He was utterly surprised to see his lifelong mentor.

In a deeply touching moment on The Drew Barrymore Show, actor Brian Tyree Henry sat down to discuss his rising Hollywood career and his new Apple TV+ series Dope Thief. While reflecting on his early beginnings, he spoke about how Drew Barrymore’s work influenced his childhood and how his journey into acting unfolded. But the emotional high point came when Barrymore surprised Henry with a reunion he never saw coming — bringing out his former professor and mentor, Kent Gash, a figure who helped shape the very foundation of his career (source: The Drew Barrymore Show).

As soon as Gash walked onto the stage, Henry’s reaction was instant and overwhelming. He stood up, embraced his former teacher, and wiped away tears. Later, Henry explained just how much the man meant to him: “I owe him pretty much everything… He’s the one who made me write my mission statement. He’s the one who gave me my first opportunity” (source: Because of Them We Can).

Kent Gash is a respected theatre educator — formerly a professor at Morehouse College and the founding director of the New Studio on Broadway at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts (source: Because of Them We Can). During the reunion, Gash recalled instantly recognizing Henry’s extraordinary talent from the very first moments he saw him perform. “You know two or three lines in when you’re in the presence of greatness,” Gash said, adding that Henry possessed a “preternatural gift” that he felt called to nurture. He explained that part of his role was making sure Henry understood just how gifted he truly was.

Their relationship extended far beyond the classroom. With Gash’s encouragement, Henry not only thrived at Morehouse but went on to study at Yale, a decision that significantly changed the trajectory of his life and career (source: Interview Magazine). Henry emotionally thanked Gash for never allowing him to “shrink,” saying, “He wouldn’t let up on me. He would not let me hide.”

The reunion was profoundly moving for both men. After years apart, they shared heartfelt words, clearly still affected by the journey that brought them together. Henry acknowledged that mentors like Gash were pivotal to his success, admitting he would never have reached this point in his career without such guidance (source: Because of Them We Can).

Drew Barrymore, touched by the exchange, told Henry, “You are only soaring higher and higher.”

The moment served as a powerful reminder of how transformational mentorship can be — especially in the arts, where confidence, encouragement, and belief often come long before fame or opportunity. For Henry, the reunion was not just a TV surprise; it was a celebration of the enduring bond between a student and the teacher who saw his greatness long before the world did.