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Mike Henry

1936 – 2021

American football player and actor

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About Mike Henry

Lived 1936 – 2021 (aged 84). Mike Henry was an American actor, television actor, american football player and athlete.

Michael Dennis Henry (August 15, 1936 – January 8, 2021) was an American professional football linebacker and actor. He was best known for his role as Tarzan in the 1960s film trilogy and as Junior in the Smokey and the Bandit trilogy.

Football career Henry attended Bell High School in Los Angeles, where his play caught the attention of USC Trojans alum John Ferraro, who arranged for him to get a tryout at USC. He attended USC and was co-captain of the 1957 USC Trojans football team.

Henry joined the NFL when he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 9th round of the 1958 NFL draft, playing for them from 1958 until 1961. With hopes of pursuing an acting career, he requested and received transfer to the Los Angeles Rams, playing with them from 1962 through 1964.

Filmography Curfew Breakers (1957) as Reagan General Hospital (1963, TV Series) as Rudolpho (1988) Spencer's Mountain (1963) as Spencer Brother (uncredited) Palm Springs Weekend (1963) as Doorman (uncredited) Tarzan and the Valley of Gold (1966) as Tarzan Tarzan and the Great River (1967) as Tarzan Tarzan and the Jungle Boy (1968) as Tarzan The Green Berets (1968) as Sergeant Kowalski More Dead Than Alive (1968) as Luke Santee Number One (1969) as Walt Chaffee Rio Lobo (1970) as Sheriff Tom Hendricks Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1972) as Fargo Skyjacked (1972) as Sam Allen Soylent Green (1973) as Kulozik The Longest Yard (1974) as Rassmeusen Mean Johnny Barrows (1976) as Carlo Da Vince Adiós Amigo (1976) as Mary's Husband No Way Back (1976) as Goon #3 Smokey and the Bandit (1977) as Junior Justice M*A*S*H (1977, TV Series) as Donald Penobscot Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) as Junior Justice Fantasy Island (1981, TV Series) as Mike Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983) as Junior Justice Outrageous Fortune (1987) as Russian #1

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Bell High School
Also known as
Michael Dennis Henry

People in Mike Henry's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Mike Henry's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Mike Henry?

American football player and actor (1936-2021)

When was Mike Henry born?

Mike Henry was born on 15 August 1936 in Los Angeles.

When did Mike Henry die?

Mike Henry died on 8 January 2021 in Burbank.

What was Mike Henry's occupation?

Mike Henry was an actor, television actor, american football player and athlete.

What nationality was Mike Henry?

Mike Henry was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Mike Henry

· Wikidata: Q3313362

· DBpedia: Mike Henry (American football)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Mike Henry. https://biography.guide/mike-henry-actor/

MLA: "Mike Henry." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mike-henry-actor/.

Chicago: "Mike Henry." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mike-henry-actor/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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