Contents
Lenny Henry
Building a career in British comedy and co-founding Comic Relief.
The Lenny Henry Show · Chef!
- Born
- 29 August 1958
- Birthplace
- Dudley, England, United Kingdom
More people
Lenny Henry
Lenny Henry is a British comedian, actor and writer whose work spans impressions, television, theatre and children’s books.
Early life
Dudley upbringing
Grew up in a Jamaican family in the West Midlands.
Early performances
Developed impressions and entered television talent competitions.
Career
- 1975
Television breakthrough
Won New Faces as a teenager.
- 1980s–1990s
Comedy career
Led his own television series and starred in Chef!.
- 2000s onward
Dramatic acting
Took major stage roles alongside writing and screen work.
Selected work
The Lenny Henry Show
Created a long-running television vehicle for his comedy.
Chef!
Played demanding chef Gareth Blackstock.
Othello
Played Shakespeare’s tragic lead on stage.
Beyond comedy
Comic Relief
Co-founded the charity with Richard Curtis in 1985.
Representation
Has campaigned for greater diversity in British broadcasting.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Dudley Council. CC BY 2.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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