Topically Yours - Actor Henry Simmons

Host Deardra Shuler talks with Henry Simmons who is appearing in the movie FROM THE ROUGH starring academy award nominee Taraji Henson and Michael Clark Duncan. From the Rough opens in theaters on Friday, April 25, and tells the true story of Catana Starks, a female Tennessee State men’s golf coach who overcame incredible odds and deep-seated prejudice to become “the first African-American woman ever to coach an all-men’s team.

Born in Stamford, Ct, the son of Aurelia and Henry Simmons, Sr. Henry is one of three children. Simmons earned a basketball scholarship to Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire. He earned a business degree and later took a job in finacial management. It didn't last because Simmons was attracted to acting. 

Simmons' first acting gig as a hot-headed youth was in a movie with Tupac Shakur called "Above the Rim."  He appeared in movies and TV, most notably Detective Baldwin Jones on the ABC police drama “NYPD Blue.”  He also played Queen Latifah's boyfriend in the 2004 action/comedy film Taxi. He had a leading role in a CBS legal drama "Shark" which starred James Woods. Simmons also appeared in World's Greatest Dad. He recently starred in "Man Up!" Upcoming projects include  From the Rough" and "No Good Deed," starring Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson.

Simmons stars in "From the Rough" as Kendrick Paulsen, Jr., the school’s tough-minded athletic director, who “represents the ultimate obstacle to (Henson’s) character and her success because he does not think Starks is qualified to coach a men’s team and that creates a huge conflict.