Martin Henderson

Martin Henderson (born 8 October 1974) is a New Zealand actor. He is known for his roles on the American medical drama series '' Off the Map'' as Dr. Ben Keeton (2011), the medical drama series ''Grey's Anatomy'' as Dr. Nathan Riggs (2015–2017), the Netflix romantic drama ''Virgin River'' as Jack Sheridan (2019–present), and for his performances as Noah Clay in the horror film ''The Ring'' (2002) and Wayne Gilroy in the slasher film ''X'' (2022). In his home country, he is known for his teenage role as Stuart Neilson in the soap opera ''Shortland Street'' (1992–1995).

Early life

Henderson was born in Auckland to Ian and Veronica Henderson. They divorced when he was five. He began acting at the age of thirteen, appearing in ''Strangers'', a local television production. He attended Birkenhead Primary Northcote Intermediate and Westlake Boys High schools. He played rugby as a flanker and his team won the championship in 1990 and 1991. He turned down going to study at university when he was 17, in favour of acting. He initially considered studying science and business.

Career

Early work

At age 17, in 1992, Henderson starred as Stuart Neilson in the New Zealand prime-time soap opera ''Shortland Street''. He played the role until 1995. ''Shortland Street'' became New Zealand's longest-running drama and soap opera. He subsequently lived in Australia for three years and appeared in a number of Australian films and television productions including '' Echo Point'' and ''Home and Away''.

Move to the United States

Henderson moved to the United States in 1997 to pursue a career in Hollywood films and to train in a two-year program at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City with a student visa. To pay the tuition, he took a job at night as a restaurant food runner. While at school, he starred as Hamlet in the off-Broadway play ''Ophelia Thinks Harder''. He left the school halfway through the two-year course and moved to Los Angeles.

Heath Ledger helped him financially during a period of numerous auditions without securing any role. Henderson first landed a voice over part in a Fanta commercial, speaking with an Australian accent. In 1999, he appeared in ''Kick'', for which he was nominated for an AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2000. After more than a year unsuccessfully auditioning for film roles in Los Angeles, in 2001 he was cast in a supporting role in the John Woo-directed war film '' Windtalkers''.
In 2002, Henderson starred opposite Naomi Watts in the horror film '' The Ring''. Following the box office success of the film, he was cast as Drew in ''Perfect Opposites'', and subsequently as the lead character in the biker film ''Torque'', released in early 2004. Later that year, he starred opposite Aishwarya Rai in the British romantic film '' Bride and Prejudice'' and appeared in Britney Spears' "Toxic" music video. In 2005, he appeared in the award-winning '' Little Fish'' starring Cate Blanchett. In 2006, Henderson received rave reviews in London's West End in a theatre production of '' Fool for Love'' with Juliette Lewis.

He was set to star alongside Jordana Brewster in the television series adapted from the 2005 film '' Mr. & Mrs. Smith''. However, the series was not picked up by any network. In 2006, he appeared in the movie ''Flyboys''. He also appeared in a commercial for the 2008 Cadillac CTS, and the ''House'' episode " Painless". In 2010, Henderson was cast in ''Grey's Anatomy'' creator Shonda Rhimes' short-lived television series '' Off the Map'' as a New Zealand doctor. In 2014, he starred in the multi-platform Australian drama television series '' Secrets & Lies'' and in the SundanceTV drama series '' The Red Road''.

In 2015, Henderson appeared in ''Everest'', with Jake Gyllenhaal. In June that year, he joined the cast of ''Grey's Anatomy'', as a potential love interest for series lead Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey, making his first appearance in November. The actor exited two years later, his final appearance in October 2017. Henderson told ''Deadline'' that his departure was a storytelling-based decision, adding, "This asmy final year so I was expecting Nathan’s storyline to be wrapped up." In 2016, he starred in the film '' Miracles from Heaven'' opposite Jennifer Garner.

Since 2019, Henderson has co-starred on the Netflix series ''Virgin River'' alongside Alexandra Breckenridge, playing the role of Jack Sheridan, a former marine with PTSD. The series was renewed by Netflix for a fourth and fifth season in 2021. He was cast in A24 horror film '' X'' (2022) as Wayne Gilroy.

Personal life

As of 2017, he lives in Los Angeles with his dog.

Filmography

Film

Television

Web series

Music video appearances

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Henderson, Martin
1974 births
21st-century New Zealand male actors
20th-century New Zealand male actors
Living people
New Zealand male child actors
New Zealand male film actors
New Zealand male soap opera actors
New Zealand male television actors
People educated at Westlake Boys High School
Male actors from Auckland
New Zealand expatriate male actors in the United States