| Birth name | Justin Henry |
|---|---|
| Birth date | May 25, 1971 (age 55) |
| Birth place | Rye, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Businessman, actor |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Known for | Billy Kramer in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) |
Justin Henry (born May 25, 1971) is an American actor and businessman, known for playing Billy Kramer in the 1979 film Kramer vs. Kramer, a debut role which earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination at just eight years old. As of 2025, he remains the youngest Oscar nominee in any category. The performance later earned him a spot (No. 80) on VH1's list of 100 Greatest Kid Stars. Most of his film and television credits came as a child or teenager, although he has continued acting as an adult.[1]
Early life and education
Justin Henry was born in Rye, New York, the son of Michele (née Andrews), a real estate agent, and Clifford Henry, an investment adviser.[2] He was educated at Brunswick School, an all-boys college-preparatory private day school located in Greenwich, Connecticut, followed by Skidmore College, a private liberal arts college in Saratoga Springs, New York, where he earned a B.A. in psychology in 1993.[3]
Career
Acting career
Henry began his acting career in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), which was released to widespread praise and won the Academy Award for Best Picture.[4] For his performance as Billy Kramer, a young boy dealing with his parents' separation, he was nominated for the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor[4][5] (making him the youngest person to ever be nominated for an Academy Award or Golden Globe) and won the Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film.[6]
His next role was in a 1983 episode of the American television series Fantasy Island.[7] On the big screen, Henry appeared in the Brat Pack film Sixteen Candles (1984), as Mike, one of main character Samantha's siblings.[citation needed] Henry also played the son of a married couple played by Don Johnson and Susan Sarandon in the film Sweet Hearts Dance (1988). In this role, critic Janet Maslin called him a "large and amusingly sullen teenager".[8]
After graduation, Henry's next widely seen performance was in 1997, as a medical student in a two-episode role during the fourth season of ER.[7] He starred opposite Ally Sheedy, Jason David Frank and Brian O'Halloran in the mockumentary The Junior Defenders, which was filmed that same year but released direct-to-video in 2007.[9]
Business career
Henry co-founded the Slamdunk Film Festival in 1998.[10] He continues to make occasional appearances in film and television.[7]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Kramer vs. Kramer | Billy Kramer | |
| 1983 | Tiger Town | Alex | |
| 1984 | Sixteen Candles | Mike Baker | |
| 1985 | Martin's Day | Martin | |
| Double Negative | |||
| 1988 | Sweet Hearts Dance | Kyle Boon | |
| 1996 | Andersonville | Tyce | |
| 1997 | ER | Med Student James Sasser | Season 4 Episodes 4 and 5 |
| 2003 | My Dinner with Jimi | Howard Kaylan | |
| Finding Home | Prescott | ||
| 2004 | Lost | Chester Gould | |
| 2007 | The Junior Defenders | Jimmy Fletcher | |
| 2008 | My Own Worst Enemy | Dr. Rafe Castle | Season 1 Episode 2 |
| 2010 | Brothers & Sisters | Dr. Lewis | Season 4 Episode 21 |
| 2014 | Reaper | Caine | |
| 2019 | On Cinema | Himself | "The New On Cinema Oscar Special" special |
Awards and nominations
References
- ^ "VH1 Names Gary Coleman the top of the 100 Great Kid TV Stars". Entertainment Magazine. August 6, 2009. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
- ^ "Justin Henry Biography (1971-)". Film Reference
- ^ Jason Buchanan (2012). "Justin Henry Biography". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
- ^ "The 52nd Academy Awards | 1980". www.oscars.org. 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
- ^ "Kramer vs. Kramer". Golden Globes. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
- ^ "2nd Annual Awards". 2015-09-10. Archived 10 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
- ^ Justin Henry at IMDb
- ^ Maslin, Janet (September 23, 1988). "Love and Unhappiness in Sweet Hearts Dance". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
- ^ McCarthy, Mike (February 2, 2020). "Interview with Brian O'Halloran". View Askew. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
- ^ "CANNES 2001: Attention-Getting? Slamdunk, Slamdance, Streaking, and a Sandwich Board". IndieWire. May 15, 2001. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
- ^ "Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) Awards & Festivals". mubi.com. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
Bibliography
- Holmstrom, John. The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995, Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 386-387.
External links
- Justin Henry at IMDb