Duane Henry became well-known for his role as MI6 intelligence operative Clayton Reeves in NCIS. After his guest spot in Season 13, the British actor was swiftly elevated to a main cast position, featuring prominently in significant story arcs during Seasons 14 and 15 respectively. However, after two years on the series, he shocked fans by choosing to depart – and here’s the reason behind his decision.
Why Did Duane Henry Leave NCIS ?
In a 2018 interview with TV Line, Duane Henry shared that he and the producers were on the same page regarding his exit from the show.
Duane Henry reveals, “I had a conversation with the producers about the character. Former showrunner Gary [Glasberg] was clearly ‘my guy’ since my very first audition. Clayton was a creation of Gary’s imagination, a character he brought to life. When Gary passed away at the beginning of Season 14, I noticed a sense of panic among the cast and crew. It was clear they were uncertain about what lay ahead. I took a moment to gather my thoughts and pondered, What will become of this character now ? I exist in a realm where unpredictability reigns, so I always stay ready for any outcome.”
The passing of Gary Glasberg sparked a wave of uncertainty regarding Clayton’s storyline among the writers, but Duane Henry had made up his mind to move on from NCIS.
He expressed, “This show has meant the world to me; it transformed my life and will always hold a special place in my heart,. However, I find myself restless, and as last year came to a close, I began to reflect deeply and reconsider my path. My thoughts began to wander in new directions.”
The choice was ultimately made to eliminate Duane’s character in the Season 15 episode titled One Step Forward, paving the way for Pauley Perette’s departure from the series. In a poignant scene, the British agent was shot twice by Kent Marshall while bravely defending Abby Sciuto, portrayed by Pauley.
After this tragic event, Abby revealed her plans to leave the team for London, where she aimed to realize Clayton’s dream of establishing a charity in honor of his mother.
What Is Duane Henry Doing Nowadays ?
Duane Henry, after his time on the NCIS Series, has made notable appearances in four Hollywood films, including A Gingerbread Romance, Captain Marvel, What Just Happened, and Mistletoe in Montana. Among these, Captain Marvel stands out as a massive success, raking in approximately 1.13 billion US dollars at the box office. In a recent interview with KCLU, he opened up about his challenges and experiences navigating the Hollywood landscape.
Interview With KCLU
Duane Henry said he grew up on the same street as rock star Ozzy Osbourne – but that’s where their similarities end.
According to Duane Henry, “I’m from a small city in Birmingham. Very working class, blue-collared. I come from a predominant West Indian background. You know, my granddad came from Jamaica in the Windrush era in the mid to late 60s, so I’m black British Caribbean descent. So yeah, it was tough”.
The former NCIS actor said he was raised by a single mom, who welcomed him as a teenager.
As per Duane, “I grew up in a single parent household. My mom had me when she was young just 16 years old. She was always my protector, and so I didn’t really know the ins and outs of any struggles until I got a bit older and looked back and was like, ‘Oh wow, we went through it’, you know? But at the time, I think as long as you have love it kind of cushions a lot of this stuff, you know? So yeah, it was a bit tough growing up. Didn’t always have what I wanted, but I had what I needed apparently”.
Before landing his big break as the series regular role on the hit military police procedural NCIS Series, Duane Henry found himself homeless.
He reveals, “I was homeless! The first year I got here [California] was very tough. I met a couple of friends, you know, couch surfing, trying to figure it out. And Hollywood wasn’t as glamorous as I thought it was. I thought it was going to be paved with gold and everything was amazing. But no, the reality hit me. I was like, damn, it’s tough here”.
Duane further reveals, “There’s a lot of people struggling and going through it. And I guess it was just I was just a bit naïve when I first got here, but I used that drive even more to figure it out. So it was tough – the homelessness, you know, and I’d been homeless on and off for a while. Everyone’s been through this. It’s not just me. I’m not special. People have been homeless before. Fortunately, I didn’t obviously have to stay on the streets, but there were times where I’d crash in a car or two or just stay up”.
By day, Duane Henry was living the Hollywood dream – even auditioning with Jennifer Lopez. He’s now turned his experience of not having a place to call his own, without security or privacy, into seeking ways to help others in the same position and has become an advocate for those who find themselves experiencing homelessness amid rising prices and a lack of affordable housing, especially in Santa Barbara, where he now lives.
As per Duane Henry, “It’s always stuck with me. So I’ve always said, no matter what it’s going to happen in my life, I’m always going to resonate with the homeless. Even in London I was homeless, I was in emergency accommodation. I was there probably for about a month or 2 or 3 months. I don’t know what it was. A lot of vulnerable people in there, and even when I was living now, I was still acting. I’m still doing my thing. I did a Michael Winterbottom film called The Road to Guantanemo, in Iran, which was incredible. I was in Tehran”.
And while Duane Henry might have his eyes on the stars, he is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
He further said, “I love Santa Barbara. They’re going to set precedents in terms of what we’re doing with the homeless community here with the self contained tiny homes. They haven’t seen it being done anywhere else, so it’s a great launching pad, and I’m glad to be a part of it, even if I can just lend my voice on my face when and how I could. I always have like, not a handout, but hand up”.