ( 2003 ) Rick Hearst ( 2004 ) Greg Rikaart ( 2005 ) Jordan Clarke ( 2006 ) Rick Hearst ( 2007 ) Kristoff St. John ( 2008 ) Jeff Branson / Vincent Irizarry ( 2009 ) Billy Miller ( 2010 ) Jonathan Jackson ( 2011 ) Jonathan Jackson ( 2012 ) Scott Clifton / Billy Miller ( 2013 ) Eric Martsolf ( 2014 ) Chad Duell ( 2015 ) Sean Blakemore ( 2016 ) Steve Burton ( 2017 ) VIAF : 74063851 LCCN : no00000310 ISNI : 0000 0001 1936 2659 BNF : cb14226980w ( data ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Wesley_Shipp&oldid=801928870 '' Categories : 1956 births Living people American male film actors American male soap opera actors American male television actors Actors from Norfolk, Virginia Male actors from Virginia Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series winners Butler High School alumni Indiana University Bloomington alumni Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from April 2015 Articles with hCards Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu Dansk Deutsch Español فارسی Français 한국어 Italiano עברית მარგალური Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Simple English Suomi Türkçe 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 22 September 2017, at 20 : 49. 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Question: who plays barry's father on the flash
Answer: John Wesley Shipp