Orange Is the New Black Actor Brad William Henke Dead at 56

Brad William Henke, best known for playing corrections officer Desi Piscatella in Orange Is the New Black, has passed away. He was 56 years old.

Henke reportedly died in his sleep on Monday, November 29, though a cause of death was not given. The Screen Actors Guild Award winner was also a former NFL player, having played for the Denver Broncos before injuries pushed him to retire in 1994. 

Over the course of his acting career, he appeared in series like Chicago Hope, ER, Dexter, Lost, Criminal Minds, October Road, Law & Order, Sneaky Pete, The Bridge, The Office, Shameless, and MacGyver. In addition to his prolific television resumé, Henke also had roles in films including Space Jam, Must Love Dogs, World Trade Center, Short Term 12, Pacific Rim, Pee-wee's Big Holiday, and Split. 

Henke won a SAG Award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series in 2017 with the cast of Orange Is the New Black. He is survived by his wife, Sonja, stepchildren Aaden and Leasa, and grandchild Amirah. 

Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines and harboring dad-aged celebrity crushes. She was previously a reporter/producer at Decider and is a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow her on Twitter: @jadebudowski.