Donald Francis Henderson (10 November 1931 – 22 June 1997) was an English actor. He was 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 the Granada Television police drama series The XYY Man (1976-1977), Strangers (1978–1982), and Bulman (1985-1987). He was priest Frank Kane in BBC drama The Paradise Club (1989–90), and as General Tagge in the first Star Wars film (1977). Other credits included Warship (1973-1975), Poldark (1975), Doctor Who: Delta and the Bannermen (1987), Brazil (1985), The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), Last of the Summer Wine (1988), Maigret (1988), Minder (1989), The Fool (1990), Boon (1991), Cracker (1993) and The Wind in the Willows (1996).
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Biography
Henderson was born into a working-class family in Leytonstone, Essex, the son of a carpenter, and grew up in Epping. After completing his national service as a technician in the Royal Army Dental Corps, he served with Essex Constabulary, reaching the rank of detective sergeant in their CID, and worked as an insurance salesman. He did not become a professional actor until his thirties, when a friend dared him to audition for the Royal Shakespeare Company, with whom he subsequently performed from 1966 until 1972.
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 actress Shirley Stelfox, with whom he would appear professionally many times. He lived in his adopted home town of Stratford-upon-Avon for many years, where he was a familiar face to locals.
