Mike Henry Biography

Fast Facts

• Earned a degree from Washington and Lee University in 1998
• Had a business career in advertising before getting into the entertainment business as a comedian and writer
• Would act in his brother Patrick Henry's student films
• Quote: "(On whether "The Cleveland Show" would offend the audience) "I hope it doesn't․ I don't think it will․ I know where I'm coming from, and that's all I can control․ I've got a whole bunch of friends of all colors who will back me up․ I can't be too concerned with it․""
• Quote: "(On filtering his writing) "Yes, absolutely․ If the funniest scene doesn't make your show work, you gotta cut it․ But it's true to life, frankly․ You have to trust where you're coming from and if it doesn't feel right, I don't want to do it․""
• Quote: "(On the character Cleveland) "He's me, sort of․ He's just me, but black․ With a mustache․""
• Based Cleveland Brown, his best-known character, on someone from Maryland that he met playing basketball, imitated for weeks and then pitched the voice to the writers and producers of "Family Guy" when the show was in development