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Don Henderson
Henderson inWhite Angel (1994)
Born	Donald Francis Henderson (1931-11-10)10 November 1931 Leytonstone,Essex, England
Died	22 June 1997(1997-06-22) (aged 65) Warwick,Warwickshire, England
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1964–1997
Spouses	Hilary Henderson ​ (died 1977)​ Shirley Stelfox ​ (m. 1979)​
Children	2

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 detectiveGeorge Bulman between 1976 and 1987 in the popularGranada Television police drama seriesThe XYY Man,Strangers, andBulman, as priest Frank Kane inBBC dramaThe Paradise Club (1989–90), and asGeneral Taggi inthe firstStar Wars film (1977).^[2] This last role also brought him attention from science fiction fans, and he later appeared in the cult science fiction television seriesRed Dwarf andDoctor Who.^[3]

Henderson was born into a working-class family inLeytonstone,Essex, the son of a carpenter, and grew up inEpping. After completing hisnational service as a technician in theRoyal Army Dental Corps, he served withEssex Constabulary, reaching the rank ofdetective sergeant in theirCID, and worked as an insurance salesman. He did not become a professional actor until his thirties, when a friend dared him to audition for theRoyal Shakespeare Company, with whom he subsequently performed from 1966 until 1972, going on to play many leading roles.

Henderson had two children, a son and a daughter, with his first wife Hilary, who died from a mysterious lung disease in 1977. He remarried in 1979; his second wife was the actressShirley Stelfox, with whom he would appear professionally many times. He lived in his adopted home town ofStratford-upon-Avon for many years, where he was a familiar face to locals.^[4]

Henderson is best remembered for his role as the fictional detectiveGeorge Bulman. This character featured in three TV series:The XYY Man in the mid-1970s; the laterStrangers that saw Bulman rise from Detective Sergeant to Detective Chief Inspector and, in 1985, the seriesBulman saw George retired from the police and pursuing a career as ahorologist. He also starred in the popular TV drama seriesWarship.

Henderson made little money from his role in Star Wars—£300 for one day of filming. 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. 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."^[3]

Henderson was first diagnosed withthroat cancer in 1980. He died of the disease inWarwick on 22 June 1997, aged 65, and was survived by his second wife and his children. Stelfox herself died of cancer in 2015.

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

• Don Henderson atIMDb
• Don HendersonBFI

• 1931 births
• 1997 deaths
• 20th-century British Army personnel
• 20th-century English male actors
• Actors from Epping
• Actors from the London Borough of Waltham Forest
• British police officers
• Deaths from cancer in England
• English male film actors
• English male television actors
• English male stage actors
• Male actors from Essex
• People from Leytonstone
• Royal Army Dental Corps soldiers

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