Brian Tyree Henry Receives Performer Tribute At Gotham TV Awards

brian tyree henery - Arturo Holmes

Brian Tyree Henry received the Performer Tribute for his role in the Apple+ series Dope Thief at the second annual Gotham Television Awards ceremony earlier this month.

The Gotham TV Awards, which held their inaugural ceremony in 2024, were set up to recognize leading talents within television. This year’s ceremony took place at Cipriani Wall Street in New York, on Monday, June 2, 2025.

The Performer Tribute is a special award that was introduced for this year’s ceremony to recognize actors who have elevated the medium of television through transformative performances. Henry received the award for the level of authenticity, depth, and emotional intelligence shown for his leading role in Dope Thief as Ray Driscoll, a recovering addict who poses as a DEA Agent in order to rob from drug dealers.

Henry previously gained widespread recognition for his Emmy-nominated role in the FX series Atlanta, as well as in films such as Bullet Train, If Beale Street Could Talk, and The Fire Inside.

“Henry has consistently delivered performances that captivate and elevate every show he joins,” stated Gotham Film & Media Institute executive director Jeffrey Sharp. “With his portrayal of Ray Driscoll in Dope Thief, he once again reveals his mesmerizing ability to convey complex emotions, even in silence – a quality that has made him one of the most compelling performers of his generation. We’re proud to present Henry with the Gotham Television Awards’ first ever Performer Tribute.”

Henry was also separately nominated for the Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Limited Series, but ultimately lost out to British actor Stephen Graham, for his role on Netflix’s Adolescence.

Also among the honorees receiving special awards at the ceremony were Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Étoile, and Hwang Dong-hyuk of Squid Game, who were each joint honorees of the Creator Tribute. Meanwhile, Sheryl Lee Ralph received the Sidney Poitier Icon Tribute, whilst the cast of The Handmaid’s Tale received the inaugural Ensemble Tribute.