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