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 (1976-1977), Strangers (1978–1982), and Bulman (1985-1987). He was priest Frank Kane in BBC drama The Paradise Club (1989–90), and as General Taggi in the first Star Wars film (1977). Other credits included Warship (1973-1975), Poldark (1975), Doctor Who: Delta and the Bannermen (1987), Brazil (1985), The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), Last of the Summer Wine (1988), Maigret (1988), Minder (1989), The Fool (1990), Boon (1991), Cracker (1993), The Wind in the Willows (1996), and "Beyond a Joke" in Red Dwarf (1997).

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,^[2] reaching the rank of detective sergeant in their CID, and worked as an insurance salesman.^[2] He did not become a professional actor until his thirties, when a friend dared him to audition for the Royal Shakespeare Company,^[2] with whom he subsequently performed from 1966 until 1972.^[2]

Henderson had two children, a son and a daughter, with his first wife Hilary, who died from a mysterious lung disease in 1977.^[2] He remarried in 1979; his second wife was the actress Shirley Stelfox,^[2] with whom he would appear professionally many times.^[2] He lived in his adopted home town of Stratford-upon-Avon for many years, where he was a familiar face to locals.^[3]

Henderson is best remembered for his role as the fictional detective George Bulman.^[4] This character featured in three TV series: The XYY Man (1976-1977),^[4] Bulman rise from Detective Sergeant to Detective Chief Inspector in Strangers (1978–1982),^[4] and, in 1985, his character had retired from the police and was pursuing a career as a horologist in the series Bulman (1985-1987).^[4] He also starred in the popular TV drama series Warship.^[5]

In 1977, he appeared as General Taggi,^[6] Chief of the Imperial Army and a member of the Empire's Joint Chiefs, in the film Star Wars (1977).^[6][5] working alongside Alec Guinness and Peter Cushing.^[2]

Henderson made little money from his role in Star Wars—£300 for one day of filming.^[2] 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.^[2] 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]

In 1987, he played Gavrok in 3 episodes of Doctor Who: Delta and the Bannermen.^[3] He played Frank Kane working alongside Leslie Grantham (who played his brother) in 20 episodes of The Paradise Club (1989–1990).^[3]

Henderson voiced Tommy Brock in The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends.

His last television role was in 1997, when he played a Rogue Simulant in Episode: "Beyond a Joke" of the BBC2 comedy Red Dwarf.^[7]

Henderson was first diagnosed with throat cancer in 1980, and died of the disease at Warwick Hospital^[2] on 22 June 1997, aged 65,^[3] and was survived by his second wife Shirley Stelfox and his children.^[3]

^[5][3]

• The Archers (1983) (Radio) ... Ben Warner

• Don Henderson at IMDb
• Don Henderson BFI