Orange is the New Black actor Brad William Henke has died aged 56
The former NFL player died in his sleep on Tuesday (29 November), his manager said in a statement.
He was perhaps most known for playing prison guard, Desi Piscatella, on Orange is the New Black.
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His manager, Matt DelPiano, said: "Brad was an incredibly kind man of joyous energy.
"A very talented actor, he loved being a part of this community… and we loved him back.
"Our thoughts are with his wife and family."
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Casting director of Orange Is the New Black, Jen Euston also tweeted: "This is a shock. Rest well, Brad.
"Thank you for all the work you contributed on OITNB.
"You will not be forgotten."
His role in the TV show made Henke a popular figure in the bear community.
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Henke told Out in 2016: “I mean, I feel honored. I feel awesome. It’s such a compliment.
“Who wouldn’t want people to find them attractive?
“Piscatella is kind of a bad character in some ways but the response that I’ve gotten is that they like the fact that he’s real.”
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The former Denver Bronco lineman retired from the NFL in 1994 due to injury.
After moving to LA, Henke would transition into acting, a decision he regretted not making sooner.
"I’m fortunate I’ve found something I love to do a million times more than playing football,” Henke said in a 1998 interview with Tuscan Citizen.
"I was kind of lost for a while after my football career ended, and I’m so glad I found this.
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"I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life with the best of my life already behind me."
He added: "I kind of regret not starting acting sooner.
"But I think my life experiences before I found my calling have really helped me.
"I’m building my career by myself, on my own merits, not for what I did on the football field."
Taking to social media, one person wrote: "Damn, RIP Brad William Henke.
"I really dug seeing him in different movies and shows when he would pop up."
Another added: "Terribly sad to lose Brad William Henke, a great character actor.
"Few actors I can think of who could make his subplot in Me and You and Everyone We Know fly."
Branch Out Productions tweeted: "We have no words. Brad was a brilliant performer and a very sweet man."
Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV
Anish Vij