John Henton
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Born Name:
John Henton
Born Date: November 23, 1960
Born Place: East Cleveland, Ohio
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations: Actor, comedian
Brief Biography: John Henton is best known for his iconic roles as Overton Wakefield Jones on the hit sitcom Living Single (1993–1998) and Milsap Morris on The Hughleys (1998–2002).
Early Life:
Education: He graduated from Shaw High School and later attended Ohio State University.
Comedy Career Beginnings:
Discovery: In 1982, while working at a paint warehouse and studying computer science, a co-worker urged him to try an amateur night at a local club.
The Carson Moment: His big break came on June 5, 1991, when he performed on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Carson was so impressed that he invited Henton to the guest couch—a rare honor—and told him he would have an agent by the end of the night.
Stand-Up Success: He won the 1991 Johnny Walker National Comedy Search and starred in his own Showtime special, John Henton: Comedy With An Attitude, in 1993.
Major Television Roles:
Living Single (1993–1998): He played the lovable handyman Overton Jones. During the first season, he also dated co-star Kim Fields in real life.
The Hughleys (1998–2002): He starred as Milsap Morris, receiving NAACP Image Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in 2001 and 2002.
Personal Challenges and Later Work:
2000 Car Accident: Henton survived a near-fatal car crash in September 2000 that required extensive plastic surgery to reconstruct his face and treatment for shattered legs and other severe internal injuries.
Recent Activity: He continues to perform stand-up comedy nationwide at venues like the Improv.
Born Date: November 23, 1960
Born Place: East Cleveland, Ohio
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations: Actor, comedian
Brief Biography: John Henton is best known for his iconic roles as Overton Wakefield Jones on the hit sitcom Living Single (1993–1998) and Milsap Morris on The Hughleys (1998–2002).
Early Life:
Education: He graduated from Shaw High School and later attended Ohio State University.
Comedy Career Beginnings:
Discovery: In 1982, while working at a paint warehouse and studying computer science, a co-worker urged him to try an amateur night at a local club.
The Carson Moment: His big break came on June 5, 1991, when he performed on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Carson was so impressed that he invited Henton to the guest couch—a rare honor—and told him he would have an agent by the end of the night.
Stand-Up Success: He won the 1991 Johnny Walker National Comedy Search and starred in his own Showtime special, John Henton: Comedy With An Attitude, in 1993.
Major Television Roles:
Living Single (1993–1998): He played the lovable handyman Overton Jones. During the first season, he also dated co-star Kim Fields in real life.
The Hughleys (1998–2002): He starred as Milsap Morris, receiving NAACP Image Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in 2001 and 2002.
Personal Challenges and Later Work:
2000 Car Accident: Henton survived a near-fatal car crash in September 2000 that required extensive plastic surgery to reconstruct his face and treatment for shattered legs and other severe internal injuries.
Recent Activity: He continues to perform stand-up comedy nationwide at venues like the Improv.