- published: 10 Sep 2014
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Lance James Henriksen (born May 5, 1940) is an American actor and artist best known to film and television audiences for his roles in science fiction, action, and horror films such as the Alien film franchise, and on television shows such as Millennium. Henriksen is also a voice actor; he is noted for his deep, commanding voice.
Henriksen was born in New York City. His father, James Henriksen (born as Jim Marino Henriksen in Tønsberg 1910), was a Norwegian merchant sailor and boxer nicknamed "Icewater" who spent most of his life at sea. His mother, Margueritte, struggled to find work as a dance instructor, waitress, and model. His parents divorced when he was two years old and he was raised by his mother. As he grew up, Henriksen found himself in trouble at various schools and even saw the inside of a children's home. Henriksen left home[not in citation given] and dropped out of school at the age of twelve;[not in citation given] he would not learn to read until he was 30, when he taught himself by studying film scripts. Henriksen's grandmother from Norway was of Sami origin.[citation needed]