Brad William Henke


Brad William Henke is an American actor and former National Football League and Arena Football League player. He is best known for his role as prison guard Desi Piscatella on Orange Is The New Black, for which he won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2016.

Early life and education

Henke was born in Columbus, Nebraska. He attended the University of Arizona and played football as a defensive lineman.

Football career

Henke was drafted by the New York Giants in the 1989 NFL Draft but got cut. He was picked up by the Denver Broncos, and he played in Super Bowl XXIV against the San Francisco 49ers. Repeated injuries, which required six ankle surgeries, led to his retirement from professional football in 1994.
YearTeamNumberPosition
1989Denver Broncos68Defensive Linemen
1994Fort Worth Cavalry96Defensive Linemen

Acting career

Henke began acting in 1994, starting with commercials. He appeared in October Road, Around June, The Amateurs, World Trade Center, In the Valley of Elah, Choke, Sherrybaby, Must Love Dogs and Fury.
His television career includes roles in ARLI$$, ER, Dexter, Lost, Justified, The Office , Orange Is The New Black, Sneaky Pete & MacGyver ..
Henke's breakout role has been on Orange Is The New Black as Desi Piscatella, a gay corrections officer at Litchfield Federal Penitentiary. He joined OITNB in the fourth season. He was part of the cast that won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for 2016.

Personal life

Henke was married to actress Katelin Chesna from 2001 to 2008.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996Mr. WrongBob
1996Space JamStars Catcher
1996The FanTjader
2003Love ObjectDotsoncredited as Brad Henke
2005Must Love DogsLeo
2005North CountryMr. Lattavansky
2005Me and You and Everyone We KnowAndrew
2006SherrybabyBobby Swanson
2006World Trade CenterAllison's brother
2006HollywoodlandRuss Taylor
2006AlteredDuke
2008ChokeDenny
2008Around JuneHenry
2009Short Term 12DenimLater adapted into the 2013 film
2010The Space BetweenWill
2011The Trouble with BlissSteven 'Jetski' Jouseskialso known as East Fifth Bliss
2011Magic ValleyJerry Garabrant
2012I Am Not a HipsterBradley Haines
2012Struck by LightningPrincipal Gifford
2013JobsPaul Terrell
2013Pacific RimConstruction foreman
2013The Frozen GroundCarl Galenski
2014Draft DayTony 'Bagel' Bagli
2014FurySgt. Daviscredited as Brad Henke
2015Pure LoveDetective Dillard
2016The TankDane Hankeard
2016Pee Wee's Big HolidayGrizzly Bear Daniels
2016SplitJohn Cooke
2017BrightDorghu
2018Cold BrookChip
2019WoundsEric
2019Inherit the ViperTedd Wallace
2020ArkansasTim

Television