Henry Simmons Movies

The musical drama On the QT stars Sam Ball as a struggling musician who is scraping by in The Big Apple by playing violin to strangers waiting to get on subway trains. His fortunes take a turn for the better when he makes the acquaintance of a wise older musician (James Earl Jones), and a singer who can offer him real career assistance (Trudie Styler). ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Although the seventh season of NYPD Blue was supposed to begin on November 9, 1999, a variety of backstage intrigues involving the ABC network and the series' producers (some of these revolving around NYPD's temporary Tuesday-night "replacement" Once and Again) pushed the debut date forward to the unfashionably late January 11, 2000. Fans were of course a bit miffed, but not so much as to effect the series' customarily high ratings. The departure of longtime series regular Nicholas Turturro as Det. James Martinez permitted the series to introduce a new character, Det. Baldwin Jones, played by Henry Simmons. Formerly assigned to the 15th precinct's hate-crimes unit, the African-American Jones had a few expected flareups with Det. Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz), whose race-relations record was infamously spotty. As for Andy himself, he spent a goodly amount of time in the early part of the season brooding over the previous-season death of wife Sylvia Costas, but again found consolation in the love of his son Theo (Austin Majors) -- who as the season finale approached, experienced a major health crisis that would remain unresolved until the outset of season nine. Andy also adopted a paternal attitude toward his troubled young partner, Danny Sorenson (Rick Schroder), whose inner demons would ultimately cost him the love of the new lady in his life (and new NYPD Blue recurring character), Det. Mary Franco (Sheeri Rappaport). There was, however, promise held out for another romantic relationship with Det. Diane Russell (Kim Delaney), who like Andy Sipowicz was having problems reconciling herself with the loss of a loved one, namely the late and lamented Det. Bobby Simone. The seventh season's most dramatic plot development involved Det. Jill Kirkendall (Andrea Thompson), who found herself torn between professional duty and familial responsibilities in dealing with the crooked machinations of her ex-husband, Don (Erich Anderson), who in turn was somehow mixed up with Diane Russell's latest bête noire, unsavory narcotics task-force agent Denby (Scott Cohen). The series' cliffhanger finale not only took Jill Kirkendall out of the picture (actress Andrea Thompson had elected to leave the series and launch a whole new career as a TV newscaster), but also placed everyone at the 15th precinct under suspicion of complicity in a prickly drug-trafficking and cover-up operation. For the first time since its maiden 1993-1994 season, NYPD Blue went home empty-handed from the Emmy Awards ceremony, though (as usual) series regular Dennis Franz picked up an Emmy nomination. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A barrel containing the dismembered body of a woman is found in a house formerly owned by mobster Pete Mangrini (Al Sapienza). In their efforts to prove that the body is that of Mangrini's long-missing wife, thereby pinning a murder rap on the mob boss, Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) and Jones (Henry Simmons) are aided and abetted by plucky reporter Nicole Graf (Elizabeth Berkley). Meanwhile, Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) and Sorenson (Rick Schroder), pursuing another lead in the Mangini case, come up with a satisfying example of the postman ringing twice. And off the job, Sipowicz tries to help police medical examiner Dr. Kroft (M. Emmet Walsh) cope with his wife's terminal cancer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Reporter Nicole Graf (Elizabeth Berkley), who helped the squad in the Mangrini murder case, makes no secret of her lust for Det. Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons), but he chastely prefers the traditional courtship approach. Back on the job, retired English detective Jimmy Cheatham (John Standing) offers his assistance when the squad investigates a rape-murder. Cheatham is of the opinion that the killer is the same person who committed a string of crimes in London, and he insists upon being on hand when the squad converges on the suspect's hiding place -- a mortuary. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, it is revealed that Jill Kirkendall's (Andrea Thompson) ex-husband, drug trafficker Don Kirkendall (Erich Anderson), isn't dead after all -- and Jill knew it all the time. As Diane (Kim Delaney) tries to find out what Jill is up to, Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) and Jones (Henry Simmons) investigate the beating death of a man in a domestic dispute, which leads to a disturbing case of rape. And in his efforts to cope with his young son Theo's serious medical problem, Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) "talks" with his deceased older son, Andy. "Bats Off to Larry" and the subsequent "The Last Round Up" were originally telecast as a single, two-hour "special" episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After having a nightmare about his mother and sisters, Danny (Rick Schroder) lashes out at Mary (Sheeri Rappaport). Jill (Andrea Thompson) and Diane (Kim Delaney) investigate the grotesque slaying of a female "drug mule." The Russian father of two missing children behaves strangely when questioned by the detectives. And the 15th's newest arrival, Detective Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons), braces himself against the possibility of a racial confrontation with the unpredictable Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz). (This episode was telecast on a Wednesday evening, rather than the series' traditional Tuesday-night slot.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Danny Sorenson's (Rick Schroder) persistent nightmares about his family have a profoundly negative effect on his job and his relationship with Mary (Sheeri Rappaport). When the skeletal remains of a little girl are found, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) solicits the aid of retired detective Calvin Rowley (Eric Sait), who investigated the original missing-persons case -- and who is now in the first stages of Alzheimer's. And Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons) acts as mediator when the owner of a wounded dog refuses to allow Greg Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) to remove the bullet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Gay officer John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup) of the Anti-Crime division helps the squad in their investigation of a missing-persons case involving a middle-aged homosexual, an angry nephew, a disgruntled lover, and a violent roommate. And Jill (Andrea Thompson), Diane (Kim Delaney), and Jones (Henry Simmons) try to help a timid rape victim (Emily Bergl) retrace the steps taken by her assaulters when they abducted her. NYPD Blue casting director Scott Genkinger appears uncredited as a lawyer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Wealthy Kathleen Gallegher (Nancy Linari) insists that her former housekeeper killed her own baby. When the identity of the dead child's father is revealed, Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons) has a heated confrontation with the imperiously racist Gallegher. In another development, Danny Sorenson (Rick Schroder) tries to help street informant J.B. (Jeff Cahill) kick his drug habit, but Danny's idea of rehabilitation does not sit well with Mary (Sheeri Rappaport). And an ex-cop working as a security guard offers his assistance when the parents of his youthful charges are robbed and murdered. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Henry Simmons makes his first series appearance as Det. Baldwin Jones, the replacement for recently promoted James Martinez. A former hate-crimes officer, Jones finds that his training comes in handy as he and new partner Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) track down a perpetrator -- while Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel), skipper of the 15th precinct, broods over the fact that Jones was added to the squad without his approval. Elsewhere, Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) discovers that a female cop who was murdered while off duty was having an affair with her partner, and Diane (Kim Delaney) agonizes over telling her partner, Jill (Andrea Thompson), that Jill's ex-husband, Don, a drug trafficker, has been reported killed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Still investigating the murder of a stripper, Danny (Rick Schroder) boozily spends the night with the dead woman's co-worker Kristin (Jenna Gering), who is being harassed by an obsessed fan. Andy (Dennis Franz) chews out Danny when he shows up with liquor on his breath the next morning. Nonetheless, Danny has the presence of mind to let Lt. Rodriguez (Esai Morales) know that he plans to worm his way into the confidence of Kristin's boss, Joey Shulman (Greg Grunberg), in hopes of solving the murder. And on another front, Greg (Gordon Clapp) and Baldwin (Henry Simmons) go after a gunman who murdered two people by mistake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Valerie (Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon) tries to keep a hostile witness (Adina Porter) in a drug case in protective custody by depositing the girl at Diane's (Kim Delaney) apartment. When tragedy strikes despite her precautions, the guilt-ridden Valerie seeks solace in the arms of Baldwin (Henry Simmons). Elsewhere, the suspect in a robbery-murder is confident that he will "play the system" and walk as he has done in the past. And Connie (Charlotte Ross) reveals that she has a daughter whom she gave up for adoption 15 years ago. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide