
Don Henderson
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.
TV Shows(37)

Dandelion Dead
1994

Jo Brand Through the Cakehole
1994

Liberation
Lord Curzon
1994

Cracker
Hennessy Senior
1993

The Detectives
Brother Ryan
1993

Merlin of the Crystal Cave
Galapas
1991

2Point4 Children
Frank
1991

The Paradise Club
Frank Kane
1989

Making Out
1989

Red Dwarf
Rogue Simulant
1988

The New Statesman
Brigadier Miljanic
1987

Casualty
Jerry Hunter
1986

Dead Head
DI Malcolm
1986

Bulman
George Bulman
1985

Dempsey and Makepeace
Don
1985

Screen Two
The Flogger
1985

Bottle Boys
Les Burton
1984

Annika
Mr Daniels
1984
The Boy Who Won the Pools
Mr. Baverstock
1983
Take the Stage
Self
1981

The Enigma Files
Prince
1980

Minder
Billy Lynch
1979

Dick Turpin
Bracewell
1979

Strangers
DS George Bulman
1978

Scorpion Tales
Easterman
1978

The XYY Man
DS George Bulman
1976

Ripping Yarns
Sgt. Major
1976

Poldark
Tom Carne
1975

Angels
1975

Warship
Master-at-Arms Frank Heron
1973

Thriller
Boz Bostyne
1973

The Protectors
Walters
1972

Van der Valk
Ullman
1972

Play for Today
1970

BBC Play of the Month
Mercier
1965

Theatre 625
1964

Doctor Who
Gavrok
1963
Movies(51)

The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Mr. Tod
Tommy Brock (voice)
1998

Danielle Steel's Zoya
Feodor
1997

Preaching to the Perverted
Commander Cope
1997

The Wind in the Willows
The Sentry
1996

The Doctors: 30 Years of Time Travel and Beyond
1995

Pat and Margaret
Billy
1994

No Escape
Killian
1994

White Angel
Inspector Taylor
1994

Tomorrow Calling
Mervyn Kihn
1993

The Baby of Mâcon
The Father Confessor
1993

The Trial
The Flogger
1993

As You Like It
The Dukes
1992

Carry On Columbus
The Bosun
1992
Black and Blue
Daddy Brett-Smith
1992

My Friend Walter
Bertie Borrowbill
1992

The War That Never Ends
Socrates
1991
How's Business
Mr. Bailey
1991

Miss Queencake
1991

The BFG
Bloodbottler / Fleshlumpeater / Sergeant (voice)
1990
The Fool
Bob
1990

Tank Malling
Percy
1989

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
Commander
1988

Blanc de Chine
Malcolm
1988

Maigret
Barge Captain
1988

Doctor Who: Delta and the Bannermen
Gavrok
1987

The Secret World of Polly Flint
Old Mazy
1987

Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire
The Wednesday Man
1985

A Crack in the Ice
The Peasant
1985

Brazil
First 'Black Maria' Guard
1985
Murder Elite
Sgt Jessop
1985

Squaring the Circle
Kuron
1984

The Master of Ballantrae
Hicks (uncredited)
1984

Atlantis
Eddie
1983
The Kamikaze Ground Staff Reunion Dinner
Tokkotai
1981

The Island
Rollo
1980

Danton's Death
Mercier
1978

The Big Sleep
Lou
1978

One Day at a Time
Jack
1977

Across the Andes by Frog
Sgt. Major
1977

The Prince and the Pauper
Burly Ruffian
1977

Star Wars
General Taggi
1977

Gotcha / Campion's Interview
Sellors
1977

The Finishing Line
1977

Voyage of the Damned
Engineering Officer
1976

The Littlest Horse Thieves
1976

The Ghoul
The Ghoul
1975

Brannigan
Geef
1975

A Killer in Every Corner
Boz Bostyne
1974

Footsteps
Policeman
1974

Regan
Strip Club Heavy
1974

Callan
George
1974