Brian Tyree Henry, the Emmy-nominated star of “Atlanta” and “Eternals,” is dealing with the death of his mother. Overcoming that challenge, he sways and rocks as he succeeds in his long and busy career. He is just coming to terms with the recent tragic loss of his father, Marion Henry Jr. All of this occurred while he was shooting his new AppleTV+ series, “Dope Thief.” This tragic event follows the unexpected death of his mother, Willow, earlier this year. She died before they could shoot the second season of “Atlanta” in 2016.
For Henry, his latest character in the new short film, “Dope Thief,” Ray, is a stark juxtaposition to his real life experiences. Ray is an inner-city Philadelphia man living on the margins. He impersonates a DEA agent to rob drug dealers, getting himself into dangerous predicaments. This new role is a perfect continuation of Henry’s former work. He originally played Paper Boi in “Atlanta,” a character choked by the sorrow of losing his mom.
In speaking about his process in navigating this grief, Henry spoke bluntly about how these losses have affected him both personally and professionally. He reflected how those experiences informed his performance and how he was forced to face his own emotional demons.
“There were a lot of things that I was personally going through on my own that I just couldn’t shy away from, so I had to lean into that to give the truest performance that I could,” – Brian Tyree Henry
Henry’s big artistic breakthrough would be “Atlanta,” which aired between 2016 and 2022 on FX. He extended past this well-deserved celebrated series and soon achieved superstar level. He starred in Marvel’s “Eternals” and the film “Causeway,” the latter of which won him an Academy Award nomination in 2022. His career trajectory has been impressive, especially considering he spent years honing his craft in New York City after graduating from the Yale School of Drama in 2007.
Henry’s thirst for self-care and reflection. James told her that losing his mom opened his eyes to the “bad habits” he had accumulated. For him, these habits became the way he coped and managed life through grief.
“When you lose somebody, it’s really easy to turn to the bottle,” – Brian Tyree Henry
Henry wanted no part of any of those as coping mechanisms—in fact, they were just ways to numb pain while never really living. His inspiring journey has led Vincent to embrace a healthier, warmer, more compassionate life. He has actively pursued this transformation, prioritizing physical health and mental health equally.
The first goal was weight loss, both in body and mind. I was amazed to find that what I was really carrying was a huge load of grief and loss,” he said. His career was falling up at a meteoric velocity. Simultaneously, though, he suffered personal losses that compelled him to deal with emotions he had never worked through.
As he’s adjusted to this new, more peaceful existence, Henry has learned to revel in small joys. He remembers it was a warm spring day a few weeks ago. He would open his balcony window in the morning to taste this new fresh air, drink sweet tea and listen to music.
“I had a wonderful spring day here where the sun finally came out, and I opened the window on my balcony. I made a cup of tea and I played a playlist,” – Brian Tyree Henry
When he’s not marveling at nature’s splendor, Henry is getting into the more grounding pursuits of crocheting and binge-watching TV shows in his free time. He characterized these moments as an important time to think inwardly and recharge.
“It’s really nice to just sit and pour myself the love that I need and relax before I get jostled into the craziness,” – Brian Tyree Henry
His journey has been about coming to terms with the way his art reflects his reality. He frequently selects projects that reflect his own life journey. The art allows him to explore his emotions to perform and this is critical to his healing journey.
“My career has been very unconventional in that the projects I take are often reflections of what’s going on in my own personal life,” – Brian Tyree Henry
Henry remains optimistic about finding peace and fulfillment amidst the chaos of life and work. His dedication to caring for himself through small joys marks his perspective today.
“I think we’re all striving for softer things in life,” – Brian Tyree Henry
With every new character he embodies, Henry confronts the difficulties of being truly lost in a world full of noise. His recent performance in “Dope Thief” represents this new path of growth and healing. He translates his own life into his work, and that truth strikes an immediate chord with listeners. This considerable talent enriches the complexity of his multi-pronged career.