On The Drew Barrymore Show, Brian Tyree Henry had an emotional moment when he was reunited with the professor who inspired him to pursue acting. The Atlanta and Eternals actor was sitting down with Drew, chatting about his new AppleTV+ series, Dope Thief, when Drew surprised him with a visit from his mentor, Kent Gash.
Barrymore invited Kent to join them on stage, and the surprise reunion brought Henry to tears. “I owe him pretty much everything,” Henry said. “He’s the one who made me write my mission statement. He’s the one who gave me my first opportunity.”
Gash, a professor at Morehouse College, was there when Henry was just starting out, and he was the one who saw something special in him from the very beginning. Gash shared how, during an audition, he knew Henry had a rare gift.
“You know two or three lines in when you’re in the presence of greatness,” he said, talking about that early moment. He also shared how important it was for him to push Henry to believe in his potential, especially when Henry didn’t yet see it for himself.
Henry recalled his younger self being a “crazy 21-year-old” and how Gash wouldn’t let him shrink or hide. “He wouldn’t let me,” Henry said through tears. “Thank goodness for that.”
Brian Tyree Henry gets emotional during a surprise reunion with the mentor that inspired him to fully pursue acting
— Glock Topickz (@Glock_Topickz) April 18, 2025
🎥: @DrewBarrymoreTV pic.twitter.com/KBii4c0mpR
The reunion was full of raw emotion as both Henry and Gash shared how their relationship shaped Henry’s path. It was a full-circle moment, with Henry acknowledging that he’s only gotten to where he is today because of mentors like Gash. “You are only soaring higher and higher,” Gash told him.
It was an incredibly touching moment, showcasing the power of mentorship and how having someone believe in you can change everything.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
