Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia George Delbert "Dell" Henderson (July 5, 1877 – December 2, 1956) was a Canadian-American actor, director, and writer. He began his long and prolific film career in the early days of silent film. Born in the Southwestern Ontario city of St. Thomas, Dell Henderson started his acting career on the stage, but appeared in his first movie Monday Morning in a Coney Island Police Court already in 1908. Henderson was a frequent associate of film pioneer D.W. Griffith since 1909 and appeared in numerous of his early shorts in Hollywood. He also acted on a less prolific basis in the movies of producer Mack Sennett and his Keystone Studios. In addition to acting, Henderson also directed nearly 200 silent films between 1911 and 1928. Most of those films are forgotten or lost, but he also directed movies with silent stars like Harry Carey and Roscoe Arbuckle. Henderson also worked as a writer on numerous screenplays. After retiring from directing in 1927, Henderson turned to acting full-time and played important supporting roles in King Vidor's The Crowd (1928) and as General Marmaduke Pepper in Show People (1928). The advent of sound film damaged his acting career, and he often had to play smaller roles. In the 1930s, the comedic character actor appeared on several occasions as a comic foil for such comedians as The Three Stooges, W. C. Fields and Laurel and Hardy. He often played somewhat pompous figures like judges, businessmen, detectives or mayors. Modern audiences will remember Henderson as annoyed hospital president Dr. Graves in The Three Stooges film Men in Black and the put-upon chaperone in the Little Rascals film Choo-Choo!. He also appeared as a Night Court Judge in Laurel and Hardy's Our Relations (1936) and as a friendly Car salesman in Leo McCarey's drama Make Way for Tomorrow (1937). Henderson ended his film career after numerous small roles in 1950. Henderson died of a heart attack in Hollywood at the age of 79. He was married with actress Florence Lee until his death, they made several silent films together.
Acted in 144
1940s
- 1949
Once More, My Darling
Hotel Clerk
- 1947
The Romance of Rosy Ridge
Southerner (uncredited)
- 1946
- 1945
Main Street After Dark
Plainclothesman (uncredited)
The Great Morgan
Film Character (uncredited)
- 1944
The Missing Juror
Train Conductor (uncredited)
Mr. Winkle Goes to War
Movie
- 1943
Slightly Dangerous
Doorman (uncredited)
- 1942
Once Upon a Honeymoon
American Attaché (uncredited)
The Major and the Minor
Doorman (uncredited)
Arizona Terrors
President McKinley
- 1940
Young People
Eddie's Father (uncredited)
Millionaires in Prison
Dell, Deputy Taking Vander to Prison (uncredited)
You Can't Fool Your Wife
Ritz Amsterdam Manager
Little Orvie
Mr. Brown
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Minor Role (uncredited)
1930s
- 1939
The Chump Takes a Bump
Elias J. Smart
- 1938
Men with Wings
Chairman
Rebellious Daughters
Mr. Stanley - First Victim
Arsène Lupin Returns
Plainclothes Detective (uncredited)
- 1937
Artists & Models
Lord (uncredited)
The Grand Bounce
Harry Briggs (uncredited)
We Who Are About to Die
Blake's Associate (uncredited)
- 1936
- 1935
Hitch Hike Lady
Williams
3 Kids and a Queen
Reporter
Thunder in the Night
Ambassador - Party Guest
Slightly Static
Mr. Campbell (as Del Henderson)
Little Big Shot
Policeman
Diamond Jim
Gambler
Here Comes Cookie
Lloyd
Hot Tip
Sheriff
The Daring Young Man
Mayor
The Mystery Man
Mr. Clark, Hotel Manager
- 1934
It's a Gift
Mr. Abernathy
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
House Manager
Men in Black
Dr. Graves (uncredited)
Something Simple
Tanhauser
The Notorious Sophie Lang
House Detective
Bottoms Up
Lane Worthing
You're Telling Me!
Mayor (as Del Henderson)
- 1933
Lone Cowboy
Mr. Burton (uncredited)
Rainbow Over Broadway
Bowers
Too Much Harmony
Small Town Theatre Manager
The Big Brain
(uncredited)
Stolen by Gypsies or Beer and Bicycles
The Masque
On Your Guard
Detective Calvin Carter - aka O'Hara
Goldie Gets Along
Mr. Moon
- 1932
Mr. Bride
J. P. Henderson
Choo-Choo!
Mr. Henderson
In Walked Charley
Delbert Henderson
Free Eats
Mr. Moran
- 1931
The Champ
The Doctor (uncredited)
Skip the Maloo!
Mr. Benson
Newly Rich
Director
Haunted at Midnight
Housekeeper
Windy Riley Goes Hollywood
Movie
Thundering Tenors
Senator D.H. Henderson
Helping Grandma
Henderson
- 1930
Chiselers of Hollywood
Movie
Looser Than Loose
Mr. Henderson
Night of Goblins
Housekeeper
The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case
Housekeeper (uncredited)
Fast Work
Old Faithful
The Sins of the Children
Ted Baldwin
All Teed Up
Judge Quirt
Whispering Whoopee
Mr. Henderson
1920s
- 1929
Hit the Deck
Admiral
Wrong Again
Painting owner
- 1928
Riley the Cop
Judge Coronelli
Is Everybody Happy?
Movie
The Patsy
Pa Harrington
- 1927
Getting Gertie's Garter
Barry Scott
- 1926
The Clinging Vine
B. Harvey Doolittle
1910s
- 1916
The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary
Aunt Mary's Sweetheart
- 1915
Those Bitter Sweets
The Rival
- 1912
The Massacre
In Wagon Train
The Tragedy of a Dress Suit
Dick
The Speed Demon
Racing Official
Helen's Marriage
Friend
The Furs
The Husband
Won by a Fish
The Woman's Father
The Brave Hunter
The Brave Hunter's Rival
Hot Stuff
Cigar Drummer
The Engagement Ring
Redmond
The Sunbeam
The Bachelor
The Mender of Nets
The Rival's Brother
For His Son
Dopokoke Factory Employee (uncredited)
- 1911
The Long Road
Wedding Guest
The Adventures of Billy
Rich Man
The Making of a Man
Leading Man
The Baron
The Baron / A Waiter
The Last Drop of Water
Undetermined Role
The Ghost
A Crook
Fighting Blood
A Soldier
The Primal Call
The Creditor
Enoch Arden: Part II
Rescuer
The Lonedale Operator
A Tramp
His Trust Fulfilled
Movie
His Trust
Col. Frazier
When a Man Loves
Mr. Bach
The Two Paths
Worker
- 1910
A Plain Song
The Manager
The Song of the Wildwood Flute
A Suitor
That Chink at Golden Gulch
Gentleman Jim Dandy
A Gold Necklace
In Cafe
The Oath and the Man
Aristocrat
Muggsy Becomes a Hero
A Tramp
The Modern Prodigal
At Post Office
Wilful Peggy
Movie
The Usurer
First Mover
Unexpected Help
Movie
A Child's Impulse
At First Party / At Second Party
In the Border States
Union Officer
A Child of the Ghetto
The Proprietor
Ramona
Man at Burial
Over Silent Paths
The Wanderer
The Two Brothers
Manuel
The Unchanging Sea
The Rescuer
The Tenderfoot's Triumph
A Cowboy
Faithful
Bystander
The Newlyweds
A Friend / On Train
Taming a Husband
Nobleman
1900s
- 1909
Lines of White on a Sullen Sea
Movie
The Broken Locket
Movie
The Salvation Army Lass
Movie
Directed 40
1920s
- 1927
The Rambling Ranger
Director
- 1925
Pursued
Director
The Bad Lands
Director
- 1924
Battling Brewster
Director
One Law for the Woman
Director
Gambling Wives
Director
- 1923
Jacqueline, or Blazing Barriers
Director
- 1922
Sure-Fire Flint
Director
The Broken Silence
Director
- 1921
The Girl from Porcupine
Director
Dead or Alive
Director
Dynamite Allen
Director
- 1920
The Dead Line
Director
The Shark
Director
1910s
- 1919
Three Green Eyes
Director
Hit or Miss
Director
Courage for Two
Director
Love in a Hurry
Director
- 1918
Hitting the Trail
Director
The Road to France
Director
By Hook or Crook
Director
The Beloved Blackmailer
Director
The Golden Wall
Director
My Wife
Director
Who Loved Him Best?
Director
The Impostor
Director
- 1917
Her Second Husband
Director
Please Help Emily
Director
The Beautiful Adventure
Director
Outcast
Director
A Girl Like That
Director
- 1916
Wife and Auto Trouble
Director
- 1915
Merely a Married Man
Director
Those Bitter Sweets
Director
Ambrose's Nasty Temper
Director
- 1914
The Plumber
Director
Bertha, the Buttonhole-Maker
Director
- 1913
A Woman in the Ultimate
Director
- 1912
The Fickle Spaniard
Director
Wrote 4
1910s
- 1912
The Speed Demon
Story
A Dash Through the Clouds
Writer
- 1911
Bobby the Coward
Writer
- 1910
The Modern Prodigal
Writer
Produced 1
1910s
- 1917
Outcast
Producer