# Henry Simmons

Henry Oswald Simmons (born July 1, 1970) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Alphonso "Mack" Mackenzie in the ABC superhero drama series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2014-2020) and Baldwin Jones in the ABC police drama series NYPD Blue (2000–2005).

## Early life and education

Simmons was born in Stamford, Connecticut. He is the son of Aurelia, a school teacher, and Henry Simmons Sr., an IRS Revenue Officer. He is one of three children, including his twin sister, and another sister. Simmons earned a basketball scholarship to Franklin Pierce University, where he earned a business degree.
While attending Franklin Pierce University, he experimented in theater. After graduating from college, he briefly worked at a Fortune 500 company in Stamford. Unhappy with his job, Simmons moved to New York City and began to study acting and after a few bit roles, he landed a recurring role on the soap opera Another World.

## Career

Simmons played Detective Baldwin Jones on the ABC drama NYPD Blue for six seasons. He had a leading role in the CBS legal drama Shark, a leading role in World's Greatest Dad, and the ABC-TV comedy series Man Up!
His film work includes the 2004 action/comedy film Taxi, From the Rough, and 2014's No Good Deed.
Simmons won the Grand Jury Award for Best Actor at the American Black Film Festival, for his portrayal of Dr. Walter Chambers in the 2007 film South of Pico.
From 2014 to 2020, Simmons starred in the ABC superhero drama series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., portraying S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Alphonso "Mack" Mackenzie. After being a recurring character in the second season, he was promoted to a series regular for season 3, and for all remaining seasons.
In 2021 he starred as the lead in the Ava DuVernay series, Cherish the Day.
Next he will star in the MGM+ drama series, Emperor Of Ocean Park, with Forest Whitaker.

## Personal life

Simmons married actress Sophina Brown in May 2010.

## Filmography
### Film

Film roles :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | Above the Rim | Starnes | |
| 1995 | Coincidents | Tiger | Short |
| 1997 | 13 Bourbon St. | - | |
| 1999 | On the Q.T. | Peter | |
| 1999 | Let It Snow | Mitch Jennings | |
| 2001 | On the Q.T. | Peter | |
| 2002 | A Gentleman's Game | Walter Kane | |
| 2004 | Taxi | Jesse | |
| 2005 | Are We There Yet? | Carl | |
| 2005 | Lackawanna Blues | Jesse | TV movie |
| 2006 | Something New | Kyle | |
| 2006 | Madea's Family Reunion | Issac | |
| 2006 | The Insurgents | Marcus | |
| 2007 | South of Pico | Dr. Walter Chambers | |
| 2009 | World's Greatest Dad | Mike Lane | |
| 2009 | Georgia O'Keeffe | Jean Toomer | TV movie |
| 2011 | From the Rough | Kendrick Paulsen Jr. | |
| 2012 | Superman vs. The Elite | Efrain Baxter (voice) | Video |
| 2013 | Stalkers | Cliff Wagner | TV movie |
| 2014 | No Good Deed | Jeffery Granger | |
| 2014 | Saint Francis | Peter | TV movie |
| 2015 | Two Bellmen | Ivan | Short |
| 2015 | Synapse | Agent 805 | |
| 2018 | Bedtime Story | Therapist | Short |

### Television

Television roles :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | Saturday Night Live | Johnny | Episode: "Martin Lawrence/Crash Test Dummies" |
| 1994 | The Cosby Mysteries | Kevin Lewis | Episode: "Expert Witness" |
| 1994–1995 | New York Undercover | Jackson / Trapp | Episode: "The Friendly Neighborhood Dealer" & "High on the Hog" |
| 1997–1999 | Another World | Tyrone Montgomery | Regular Cast |
| 2000–2005 | NYPD Blue | Detective Baldwin Jones | Main cast: season 7-12 |
| 2004 | Spartacus | Draba | TV mini series |
| 2006 | Pepper Dennis | Curtis Wilson | Recurring cast |
| 2006–2008 | Shark | Issac Wright | Main cast |
| 2009 | The Cleaner | Bobby Carmichael | Episode: "Standing Eight" |
| 2009 | CSI: Miami | Andrew Ballard | Episode: "Point of Impact" |
| 2009 | Raising the Bar | Officer Howard | Episode: "Oh, Say Can You Pee" |
| 2011 | Let's Stay Together | Mike | Episode: "Daddy's Home" |
| 2011 | Man Up | Grant Sweet | Main cast |
| 2012 | Common Law | Morgan Watkins | Episode: "The Ex-Factor" |
| 2013 | Bones | Tom Molnor | Episode: "The Corpse on the Canopy" |
| 2013 | Second Generation Wayans | Baron 'The Truth' Fouse | Recurring cast |
| 2013 | Coogan Auto | Louis | Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Visit" |
| 2013–2014 | Ravenswood | Simon Beaumont | Recurring cast |
| 2014 | Transparent | Derek | Episode: "Original Pilot" |
| 2014 | Reckless | Dr. Charles Briggs | Episode: "And So It Begins" |
| 2014 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Shakir Wilkins | Episode: "American Disgrace" |
| 2014–2020 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Alphonso "Mack" Mackenzie | Recurring cast: season 2, main cast: season 3-7 |
| 2016 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Academy | Himself | Episode: "Skydive Challenge" |
| 2016 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot | Alphonso "Mack" Mackenzie | Episode: "Progress" |
| 2022 | Dynasty | Kevin | 2 episodes |
| 2022 | Cherish The Day | Ellis Moran | Main cast |
| 2024 | The Emperor of Ocean Park | Addison Garland | Main cast |