Don Henderson

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.

Known For

Doctor Who

Casualty

Minder

Play for Today

Red Dwarf

Star Wars

BBC Play of the Month

Screen Two

All Movies (51)

• The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Mr. Tod1998 · as Tommy Brock (voice)
• Danielle Steel's Zoya1997 · as Feodor
• Preaching to the Perverted1997 · as Commander Cope
• The Wind in the Willows1996 · as The Sentry
• The Doctors: 30 Years of Time Travel and Beyond1995
• Pat and Margaret1994 · as Billy
• No Escape1994 · as Killian
• White Angel1994 · as Inspector Taylor
• Tomorrow Calling1993 · as Mervyn Kihn
• The Baby of Mâcon1993 · as The Father Confessor
• The Trial1993 · as The Flogger
• As You Like It1992 · as The Dukes
• Carry On Columbus1992 · as The Bosun
• Black and Blue1992 · as Daddy Brett-Smith
• My Friend Walter1992 · as Bertie Borrowbill
• The War That Never Ends1991 · as Socrates
• How's Business1991 · as Mr. Bailey
• Miss Queencake1991
• The BFG1990 · as Bloodbottler / Fleshlumpeater / Sergeant (voice)
• The Fool1990 · as Bob
• Tank Malling1989 · as Percy
• The Adventures of Baron Munchausen1988 · as Commander
• Blanc de Chine1988 · as Malcolm
• Maigret1988 · as Barge Captain
• Doctor Who: Delta and the Bannermen1987 · as Gavrok
• The Secret World of Polly Flint1987 · as Old Mazy
• Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire1985 · as The Wednesday Man
• A Crack in the Ice1985 · as The Peasant
• Brazil1985 · as First 'Black Maria' Guard
• Murder Elite1985 · as Sgt Jessop
• Squaring the Circle1984 · as Kuron
• The Master of Ballantrae1984 · as Hicks (uncredited)
• Atlantis1983 · as Eddie
• The Kamikaze Ground Staff Reunion Dinner1981 · as Tokkotai
• The Island1980 · as Rollo
• Danton's Death1978 · as Mercier
• The Big Sleep1978 · as Lou
• One Day at a Time1977 · as Jack
• Across the Andes by Frog1977 · as Sgt. Major
• The Prince and the Pauper1977 · as Burly Ruffian
• Star Wars1977 · as General Taggi
• Gotcha / Campion's Interview1977 · as Sellors
• The Finishing Line1977
• Voyage of the Damned1976 · as Engineering Officer
• The Littlest Horse Thieves1976
• The Ghoul1975 · as The Ghoul
• Brannigan1975 · as Geef
• A Killer in Every Corner1974 · as Boz Bostyne
• Footsteps1974 · as Policeman
• Regan1974 · as Strip Club Heavy
• Callan1974 · as George

All TV Shows (43)

• Dandelion Dead1994
• Jo Brand Through the Cakehole1994
• Liberation1994 · as Lord Curzon
• Cracker1993 · as Hennessy Senior
• The Detectives1993 · as Brother Ryan
• Merlin of the Crystal Cave1991 · as Galapas
• 2Point4 Children1991 · as Frank
• The Paradise Club1989 · as Frank Kane
• Jumping The Queue1989 · as Huw Jones
• Making Out1989
• Red Dwarf1988 · as Rogue Simulant
• The New Statesman1987 · as Brigadier Miljanic
• Casualty1986 · as Jerry Hunter
• Dead Head1986 · as DI Malcolm
• Bulman1985 · as George Bulman
• Dempsey and Makepeace1985 · as Don
• Screen Two1985 · as The Flogger
• Bottle Boys1984 · as Les Burton
• Annika1984 · as Mr Daniels
• Dramarama1983 · as The Great Callisto
• The Boy Who Won the Pools1983 · as Mr. Baverstock
• Take the Stage1981 · as Self
• The Enigma Files1980 · as Prince
• Minder1979 · as Billy Lynch
• Dick Turpin1979 · as Bracewell
• Strangers1978 · as DS George Bulman
• Strangers1978 · as DCI George Bulman
• Scorpion Tales1978 · as Easterman
• The XYY Man1976 · as DS George Bulman
• Ripping Yarns1976 · as Sgt. Major
• Poldark1975 · as Tom Carne
• Angels1975
• Against the Crowd1975 · as Parnell
• Warship1973 · as Master-at-Arms Frank Heron
• Thriller1973 · as Boz Bostyne
• The Protectors1972 · as Walters
• Van der Valk1972 · as Ullman
• New Scotland Yard1972 · as Harry Watson
• New Scotland Yard1972 · as Joe Warner
• Play for Today1970
• BBC Play of the Month1965 · as Mercier
• Theatre 6251964
• Doctor Who1963 · as Gavrok