John Wesley Shipp (born January 22, 1955) is an American actor known for his various television roles. He played the lead Barry Allen on CBS\'s superhero series The Flash from 1990 to 1991, and Mitch Leery, the title character\'s father, on the drama series Dawson\'s Creek from 1998 to 2001. Shipp has also played several roles in daytime soap operas including Kelly Nelson on Guiding Light from 1980 to 1984, and Douglas Cummings on As the World Turns from 1985 to 1986 (which earned him his first Daytime Emmy Award). He portrays both Barry Allen\'s father, Henry Allen, and Jay Garrick/Flash on the current The Flash series on The CW network.\n', '

Shipp was born in Norfolk, Virginia. His father was a farmer who returned to school when Shipp was young, and after attending the seminary in Wake Forest, he became the pastor of a small church outside Wake Forest, North Carolina. Shipp later gave a keynote speech to the graduating class of Wake Forest Rolesville High School Class of 1999 to recount the tale of his father\'s attempts to integrate the community in the late 1960s.\n', '

Shipp attended Butler High School in Louisville, Kentucky and then attended Indiana University.\n', '

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