John Wesley Shipp on Returning to the World of ‘The Flash’

John Wesley Shipp The Flash Interview
John Wesley Shipp from ‘The Flash’ at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con (Photo by Richard Chavez/Showbiz Junkies)

John Wesley Shipp starred in the short-lived series The Flash back in 1990 and 1991, and while the series only aired for one season, Shipp’s fans will never forget his take on Barry Allen/The Flash. Now Shipp’s returning to that world with a role in The CW’s The Flash debuting this fall.

Shipp is playing Barry’s imprisoned father, Henry, and at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con, he talked about once again being able to be a part of this world.

“Very rarely, I think in any walk of life but particularly in my profession, do you get an opportunity to return – if I may use the metaphor – to return to the scene of the crime and be gifted with a chance for healing,” said Shipp.

Shipp says no one wants to hear an actor whine about playing a superhero, but his time spent in the suit – limited though it was – was the hardest thing he’s ever done. Fortunately for Grant Gustin, the new Flash suit doesn’t resemble what Shipp wore, nor does it involve gluing on parts and having to act in a heavy costume.

Check out the rest of our interview with John Wesley Shipp on how he feels about getting the role, his memories of the old TV series, and what he thinks audiences will get out of the new 2014 version: