Don Henderson

Donald Francis Henderson (10 November 1931 – 22 June 1997)[1] was an English actor. He was known for playing both "tough guy" roles and authority figures, and is remembered for his portrayal of detective George Bulman between 1976 and 1987 in the popular Granada Television police drama series The XYY Man, Strangers, and Bulman, as priest Frank Kane in BBC drama The Paradise Club (1989–90), and as General Tagge in the first Star Wars film (1977). This last role also brought him attention from science fiction fans, and he later appeared in cult science fiction television series Red Dwarf and Doctor Who.[2]

Don Henderson
Henderson in White Angel (1994)
Born
Donald Francis Henderson

(1931-11-10)10 November 1931
Leytonstone, Essex, England
Died22 June 1997(1997-06-22) (aged 65)
Warwick, England
OccupationActor
Years active1964–1997
Spouses
Hilary Henderson
(died 1977)
    (m. 1979)
    Children2

    Biography

    Henderson was born into a working-class family in Leytonstone, Essex, the son of a carpenter, and grew up in Epping. After completing his national service as a technician in the Royal Army Dental Corps, he served with Essex Constabulary, reaching the rank of detective sergeant in their CID, and worked as an insurance salesman. He did not become a professional actor until his thirties, when a friend dared him to audition for the Royal Shakespeare Company, with whom he subsequently performed from 1966 until 1972, going on to play many leading roles.

    Henderson had two children, a son and a daughter, with his first wife Hilary, who died from a mysterious lung disease in 1977. He remarried in 1979; his second wife was the actress Shirley Stelfox, with whom he would appear professionally many times. He lived in his adopted home town of Stratford-upon-Avon for many years, where he was a familiar face to locals.[3]

    Career

    Henderson is best remembered for his role as the fictional detective George Bulman. This character featured in three TV series: The XYY Man in the mid-1970s; the later Strangers that saw Bulman rise from Detective Sergeant to Detective Chief Inspector and, in 1985, the series Bulman saw George retired from the police and pursuing a career as a horologist. He also starred in the popular TV drama series Warship.

    Henderson made little money from his role in Star Wars—£300 for one day of filming. He also missed out on a large sum for his copy of the Star Wars script:

    "I have only once been recognised as having been in Star Wars, and that was when I was making a film in Los Angeles. Somebody in the hotel I was staying at offered me $2000 for my copy of the Star Wars script. As I growled at him in amazement, he took that as a refusal, or that he had offered too little and eventually went up to an offer of $5000! Sadly, as with all my used scripts, I had given it to my kids to scribble and draw on."[2]

    Death

    Henderson was first diagnosed with throat cancer in 1980. He died of the disease in Warwick on 22 June 1997, aged 65, and was survived by his second wife and his children.

    Filmography

    Film

    Year Title Role Notes Ref.
    1968 A Midsummer Night's Dream Attendant [3]
    1974 Callan George [3]
    Abby Flip
    1975 Brannigan Geef
    The Ghoul Ghoul
    1976 Voyage of the Damned Engineering Officer
    1977 Star Wars General Cassio Tagge [3]
    Crossed Swords Burly Ruffian
    1978 The Big Sleep Lou
    1980 The Island Rollo
    1985 Brazil First Black Maria Guard [3]
    Murder Elite Sergeant Jessop
    1987 Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire The Wednesday Man
    Out of Order Car Driver
    1988 Blanc de Chine Malcolm
    The Adventures of Baron Munchausen Commander [3]
    1989 Tank Malling Percy
    The BFG Bloodbottler / Fleshlumpeater / Sergeant Voice
    1990 The Fool Bob
    1991 How's Business Mr. Bailey
    1992 Carry On Columbus The Bosun [3]
    As You Like It The Dukes [3]
    1993 The Baby of Macon Father Confessor
    The Trial Flogger [3]
    1994 White Angel Inspector Taylor
    No Escape Killian
    1996 The Wind in the Willows The Sentry [3]
    1997 Preaching to the Perverted Commander Cope
    FairyTale: A True Story Sydney Chalker (final film role)

    Television

    Year Title Role Notes  ! Ref.
    1973–1975 Warship Master-at-Arms Heron 18 episodes [3]
    1975 Poldark Tom Carne 3 episodes [3]
    1976–1977 The XYY Man DS George Bulman 13 episodes [3]
    1978 Crossroads Mr Black 6 episodes
    Danton's Death Mercier BBC Play of the Month
    1978–1982 Strangers George Bulman 30 episodes [3]
    1983 Jemima Shore Investigates Conrad Coleman 1 episode
    1984 Annika Mr. Daniels 2 episodes
    1985–1987 Bulman George Bulman 20 episodes [3]
    1986 Dead Head Det. Inspector Malcolm Episode: "Why Me?" [3]
    1987 Knights of God Colley 6 episodes [3]
    Doctor Who: Delta and the Bannermen Gavrok 3 episodes [3]
    1988 Last of the Summer Wine Charlie [3]
    Maigret Barge Captain TV movie
    1989 Minder Billy Lynch Episode: "Fiddler On The Hoof"
    1989–1990 The Paradise Club Frank Kane 20 episodes [3]
    1991 Boon Don Episode: "Two Men in a Vault"
    1992 2Point4 Children Frank (Ben’s Dad) Series 2 Episode 3 "One Night In Bangkok"
    1993 Cracker John Hennessey Series 1 episode 2
    1994 Pat and Margaret Billy
    1996 Casualty Jerry Hunter Episode: "Night Moves" [3]
    1997 Red Dwarf Rogue Simulant Episode: "Beyond a Joke" [4]

    Radio

    References

    1. Ancestry/Find My Past (his birth was registered in the December 1931 quarter)
    2. "Embra, again.: An Interview with Don Henderson". Embraagain.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
    3. Anthony Hayward (24 June 1997). "OBITUARY: Don Henderson". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
    4. "Doctor Dwarf". reddwarf.co.uk. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
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