Don Henderson


Donald Francis Henderson was an English actor of stage, television and screen. Henderson 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, and as General Tagge in the first Star Wars film. 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.

Biography

He lived in his adopted home town of Stratford-upon-Avon for many years, where he was a familiar face to locals. He also had several minor roles at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in the town. Prior to becoming an actor, Henderson was a dental technician in the Army, a detective sergeant with the Essex Constabulary, and an insurance salesman.

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 $2000 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."

Death

Henderson died of throat cancer. His first wife Hilary died in 1977; his second wife and widow was the actress Shirley Stelfox, with whom he appeared professionally many times.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1968A Midsummer Night's DreamAttendant
1974CallanGeorge
1974AbbyFlip
1975BranniganGeef
1975The GhoulGhoul
1976Voyage of the DamnedEngineering Officer
1977Star WarsGeneral Cassio Tagge
1977Crossed SwordsBurly Ruffian
1978The Big SleepLou
1980The IslandRollo
1985BrazilFirst Black Maria Guard
1985Murder EliteSergeant Jessop
1987Billy the Kid and the Green Baize VampireThe Wednesday Man
1987Out of OrderCar Driver
1988Blanc de ChineMalcolm
1988The Adventures of Baron MunchausenCommander
1989Tank MallingPercy
1989The BFGBloodbottler / Fleshlumpeater / SergeantVoice
1990The FoolBob
1991How's BusinessMr. Bailey
1992Carry On ColumbusThe Bosun
1992As You Like ItThe Dukes
1993The Baby of MaconFather Confessor
1993The TrialFlogger
1994White AngelInspector Taylor
1994No EscapeKillian
1996The Wind in the WillowsThe Sentry
1997Preaching to the PervertedCommander Cope
1997Sydney Chalker

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes!
1973–1975WarshipMaster-at-Arms Heron18 episodes
1975PoldarkTom Carne3 episodes
1976–1977The XYY ManDS George Bulman13 episodes
1978CrossroadsMr Black6 episodes
1978Danton's DeathMercierBBC Play of the Month
1978–1982StrangersGeorge Bulman30 episodes
1984AnnikaMr. Daniels2 episodes
1985–1987BulmanGeorge Bulman20 episodes
1986Dead HeadDet. Inspector MalcolmEpisode: Why Me?
1987Knights of GodColley6 episodes
1987Doctor Who: Delta and the BannermenGavrok3 episodes
1988Last of the Summer WineCharlie
1988MaigretBarge CaptainTV movie
1989–1990The Paradise ClubFrank Kane20 episodes
1991BoonDonEpisode: Two Men in a Vault-
19922Point4 ChildrenFrank Series 2 Episode3 One Night In Bangcock-
1996CasualtyJerry HunterEpisode: Night Moves
1997Red DwarfRogue SimulantEpisode: Beyond a Joke

Radio