Kent Hannon University of Georgia Magazine March 2001

When "Les Misérables" opened on Broadway on March 12, 1987, the Berlin Wall was still intact, Bill Clinton was governor of Arkansas, Donald Trump was still married to Ivana - and Shuler Hensley was deciding to leave UGA early to pursue a career in theater.

"I was a pitcher on the baseball team and an international business major at Georgia, but I always knew that I wanted to pursue the theater," says Hensley (M '89), who is the son of Georgia Ballet artistic director Iris Hensley (ABJ '56). In fact, it was in Mom's shows that he got his start in show business. His first part, at age four, was in "The Nutcracker."

After singing throughout his high school years at Westminster in Atlanta, and then performing with the concert choir and glee club at UGA, Hensley headed east to study opera at the Manhattan School of Music, both to get classical training and to be in New York - "where", as he says, "you really need to be, to break into theater."

He made the right choice, according to the critics.

In a recent review of "Les Mis," Clive Barnes of the New York Post praised J. Mark McVey for his portrayal of Jean Valjean and then went on to say, "Even more effective is the new Javert, Shuler Hensley, who comes to the production after his sensational, award-winning performance in London of Jud in the National Theater's production of 'Oklahoma.' Hensley, with his powerhouse presence, at 6'3", 250 pounds, is just as good as the ruthless Javert."

Hensley won an Olivier Award, the English equivalent of the Tony, for his menacing portrayal of Jud Fry in "Oklahoma," which was produced by "Les Misérables" producer Cameron Mackintosh. When the role of Javert came open in New York last November, the timing was right for a Hensley-Mackintosh reunion.

Hensley has proven to be an extremely versatile performer. His resume includes operatic roles in "Don Giovanni," "La Boheme," and "Carmen," as well as the title role in a year-long run of "Phantom of the Opera" in Germany. He is currently hard at work on the role of celebrated sports commentator Keith Jackson in a TNT film, "Monday Night Mayhem," about the early days of Monday Night Football. The made-for-TV movie is scheduled to premiere in time for next year's Super Bowl.

In a departure from his heavy, ominous roles in "Les Mis" and "Oklahoma," Hensley landed a role in the motion picture remake of "Sabrina" and played the title character's best friend in an episode of the popular new TV sitcom "Ed." He will continue to explore the lighter side of his personality in a movie to be released this spring that stars Ashley Judd.

"I want to continue to vary myself," says Hensley, who would like to begin working in films more often. "I enjoy the whole range of acting."

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