Don Henderson

Actor · 1932–1997 · Leytonstone, London, England, UK

Biography

Born Donald Francis Henderson in Leystonstone, 1931, Don Henderson was an English actor of stage, television and screen. He was best 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 a trilogy of popular Granada Television police drama series; The XYY Man, Strangers, and Bulman. Following the end of Bulman, Henderson starred as the priest Frank Kane in the BBC drama series The Paradise Club, penned by Bulman creator Murray Smith. Henderson starred in several cult and sci fi serials and films, most notably in the first Star Wars movie in which he played General Tagge, and Doctor Who and Red Dwarf. Prior to acting, Henderson was a dental technician in the army and a detective sergeant in the Essex constabulary, but he resigned when he found he had sympathy for the criminals he was obliged to arrest. He was married twice, firstly to Hilary who died in 1977, and then to the actress Shirley Stelfox, whom he met filming The XYY Man. The pair set up home in Stratford-Upon-Avon and appeared together professionally many times until his death from throat cancer in 1997.

Acted in 87

1990s

1998
The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Mr. Tod
Tommy Brock (voice)
1997
Danielle Steel's Zoya
Feodor
Preaching to the Perverted
Commander Cope
59
1996
The Wind in the Willows
The Sentry
TFI Friday
TV · 1 Season · Comedy
68
1995
The Doctors: 30 Years of Time Travel and Beyond
Movie
1994
Dandelion Dead
TV
Pat and Margaret
Billy
No Escape
Killian
61
White Angel
Inspector Taylor
Jo Brand Through the Cakehole
TV
Liberation
Lord Curzon · 6 episodes
1993
Tomorrow Calling
Mervyn Kihn
Cracker
Hennessy Senior · 1 episode
79
The Baby of Mâcon
The Father Confessor
61
The Trial
The Flogger
The Detectives
Brother Ryan · 1 episode
73
1992
As You Like It
The Dukes
Carry On Columbus
The Bosun
36
My Friend Walter
Bertie Borrowbill
1991
Merlin of the Crystal Cave
Galapas · 4 episodes
2Point4 Children
Frank · 1 episode
70
The War That Never Ends
Socrates
Miss Queencake
Movie
1990
The BFG
Bloodbottler / Fleshlumpeater / Sergeant (voice)
66