Don Henderson
Acting • Born 1932-11-10 – Died 1997-06-22
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.
Filmography
87 credits
Star Wars
Movie • 1977
General Taggi
The Island
Movie • 1980
Rollo
The Trial
Movie • 1993
The Flogger
The Ghoul
Movie • 1975
The Ghoul
White Angel
Movie • 1994
Inspector Taylor
As You Like It
Movie • 1992
The Dukes
Footsteps
Movie • 1974
Policeman
The Secret World of Polly Flint
Movie • 1987
Old Mazy
Miss Queencake
Movie • 1991
The Big Sleep
Movie • 1978
Lou
Black and Blue
Movie • 1992
Daddy Brett-Smith
Preaching to the Perverted
Movie • 1997
Commander Cope
No Escape
Movie • 1994
Killian
Tank Malling
Movie • 1989
Percy
The Littlest Horse Thieves
Movie • 1976
Danton's Death
Movie • 1978
Mercier
Pat and Margaret
Movie • 1994
Billy
The Baby of Mâcon
Movie • 1993
The Father Confessor
Murder Elite
Movie • 1985
Sgt Jessop
The Finishing Line
Movie • 1977
The War That Never Ends
Movie • 1991
Socrates
The Fool
Movie • 1990
Bob
Squaring the Circle
Movie • 1984
Kuron
Maigret
Movie • 1988
Barge Captain
Brannigan
Movie • 1975
Geef
Across the Andes by Frog
Movie • 1977
Sgt. Major
The Wind in the Willows
Movie • 1996
The Sentry
Doctor Who: Delta and the Bannermen
Movie • 1987
Gavrok
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
Movie • 1988
Commander
The Doctors: 30 Years of Time Travel and Beyond
Movie • 1995
Danielle Steel's Zoya
Movie • 1997
Feodor
How's Business
Movie • 1991
Mr. Bailey
Regan
Movie • 1974
Strip Club Heavy
Carry On Columbus
Movie • 1992
The Bosun
Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire
Movie • 1985
The Wednesday Man
Callan
Movie • 1974
George
The Kamikaze Ground Staff Reunion Dinner
Movie • 1981
Tokkotai
My Friend Walter
Movie • 1992
Bertie Borrowbill
Voyage of the Damned
Movie • 1976
Engineering Officer
Brazil
Movie • 1985
First 'Black Maria' Guard
Tomorrow Calling
Movie • 1993
Mervyn Kihn
Blanc de Chine
Movie • 1988
Malcolm
Gotcha / Campion's Interview
Movie • 1977
Sellors
One Day at a Time
Movie • 1977
Jack
The Prince and the Pauper
Movie • 1977
Burly Ruffian
Atlantis
Movie • 1983
Eddie
The BFG
Movie • 1990
Bloodbottler / Fleshlumpeater / Sergeant (voice)
A Killer in Every Corner
Movie • 1974
Boz Bostyne
A Crack in the Ice
Movie • 1985
The Peasant
The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Mr. Tod
Movie • 1998
Tommy Brock (voice)
Doctor Who
TV • 1963
Gavrok
Dempsey and Makepeace
TV • 1985
Don
The Enigma Files
TV • 1980
Prince
Bulman
TV • 1985
George Bulman
Red Dwarf
TV • 1988
Rogue Simulant
Angels
TV • 1975
Dick Turpin
TV • 1979
Bracewell
Play for Today
TV • 1970
Dandelion Dead
TV • 1994
The Paradise Club
TV • 1989
Frank Kane
Cracker
TV • 1993
Hennessy Senior
Annika
TV • 1984
Mr Daniels
Thriller
TV • 1973
Boz Bostyne
Making Out
TV • 1989
Take the Stage
TV • 1981
Self
Minder
TV • 1979
Billy Lynch
Van der Valk
TV • 1972
Ullman
2Point4 Children
TV • 1991
Frank
The Detectives
TV • 1993
Brother Ryan
Casualty
TV • 1986
Jerry Hunter
The New Statesman
TV • 1987
Brigadier Miljanic
The Protectors
TV • 1972
Walters
Jo Brand Through the Cakehole
TV • 1994
Liberation
TV • 1994
Lord Curzon
BBC Play of the Month
TV • 1965
Mercier
Warship
TV • 1973
Master-at-Arms Frank Heron
The Boy Who Won the Pools
TV • 1983
Mr. Baverstock
Bottle Boys
TV • 1984
Les Burton
Screen Two
TV • 1985
The Flogger
Scorpion Tales
TV • 1978
Easterman
Theatre 625
TV • 1964
Poldark
TV • 1975
Tom Carne
Merlin of the Crystal Cave
TV • 1991
Galapas
Dead Head
TV • 1986
DI Malcolm
The XYY Man
TV • 1976
DS George Bulman
Strangers
TV • 1978
DS George Bulman
Strangers
TV • 1978
DCI George Bulman