Don Henderson
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.
Acting
Movie
Star Wars
as General Taggi
1977
Movie
Brazil
as First 'Black Maria' Guard
1985
Movie
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
as Commander
1988
TV
Doctor Who
as Gavrok
1963
Movie
No Escape
as Killian
1994
TV
Red Dwarf
as Rogue Simulant
1988
Movie
The BFG
as Bloodbottler / Fleshlumpeater / Sergeant (voice)
1990
TV
Cracker
as Hennessy Senior
1993
Movie
The Baby of Mâcon
as The Father Confessor
1993
Movie
Brannigan
as Geef
1975
Movie
The Island
as Rollo
1980
Movie
The Big Sleep
as Lou
1978
TV
Casualty
as Jerry Hunter
1986
Movie
Voyage of the Damned
as Engineering Officer
1976
Movie
The Wind in the Willows
as The Sentry
1996
Movie
The Prince and the Pauper
as Burly Ruffian
1977
TV
The New Statesman
as Brigadier Miljanic
1987
Movie
Carry On Columbus
as The Bosun
1992
Movie
The Trial
as The Flogger
1993
Movie
The Ghoul
as The Ghoul
1975
Movie
Preaching to the Perverted
as Commander Cope
1997
TV
Dempsey and Makepeace
as Don
1985
TV
Minder
as Billy Lynch
1979
TV
Ripping Yarns
as Sgt. Major
1976