Martin Henderson

Martin Henderson (born 8 October 1974) is a New Zealand actor. He is known for his roles on the American medical drama series Off the Map as Dr. Ben Keeton, the medical drama series Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Nathan Riggs (2015–2017), the Netflix romantic drama Virgin River as Jack Sheridan (2019–present), and for his performances as Noah Clay in the horror film The Ring (2002) and Wayne Gilroy in the slasher film X (2022). In his home country, he is known for his teenage role as Stuart Neilson in the soap opera Shortland Street (1992–1995).

Early life Henderson was born in Auckland to Ian and Veronica Henderson. They divorced when he was five. He began acting at the age of thirteen, appearing in Strangers, a local television production. He attended Birkenhead Primary Northcote Intermediate and Westlake Boys High schools. He played rugby as a flanker and his team won the championship in 1990 and 1991. He turned down going to study at university when he was 17, in favour of acting. He initially considered studying science and business.

Career

Early work In 1989 he played Zane, one of the leads in Strangers on Network Two and in 1991 he played Jack Taylor in the series Raider of the South Seas. At age 17, in 1992, Henderson starred as Stuart Neilson in the New Zealand prime-time soap opera Shortland Street. He played the role until 1995. Shortland Street became New Zealand's longest-running drama and soap opera. He subsequently lived in Australia for three years and appeared in a number of Australian films and television productions including Echo Point and Home and Away.

Move to the United States Henderson moved to the United States in 1997 to pursue a career in Hollywood films and to train in a two-year program at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City with a student visa. To pay the tuition, he took a job at night as a restaurant food runner. While at school, he starred as Hamlet in the off-Broadway play Ophelia Thinks Harder. He left the school halfway through the two-year course and moved to Los Angeles. Henderson first landed a voice over part in a Fanta commercial, speaking with an Australian accent. After more than a year unsuccessfully auditioning for film roles in Los Angeles, in 2001 he was cast in a supporting role in the John Woo-directed war film Windtalkers. In 2002, Henderson starred opposite Naomi Watts in the horror film The Ring. and subsequently as the lead character in the biker film Torque, released in early 2004. In 2005, he appeared in the award-winning Little Fish starring Cate Blanchett.

He was set to star alongside Jordana Brewster in the television series adapted from the 2005 film Mr. & Mrs. Smith. However, the series was not picked up by any network. In 2006, he appeared in the movie Flyboys. He also appeared in a commercial for the 2008 Cadillac CTS, and the House episode "Painless". In 2010, Henderson was cast in Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes' short-lived television series Off the Map as a New Zealand doctor. In 2014, he starred in the multi-platform Australian drama television series Secrets & Lies and in the SundanceTV drama series The Red Road.

In 2015, Henderson appeared in Everest, with Jake Gyllenhaal. In June that year, he joined the cast of Grey's Anatomy, as a potential love interest for series lead Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey, making his first appearance in November, as Dr. Nathan Riggs. The actor exited two years later, his final appearance in October 2017. Henderson told Deadline that his departure was a storytelling-based decision, adding, "This [was] my final year so I was expecting Nathan’s storyline to be wrapped up." In 2016, he starred in the film Miracles from Heaven opposite Jennifer Garner.

Since 2019, Henderson has co-starred on the Netflix series Virgin River alongside Alexandra Breckenridge, playing the role of Jack Sheridan, a former marine with PTSD. The seventh season commenced filming in spring of 2025. He was cast in A24 horror film X (2022) as Wayne Gilroy.

Personal life As of 2017, he lives in Los Angeles with his dog.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1999 Kick Tom Bradshaw Nominated—AFI Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role 2000 Luke Short film 2002 Windtalkers Private Thomas Nellie Noah Clay 2003 Skagerrak Ian / Ken 2004 Torque Cary Ford Perfect Opposites Drew Curtis Bride and Prejudice William Darcy 2005 Little Fish Ray Robert Heart Nominated—AFI Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated—FCCA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role 2006 Flyboys Reed Cassidy Smokin' Aces Hollis Elmore 2007 Battle in Seattle Jay 2009 Cedar Boys Mathew 2010 Home by Christmas Young Ed 2013 John / Peter Devil's Knot Brent Davis 2015 Everest Andy Harris 2016 Miracles from Heaven Kevin Beam 2018 The Strangers: Prey at Night Mike Juveniles Oliver Hellbent Jeb Dupre 2022 X Wayne Gilroy

Television Year Title Role Notes 1989 Strangers Zane Main (6 episodes) 1990 Betty's Bunch Video Addict One Raider of the South Seas Jack Taylor Main (8 episodes) 1992–1995, 2017 Shortland Street Stuart Neilson Main (303 episodes, Seasons 1–4 & 26) 1995 Echo Point Zac Brennan 1996 Sweat Tom Nash Main (26 episodes, Season 1) Home and Away Geoff Thomas Recurring (7 episodes) 1997–1999 Big Sky Scotty Gibbs Main (53 episodes, Seasons 1–2) 2009 House Jeff Episode: "Painless"Nominated—AFI International Award for Best Actor 2011 Off the Map Dr. Benjamin "Ben" Keeton Main (13 episodes, Season 1) 2012 Rake Joshua Floyd Guest (2 episodes, Season 2) 2014–2015 Harold Jensen Main (12 episodes, Seasons 1–2) 2014 Secrets & Lies Ben Gundelach Main (6 episodes, Season 1) 2015–2017 Grey's Anatomy Dr. Nathan Riggs Main cast (45 episodes, Seasons 12–14) 2019–present Virgin River Jack Sheridan Main role 2020 The Gloaming Gareth McAvaney Main Role (8 Episodes) 2021–present My Life Is Murder Will Crowe Recurring (Seasons 2–5) 2024 Madam

Web series Year Title Role Notes 2013–2014 Auckland Daze Martin Henderson 3 episodes

Music video appearances Year Title Artist Role Notes 2004 "Toxic" Britney Spears Boyfriend Uncredited