Brad William Henke, a former NFL player who also appeared in “Orange Is The New Black” died Tuesday at the age of 56.

According to TMZ, the footballer-turned-actor died in his sleep. However, the exact cause of death remains unknown. 

“Brad was an incredibly kind man of joyous energy. A very talented actor, he loved being a part of this community….and we loved him back. Our thoughts are with his wife and family,” his manager Matt DelPiano told TMZ.

Who was Brad William Henke?

Brad William Henke was born in Columbus, Nebraska, on April 10, 1966. He attended the University of Arizona and played football as a defensive lineman.

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He is best known for his role as prison guard Desi Piscatella on Netflix original show Orange Is the New Black. He won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2016 for his role.

He also had roles in TV shows like Justified and Lost. He also appeared in movies including Pacific Rim and World Trade Center.

Henke began acting in 1994, starting with commercials. 

Before acting, Henke was drafted by the New York Giants in the 1989 NFL Draft. However, he got cut during training camp. He was picked up by the Denver Broncos. He played in Super Bowl XXIV against the San Francisco 49ers.

In 1994, he retired from professional football following several injuries, which required six ankle surgeries. 

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Henke was married to actress Katelin Chesna from 2001 to 2008. He later got married to Sonja, with whom he raised stepson Aaden and stepdaughter Leasa. Henke also had a grandchild named Amirah.