A working actor since age three, Elden Henson, who has been variously billed as Elden Ratliff and Elden Ryan Ratliff, spent much of his life in the public eye. Previously a model, he made his film debut as a ring bearer in the romantic comedy "A Little Sex" (1981) and followed with small roles in two Sidney Lumet films, "The Verdict" (1982) and "Daniel" (1983). At age five, already a film veteran, Henson attempted television, with a regular role on the CBS daytime drama "As The World Turns". Guest starring roles on NBC's "Amazing Stories" (1985) and "Highway to Heaven" (1987) followed. He would next be seen on the small screen in the miniseries "Elvis and Me" (ABC, 1988), playing a character at age seven, that his older brother Erick portrayed at age ten. The round-faced, blondish and slightly chubby Henson had his first substantial film role in 1989's cop/dog buddy film "Turner & Hooch". More memorable was his work as Fulton Reed in Disney's "The Mighty Ducks" (1992), a film co-starring his younger brother Garrette. Noticed after a puck he hits breaks the hockey coach's car window, Fulton has to learn to skate to join the Ducks, and then becomes the team's enforcer and protector. He reprised this role for the popular 1994 and 1996 sequels. Big with the small set, "The Mighty Ducks" trilogy won Henson both fans and recognition, and helped to pave the way for larger roles.
1998 saw the young actor take a co-starring role, playing physically oversized but emotionally underdeveloped Max in "The Mighty", opposite Kieran Culkin's thoughtful and disabled Kevin. Both outcasts, they find each other, with Max helping Kevin overcome his weaknesses by carrying him around on his shoulders while Kevin helps to open up Max's mind with a copy of the tales of King Arthur. Their onscreen friendship was moving, and Henson, giving a sensitive and compelling performance, showed that years of experience in the business had molded him into a fine actor. Singled out by critics for his impressive turn, Henson offered an honest, unaffected and mature portrayal that distinguished him as one to watch among dozens of contemporaries.
Henson re-teamed with Culkin in the teen ensemble comedy "She's All That" (1999), featured as the best friend of Rachael Leigh Cook's character Laney, while Culkin played Laney's younger brother. With the onslaught of teen-themed features came more work for Henson, who could next be seen featured alongside Devon Sawa and Seth Green in "Idle Hands", a 1999 horror-comedy. That same year he lensed the "Othello" update "O" (2001), starring Mekhi Phifer as the lead Odin, and Josh Hartnett as his friend and nemesis Hugo. In addition to acting, Henson has shown an interest in writing and directing, having worked on a number of amateur short films and written several scripts. Henson played one of the canny foursome trying to cheat their way through high school in the 2002 comedy "Cheats" and had a small role in the comedy prequel "Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd" (2003) before a major appearance in the second "Project Greenlight" feature "The Battle of Shaker Heights" (2003) as Bart, the best friend of Kelly (Shia LaBeouf) who finds their relationsip strained when Kelly's goes after Bart's sister (Amy Smart).
Profession(s):
Actor, model, screenwriter
Sometimes Credited As:
Elden Ratliff
Elden Ryan Ratliff
2005 Cast as Billy Z, co-owner of the Zephyr surf shop in "Lords of Dogtown" a fictionalized take on a group of skateboarders that originated in Venice, California during the 1970's
2004 Cast in the thriller "The Butterfly Effect," which starred Ashton Kutcher and Amy Smart
2001 Featured in "O" (filmed in 1999), a modern retelling of "Othello" starring Mekhi Phifer and Josh Hartnett
1999 Appeared in the ensemble film "She's All That"
1999 Co-starred with Devon Sawa and Seth Green in "Idle Hands"
1998 Had co-starring role opposite Kieran Culkin in "The Mighty", billed as Elden Henson
1992 Appeared in "Radio Flyer"
1992 Featured in the Showtime original "Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School"
1992 Created role of Fulton Reed in "The Mighty Ducks"; reprised part in both sequels
1989 First major film role in "Turner & Hooch"
1988 TV-movie debut in the ABC miniseries "Elvis and Me"
1987 Guest starred in a Halloween episode of NBC's family drama "Highway to Heaven"
1985 Family moved to Los Angeles (date approximate)
1985 Appeared in an episode of the anthology series "Amazing Stories"
1983 Appeared in bit part in Lumet's "Daniel"
1983 TV acting debut as a child performer on the CBS daytime drama "As the World Turns" (date approximate)
1982 Had small role in Sidney Lumet's "The Verdict"
1981 Film debut as a ring bearer in "A Little Sex"
1980 Began career as a child model at age two; signed by Eileen Ford (dated by approximate)
Raised in NYC
