David Henrie Reflects on Rejecting Hollywood’s Lifestyle

David Henrie, known for his role on “Wizards of Waverly Place,” recently talked about his shift away from Hollywood’s mainstream life after an impactful experience at a monastery. He appeared on Raymond Arroyo’s podcast and shared how a friendship with actor Kevin James helped him reconnect with his faith.

Henry described his changing perspective, explaining, “I was searching for a solid belief system. Growing up in Hollywood, surrounded by a party culture and materialism, left me feeling empty.” He likened his experience to a “bubblegum theory of pleasure”: “Each piece loses its flavor, and by the end, consuming the whole box only makes you feel worse.” That sum of experiences resonated with him before he met Kevin.

In 2012, James invited Henry to St. Michael’s Abbey in Orange County, where he found a path towards God and even prepared a chapter of a book to share with the priests. Henry recalled his initial reaction of curiosity, saying, “I thought, ‘What is that?'” He went on to write that single chapter that ultimately connected him to his faith journey.

After visiting the monastery, Henry felt a sense of relief and noted: “It was the monastery that changed my life.” This profound experience also links back to his work on a documentary series called “Seeking Beauty,” which delves into various aspects of Italian culture, including art and architecture.

Looking back, Henry sees that first visit to the monastery as pivotal, while he continues to explore and express the beauty found in faith and culture. The show’s first season aired earlier this year, and news of a second season in Spain is already underway.