ACTOR · BORN 1940

Lance Henriksen

Born

5 May 1940, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Known for

The Terminator (1984), Aliens (1986), Grey's Anatomy (2005), Tarzan (1999)

39 archived facts · 5 topics · 1 source · Last reviewed Sep 2026

10 Interesting Facts About Lance Henriksen

1. #002

   Lance Henriksen and Bill Paxton are the only two actors in film history to have faced three different iconic creatures: the Terminator, the Alien and the Predator. This unique achievement reflects their versatility in science fiction and action and their luck in appearing in the most memorable works of those genres.

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2. #004

   Apart from Sigourney Weaver, Lance Henriksen is the only actor to appear in more than one Alien film. This shows his importance to the horror and science fiction series and marks him as one of the rare figures, along with Weaver, who ensured its continuity.

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3. #006

   At seventeen, Lance Henriksen spent four and a half months in the Dade County Jail in Miami for being an accomplice to a car theft and fleeing during a police chase; the crime had been committed by a man who had picked him up hitchhiking. He also served a short jail term for vagrancy in Tucson, Arizona, in 1960. This period of his youth stands out as an indication of the different path he later chose in life.

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4. #010

   There was talk of Lance Henriksen reprising the role of Detective Vukovich in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003). The idea was that his character, having survived the events of the first film, would be confined to a wheelchair. The idea was ultimately rejected, however, and Henriksen did not appear in the film. It went down as a comeback that fans had awaited with curiosity but that never happened.

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5. #014

   The Irish electronic band Machines of Love released a song titled "Lance Henriksen." The band's vocalist, P.A.L.A.S, said he is a huge fan of Henriksen's films and that Henriksen is "criminally underrated." The song is regarded as an indication of Henriksen's cult status.

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6. #016

   Besides facing deadly aliens in the Alien and Predator films, Lance Henriksen also appeared in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), which is about more benevolent aliens. The film shows his range within science fiction and reveals the broad spectrum of his alien-themed work.

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7. #017

   Lance Henriksen bears a striking resemblance to the actor Stephen McHattie, and the two are often confused for this reason. They even once played twin brothers in the "Snow" episode of the series Beauty and the Beast (1987). The resemblance is recorded as an interesting coincidence in their careers.

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8. #018

   Over the years, Lance Henriksen has been an inspiration for at least two franchise characters. James Cameron initially wrote the Terminator (1984) character with him in mind, and Victor Salva created the Creeper in the Jeepers Creepers (2001) films with him in mind. This is proof of his influence and creativity in the world of cinema.

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9. #024

   Lance Henriksen is a big fan of Eminem's music. The interest shows his openness to different musical genres and his connection to contemporary culture.

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10. #026

    Lance Henriksen voiced Kerchak in the film Tarzan (1999). The producers felt his strong, deep voice was perfect for filling out the character's scale.

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