Career
Czerny is a classically trained actor who started his career on stage, starring in both plays and musicals. It all began at ‘Humberside Collegiate Institute’ in Toronto, under the direction of Janet Keele, who gave him his first role, ‘Lucky Larry.’
After graduating from the ‘National Theatre School of Canada’ in Montreal in 1982, he immersed himself in Shakespearean and classical theater, especially at the ‘Canadian Stage’ and the ‘Toronto Free Theatre.’
Theater took a young and exuberant Henry all over Canada. He performed at Ottawa's ‘National Arts Centre,’ Edmonton's ‘Citadel Theatre,’ and the ‘Stratford Festival.’ By the late 1980s, he had already established himself as a seasoned thespian of the Canadian stage.
He started guest-starring occasionally on TV shows such as ‘Hot Shots’ and ‘Night Heat’ (1986) during this period. This was the beginning of an on-screen career that has continued for over 3 decades now.
Czerny got his breakthrough role in the Canadian TV film ‘The Boys of St. Vincent’ (1992). It brought him widespread recognition and several awards, including the first of his two ‘Gemini Awards’ (for the ‘Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries’) and the ‘FIPA d’Or’ for the ‘Best Actor’ in Cannes.
After the critical and commercial success of his first major role in a feature film and its theatrical release in the US in 1994, he appeared in a number of made-for-TV films, such as ‘Trial at Fortitude Bay’ (1994), ‘Shattered Vows’ (also known as ‘Deadly Matrimony’), and ‘Choices of the Heart: The Margaret Sanger Story’ (1995). He met co-star Dana Delany while filming the last one.
He entered the arena of feature films and major motion pictures around this time, starting with supporting roles in Canadian police thrillers such as ‘A Man in Uniform’ (also known as ‘I Love a Man in Uniform,’ 1993) and ‘Cold Sweat’ (1993).
Czerny got his big break in Hollywood after he was noticed for his intense performance as an incestuous father in the ‘CBS’ telefilm ‘Ultimate Betrayal: The Rodgers Sisters Story’ (1994). He signed with the agency ‘William Morris Endeavor’ in Los Angeles and soon bagged the role of a diabolical ‘CIA’ chief, alongside Harrison Ford, in ‘Clear and Present Danger’ (1994).
There has been no dearth of offers for Czerny since then, in both Canada and Hollywood. He featured in films such as ‘Jenipapo’ (1995), ‘Mission: Impossible’ (1996), ‘The Ice Storm’ (1997), and ‘Kayla’ (1997) in the next few years.
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Meanwhile, theater never took a backseat for Czerny. In 2000, he received the ‘Theatre World Award’ for his work in the acclaimed ‘off-Broadway’ production ‘Arms and the Man.’
In the first decade of the new millennium, he was busy with steady work, both on the big and the small screens. Some of his projects during this time were ‘Possessed’ (2000), ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose’ (2005), and the new adaptation of ‘The Pink Panther’ (2006).
Many more telefilms and guest-starring roles followed. He appeared in ‘Fido’ (2006) and ‘Conversations with God’ (2006), leading up to arguably his most memorable performance, as the colorful Duke of Norfolk in ‘Showtime’s multiple award-winning period drama ‘The Tudors’ (2007).
He continued appearing in telefilms and series, which led to him being cast in the big-ticket Hollywood adaptation of ‘The A-Team’ (2010). The movie saw him share screen space with Bradley Cooper and Liam Neeson.
He then appeared in the famous recurring role of the enigmatic patriarch ‘Conrad Grayson’ in ‘ABC’s hit soap ‘Revenge’ (2011–2014), which made him an instantly recognizable face on TV.
Later, Czerny was seen as the highly anticipated ‘Toyman’ in the ‘CBS’ series ‘Supergirl’ (2016). He also made a guest appearance as ‘TMI’s estranged father in the Fox series ‘Rosewood,’ the same year.
In 2016, Czerny was cast in the ‘ABC’ thriller series ‘Quantico,’ which featured him in the recurring role of ‘CIA’ director ‘Matthew Keyes,’ alongside Bollywood superstar Priyanka Chopra.
He portrayed the role of ‘Alan Crellin’ in the ‘Golden Globe’-winning crime-drama mini-series ‘Sharp Objects’ (2018), starring Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson. He is set to appear in the horror–thriller film ‘Ready or Not,’ as ‘Tony Le Domas,’ later in 2019.
He lent his voice to a character in the 2011 series ‘Torchwood: Web of Lies.’
Trivia
Czerny once dated multiple ‘Primetime Emmy’-winner Dana Delany, a colleague, during the filming of one his early films.
He had to leave his old agency, ‘William Morris,’ to escape being typecast after being constantly bombarded with negative roles similar to his early work. He later joined the agency ‘IFA.’ He is currently managed by Canada-based Perry Zimel of ‘Oscars Abrams Zimel & Associates Inc.’
Czerny is the voice behind the famous line "Your mission, should you choose to accept it..." from the Tom Cruise-starrer hit ‘Mission Impossible.’
He had previously worked with his ‘Revenge’ co-actor Courtney Ford in an episode of the ‘Golden Globe’-winning show ‘Monk.’
