Ian Hendry
Ian Hendry | |
---|---|
Hendry's press photograph for Live Now, Pay Later (1962) | |
Born |
Ian Mackendrick Hendry 13 January 1931 Ipswich, Suffolk, England, UK |
Died |
24 December 1984 53) London, England, UK | (aged
Cause of death | Stomach haemorrhage |
Resting place | Golders Green Crematorium |
Residence | London |
Alma mater | Central School of Speech and Drama |
Occupation | Film, television, stage and radio actor |
Years active | 1955–84 |
Spouse(s) |
Phyllis J. Bell (m. 1955–62) (divorced) Janet Munro (m. 1963–71) (divorced) Sandra Jones (m. 1975–84) (his death) |
Children | 3 daughters |
Ian Mackendrick Hendry (13 January 1931 – 24 December 1984) was an English film, television and stage actor. He was best known for his work on several British TV series of the 1960s and 1970s, including the lead in the first series of The Avengers and The Lotus Eaters, as well as for his roles in films such as The Hill (1965), Repulsion (1965), Get Carter (1971), and Theatre of Blood (1973).
Early years
Hendry was born in Ipswich, Suffolk on 13 January 1931. His father, James Hendry, was born in 1901 in Glasgow. James Hendry earned a degree in Chemistry from Glasgow University before moving to Ipswich in 1924 to take up a graduate position with R & W Paul Ltd. (now BOCM Pauls Ltd). Ian's mother, Enid (née Rushton), was born in Durham in 1906. Her father, George Rushton, was an artist and Head of the Ipswich Art School from 1906-29.[1]
Ian's younger brother, Donald, was born on 15 August 1933. Both Ian and his brother were educated at the Ipswich School and Culford School, Suffolk. At Culford School, Ian Hendry had a keen interest in sports, particularly boxing, cricket, running and rugby. He was also involved in amateur dramatics at Culford, helping to produce and perform in several school plays.
Career
1947–53: career choices and national service
On leaving school in 1947, aged 16, Hendry initially embarked on a very different career, studying at the College of Estate Management in London. In 1948, he spent a year working for Bidwells at their Cambridge office. In 1949, Hendry began his National Service as part of the compulsory conscription in the United Kingdom, which was introduced after the end of World War II in 1945. He spent two years with the 32nd Medium Regiment, R.A. During this time, Hendry paced for Christopher Chataway in athletics and ran his own motorcycle stunt team. On completion of his National Service he returned to work in Estate Management.
From 1951-53, Hendry returned to work for Bidwells, but this time he was based in their Edgware office in London. During this period, Hendry re-established his interest in acting, becoming involved in Amateur theatre through a local amateur dramatics group in Edgware.
1953–55: Central School of Speech and Drama
By 1953, Hendry had decided that he wanted to change his career and follow his ambition of becoming an actor. In late 1952, he had applied for a place at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London, where he was accepted and trained from 1953-55. Contemporaries at the school at that time included Judi Dench[2] and Vanessa Redgrave, who were both two years below him; Wanda Ventham, his future co-star in the series The Lotus Eaters, who was in the year below; and Jeremy Brett and Wendy Craig, who were in the year above him.
1955–59: theatre, television and film work
His professional acting career began in 1955, working in repertory at the Hornchurch Theatre in Station Lane. He was also seen in Goldoni's Servant of Two Masters at the Edinburgh Festival. In 1957, Hendry spent another season in repertory, performing in several plays at the Oxford Playhouse, Oxford. In December 1957, Dinner With The Family transferred to the West End, playing at the New Theatre, London.[3]
As his career developed, he gained parts in films including Up in the World (1956), The Secret Place (1957) and Room at the Top (1959).
1960–69: theatre, television and film work
In 1960, Hendry had a part in Sink the Bismarck! (1960), before landing the lead role of Dr Geoffrey Brent in the crime series Police Surgeon.[4][5]
The series only ran for 12 episodes but Hendry was next cast in the very similar role of Dr David Keel in a new action-adventure series entitled The Avengers. Initially, Hendry was the star of this series, which co-starred Patrick Macnee as John Steed. However, production of the first season was curtailed by a strike and Hendry used the opportunity to depart the series and begin a film career. (The Avengers continued for the rest of the decade with Macnee as its star.)[6]
Hendry had a lead role in films such as Girl in the Headlines (1963), The Hill (1965) opposite Sean Connery, and Roman Polanski's Repulsion (1965). He starred in Gerry Anderson's film, Doppelgänger (1969), also known as Journey to the Far Side of the Sun. During the 1960s he appeared in TV series such as Armchair Theatre, Danger Man, The Saint and The Gold Robbers. He played the lead role as struck-off solicitor Alex Lambert in the TV series The Informer (1966–67).
1970–79: theatre, television and film work
In the early 1970s, Hendry took lead roles in several TV series such as The Adventures of Don Quick (1970) and The Lotus Eaters (1972–73). He guest starred, alongside Brian Blessed, in the first episode of The Sweeney, titled "Ringer", made in 1974 and broadcast early in 1975.
He appeared regularly as a guest star in TV series such as The Persuaders!, Dial M For Murder, Churchill's People, Thriller, Van Der Valk, Supernatural, Crown Court, The Enigma Files, Bergerac and The Chinese Detective.
Hendry was reunited with Patrick Macnee as a guest star on The New Avengers, although he did not reprise the role of David Keel. His previous role in the series was acknowledged, however, by Steed's parting words: "It may be seventeen years late, but welcome back Gunner."
He appeared in a number of films, including the Hammer entry Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter (1974). Among the more widely seen films he appeared in during this time were Get Carter (1971), for which he received a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Theatre of Blood (1973) opposite Vincent Price, The Passenger (1975) and Damien: Omen II (1978).
1980–84: television and film work
Hendry starred opposite Nyree Dawn Porter in the TV series For Maddie With Love (1980). In 1980 Hendry starred in the film McVicar based on bank robber John McVicar (played by Roger Daltrey of rock band The Who). Towards the end of his life he had a role in the crime series Jemima Shore Investigates as the eponymous heroine's literary agent. His final TV role was in the Channel Four soap opera Brookside (1984).
Personal life
Hendry's first marriage was to Phyllis J. Bell in September 1955, a make-up artist who worked for Leichner, whom he first met when he began work in repertory theatre. The marriage ended in 1962.
He married the actress Janet Munro on 16 February 1963. They had two daughters, Sally and Corrie, but their turbulent life together ended in divorce in 1971. Munro died a year later in London from the heart condition myocarditis. This was a contributory factor in Hendry's increasing dependence on alcohol. Hendry later married Sandra (Sandy) Jones on 27 May 1975, with whom he had another daughter, Emma.
Later years
Hendry was declared bankrupt in the late 1970s.[7] He suffered from several health problems in his latter years, largely due to his long-term problems with alcohol which impacted upon his professional and personal life.[8][9]
His last part in a film was a substantial, though uncredited, role as a corrupt policeman in McVicar. His last public appearance was as a guest on This Is Your Life which profiled former co-star Macnee, who had been a special guest when This Is Your Life featured Hendry in March 1978. On Christmas Eve 1984, Hendry died of a stomach haemorrhage in London, aged 53. He was cremated and his ashes interred in the Lily Pond beds at the Golders Green Crematorium.
Filmography
1955–59
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1955 | Simon and Laura | Uncredited | Directed by Muriel Box |
1956 | Up in the World | Commando Sergeant (uncredited) | Directed by John Paddy Carstairs |
1957 | The Secret Place | Man Inside (uncredited) | Directed by Clive Donner |
1959 | Room at the Top | Cyril | Directed by Jack Clayton |
1960–69
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1960 | Sink the Bismarck! | Officer on 'King George V' (uncredited) | Directed by Lewis Gilbert |
1960 | In the Nick | Ted Ross | Directed by Ken Hughes |
1962 | Live Now, Pay Later | Albert Argyle | Directed by Jay Lewis
Based on the novel by Jack Trevor Story |
1963 | Girl in the Headlines | Inspector Birkett | Directed by Michael Truman |
1964 | This Is My Street | Harry King | Directed by Sidney Hayers |
1964 | Children of the Damned | Colonel Tom Llewellyn | Directed by Anton M. Leader |
1964 | The Beauty Jungle
(Released as Contest Girl in US) |
Don Mackenzie | Directed by Val Guest |
1965 | Repulsion | Michael | Directed by Roman Polanski |
1965 | The Hill | Staff Sergeant Williams | Directed by Sidney Lumet |
1966 | The Sandwich Man | Motorcycle Policeman | Directed by Robert Hartford-Davis |
1967 | Traitors of San Angel
(Original title: Los traidores de San Ángel) |
Nick Thomas | Directed by Leopoldo Torre Nilsson |
1968 | Cry Wolf | Hobson | Directed by John Davis |
1969 | The Southern Star | Karl | Directed by Sidney Hayers |
1969 | Doppelgänger
(Released as Journey to the Far Side of the Sun in US) |
John Kane | Directed by Robert Parrish |
1970–79
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1970 | The McKenzie Break | Major Perry | Directed by Lamont Johnson |
1971 | Get Carter | Eric Paice | Directed by Mike Hodges |
1972 | The Jerusalem File | General Mayer | Directed by John Flynn |
1972 | All Coppers Are... | Sonny Wade | Directed by Sidney Hayers |
1972 | Tales from The Crypt | Carl Maitland | Directed by Freddie Francis |
1973 | Theatre of Blood | Peregrine Devlin | Directed by Douglas Hickox |
1973 | Assassin | The Assassin | Directed by Peter Crane |
1974 | Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter | Kerro | Directed by Brian Clemens |
1974 | The Internecine Project | Alex Hellman | Directed by Ken Hughes |
1975 | The Passenger | Martin Knight | Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni |
1976 | Intimate Games | Uncle Rodney | Directed by Tudor Gates |
1978 | Damien: Omen II | Michael (uncredited) | Directed by Don Taylor |
1979 | The Bitch | Thrush Feather | Directed by Gerry O'Hara |
1980–84
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | McVicar | Hitchens (uncredited) | Directed by Tom Clegg
British drama film by The Who Films, Ltd., starring Roger Daltrey of The Who |
Television work
Attention: Section Update In Progress
1955–59
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1956 | Vic Oliver’s This is Show Business | Clown | |
1956 | Calling All Boys | Mr X | |
1957 | Emergency-Ward 10 | Mr. Clarke | TV Series (7 episodes) |
1957-1958 | Murder Bag | Not known | TV Series (3 episodes - Lockhart Buys A Brooch, Tx 7/7/58; Lockhart Pulls The Trigger, Tx 19/11/58; Lockhart Visits A Hospital, Tx 5/2/59) |
1959 | The Invisible Man | Lieutenant Daniels | TV Series (1 episode: Shadow Bomb) |
1959 | Crime Sheet | Not known | TV Series (1 episode: Lockhart Has It In Store, Tx 12/8/59) |
1960–69
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1960 | Inside Story | Peter | |
1960 | Probation Officer | Christopher Stamp | |
1960 | Police Surgeon | Dr Geoffrey Brent | |
1960 | The Ginger Man | Sebastian Dangerfield | |
1961 | The Avengers | Dr David Keel | |
1962 | Preview Tonight | Angus | |
1962 | A Suitable Case for Treatment | Morgan Delt | |
1962-1963 | Armchair Theatre | David Simpson/ Richard Bligh |
Afternoon of a Nymph/ A Cold Peace |
1963 | 54 Minute Affair | Harry Barnes | |
1965 | Secret Agent (a.k.a. Danger Man) | Wallace/Hagen | |
1965-1966 | Blackmail | ||
1966-1967 | The Informer | Alex Lambert | |
1967 | The Crossfire | Paul Du Pre | |
1968 | Jackanory | Narrator | |
1969 | The Saint | Alessandro Destamio | |
1969 | The Gold Robbers | Tom Goodwin |
1970–79
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1970 | The Adventures of Don Quick | Captain Don Quick | TV Series (6 episodes - The Benefits of Earth, People Isn’t Everything, The Higher the Fewer, The Love Reflector,The Quick and the Dead,Paradise Destruct) |
1970-1972 | ITV Playhouse | See notes | TV Plays ( 3 plays - Thursday’s Child (1970) as Peter Ware,The High Game (1970) as Paul Venniker, A Splinter of Ice (1972) as Tony) |
1970-1972 | ITV Saturday Night Theatre | See notes | TV Plays (3 plays - Dangerous Corner (1970) as Charles Staunton, Love Doesn’t Grow on Trees (1971) as Eric Shiffner, A Summer Story (1972) as Nico) |
1971 | The Persuaders! | Lord Croxley | TV Series ( 1 episode - The Time and the Place) |
1972 | Suspicion | Freddo Watts | TV Series (1 episode - Old Man’s Hat) |
1972 | Joy | Ben | TV Movie |
1972 | The Protectors | Inspector Wilson | TV series (1 episode - Thinkback) |
1972 | The Frighteners | Anthony Ashworth | TV series (1 episode - Bed and Breakfast) |
1972-1973 | The Lotus Eaters | Erik Shepherd | TV series (15 episodes - A Cold Wind from the North, The Present Mrs. Clive, And Hera Had a Sister, A Touch of Home, Aphrodite, A Tiger in Bristol Street, The Fascinating Couple, You Might Get Hurt Jocasta, The Climbing Wave, There and Back by Candlelight, A Kind of Treason, A Very Long Spoon, Beside a Crooked Stile, The Well Diggers, And If You Have the Time Lord) |
1973 | Late Night Theatre | Dave | TV Series (1 episode - We’re Strangers Here) |
1974 | Dial M for Murder | Marvin Stone | TV Series (1 episode - Contract) |
1974 | The Wide World of Mystery | Terry Spelling/Bob Spelling | TV Series (1 episode - A Killer with Two Faces) |
1975 | The Sweeney | Dave Brooker | TV Series (1 episode - Ringer) |
1975 | Churchill’s People | William Davenant | TV Series (1 episode - March On, Boys!) |
1975 | Village Hall | Wally | TV Series (1 episode - Battleground) |
1975 | Cooper | Officer Bryce | TV Series (1 episode - Special Guest Star) |
1976 | Shades of Greene | The Man | TV Series (1 episode - Dream of a Strange Land) |
1976 | Killers | Mr. J.D. Cassels, KC | TV Series (2 episodes - Murder at the Metropole, The Crumbles Murder) |
1976 | Dick Emery | Russian Agent | TV Series (1 episode - Special Guest Star) |
1976 | The New Avengers | Irwin Gunner | TV Series (1 episode - To Catch a Rat) |
1976 | ITV Sunday Night Drama | Alex Flemming | TV Series ( 1 episode - The Goldfinch) |
1977 | Supernatural | Zoltan Vinzenz | TV Series (2 episodes - The Werewolf Reunion, Countess Ilona) |
1977 | Van Der Valk | Boersma | TV Series (1 episode - Gold Plated Delinquents) |
1978 | Premiere | Nifty | TV Series (1 episode - Crest of a Wave) |
1978 | Return of the Saint | Roy Gates | TV Series (1 episode - Yesterday’s Hero) |
1979 | Crown Court | Frank Edwards | TV Series (3 episodes - Cowboys: Parts 1 to 3) |
1980–84
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | The Enigma Files | Joe Mackie | TV Series (1 episode - Investigation Of A Copper) |
1980 | For Maddie With Love | Malcolm Laurie | TV Series (40 episodes) |
1981 | The Chinese Detective | Eddie Dwyer | TV Series (1 episode - Ice and Dust) |
1981 | Smuggler | Agate | TV Series (1 episode - An Eye For An Eye) |
1981 | Bergerac | Major Furneaux | TV Series (1 episode - Campaign for Silence) |
1983 | Jemima Shore Investigates | Cy | TV Series (3 episodes - The Damask Collection, High Style, Dr. Ziegler’s Casebook) |
1984 | Brookside | Davey Jones | TV Series (3 episodes - Etiquette, King Rat, Transport) |
Theatre work
1950–59
Year | Title | Role (s) | Theatre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1951 | Ring Round The Moon | Hugo/Frederic | Edgware Amateur Dramatics Production | Play by Jean Anouilh |
August 1955 | Reluctant Heroes | Tone | Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch[14] | Play by Colin Morris |
August 1955 | Witness For The Prosecution | Leonard Vole | Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch[15] | Play by Agatha Christie |
August–September 1955 | This Happy Breed | Reg, Franks Child | Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch[16] | Play by Noël Coward |
October 1955 | Our Town | Professor Willard | Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch[17] | Play by Thornton Wilder |
October–November 1955 | The Recruiting Officer | Constable | Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch[18] | Play by George Farquhar |
December 1956 | The Adventures of Davy Crockett | Not known | Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch | Play based on works by Davy Crockett |
January 1957 | Paradise Street | Not known | Mahatma Gandhi Hall, Studio Theatre Club | Play by Antony Brown |
February 1957 | Frost At Midnight | Dodger | Oxford Playhouse, Oxford | Play by André Obey |
March 1957 | Lysistrata | Strymodoros | Oxford Playhouse, Oxford | Play by Aristophanes |
April 1957 | Figure of Fun | Freddie | Oxford Playhouse, Oxford | Play by Andre Roussin |
April 1957 | The Critic and the Heart | Pat Rye | Oxford Playhouse, Oxford | Play by Robert Bolt |
May 1957 | The Beaux Stratagem | Francis Archer | Oxford Playhouse, Oxford | Play by George Farquhar |
May 1957 | Change In The Wind | Charles Auguste | Oxford Playhouse, Oxford | Play by Georges Neveux |
June 1957 | The Man Who Came To Dinner | Professor Metz | Oxford Playhouse, Oxford | Play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart |
July 1957 | Arlecchino | Not known | Edinburgh Festival, Edinburgh | An adaptation of the play, 'The Servant of Two Masters' by Carlo Goldoni |
October 1957 | Dinner With The Family | Jacques | Oxford Playhouse, Oxford | Play by Jean Anouilh |
December 1957 | Dinner With The Family | Jacques | New Theatre, London | Play by Jean Anouilh |
June 1959 | Murder on Arrival | Steve Taylor | Westminster Theatre, London | Play by George Batson |
1960–69
Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
February 1960 | Hedda Gabler | George Tesman | Oxford Playhouse, Oxford | Play by Henrik Ibsen |
1970–79
Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1970 | In Camera
(a.k.a. No Exit) |
Joseph Garcin | Oxford Playhouse, Oxford | Play by Jean-Paul Sartre
Also performed under the titles of No Exit, No Way Out, Vicious Circle, Behind Closed Doors and Dead End |
1970 | The Bear | Grigoriy Smirnov | Oxford Playhouse, Oxford | Play by Anton Chekhov |
February 1976 | Motive | Wallace Barrows | Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, Surrey | Play by Larry Cohen |
March 1976 | Motive | Wallace Barrows | Theatre Royal, Norwich | Play by Larry Cohen |
1977 | The Owl and the Pussycat | Felix | Cambridge Arts Theatre, Cambridge | Play by Bill Manhoff
For the film version of The Owl and the Pussycat, 1970, screenplay adaptation by Buck Henry |
August 1977 | The Owl and the Pussycat | Felix | Wolverhampton Grand Theatre | Play by Bill Manhoff
For the film version of The Owl and the Pussycat, 1970, screenplay adaptation by Buck Henry |
August 1978 | Otherwise Engaged | Simon | Wolverhampton Grand Theatre | Play by Simon Gray |
September–October 1978 | Lady Windermere's Fan | Lord Windermere | Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, Surrey | Play by Oscar Wilde |
Radio work
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
27 September 1969 | Unscheduled Stop | Robin Fiske | An adaptation of Derek Bond's Unscheduled Stop [19]
BBC Radio 4[20] |
13 November 1971 | The Third Man | Harry Lime | An adaptation of Graham Greene's The Third Man
BBC Radio [21] |
October 1973 | Desert Island Discs | Himself (guest) | Roy Plomley's castaway was actor Ian Hendry
BBC Radio [22] |
January 1976 | Five Roundabouts to Heaven | Not known | An adaptation of John Bingham's Five Roundabouts to Heaven for BBC Radio World Service [23] |
5 February 1978 | A Moon for the Misbegotten | Tyrone | BBC Radio 3 [24] |
8 May 1978 (Repeating on 14 May 1978) | A Little Bit of Heaven | Gerry Mahood | BBC Radio 4 [25] |
24 April - 19 June 1983 | The Price of Silence | Maxon | BBC Radio [26] |
Awards and nominations
Film
Year | Nominee/work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1962 | Live Now Pay Later | BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles | Nominated |
1971 | Get Carter | BAFTA Film Award for Best Supporting Actor | Nominated |
Television
Year | Nominee/work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1966 | The Informer | Rediffusion Golden Star Award for Best Actor | Won |
References
- ↑ "George Rushton - Artist (Grandfather)". Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ↑ "Ian Hendry, Judi Dench - Students At Central School Of Speech And Drama". Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ↑ "Ian Hendry - Other Works on IMDb". Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ↑ "Ian Hendry - The Original Avenger". Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ↑ "The Avengers, Keel and Steed - The Doctor and the Spy". Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ↑ "The Avengers - Ian Hendry Bio". Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ↑ "The Avengers - Ian Hendry profile". Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ↑ "The Ten Hardest Drinking British Actors Ever". sabotagetimes.com. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
- ↑ By Steven Russell. "Suffolk: The actor 'who should have been a star' - What's on - East Anglian Daily Times". Eadt.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
- ↑ "Simon and Laura on IMDb". Retrieved 2013-03-30.
- ↑ "The Secret Place on IMDb". Retrieved 2013-03-30.
- ↑ "Anton Leader on IMDb". Retrieved 2013-03-30.
- ↑ "John Davis on IMDb". Retrieved 2013-03-30.
- ↑ "Reluctant Heroes (1957)". Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch. Retrieved 2013-03-30.
- ↑ "Witness for the Prosecution (1955)". Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch. Retrieved 2013-03-30.
- ↑ "This Happy Breed (1955)". Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch. Retrieved 2013-03-30.
- ↑ "Our Town (1955)". Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch. Retrieved 2013-03-30.
- ↑ "The Recruiting Officer (1955)". Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch. Retrieved 2013-03-30.
- ↑ "- Unscheduled Stop by Derek Bond". Retrieved 2014-06-09.
- ↑ "- Unscheduled Stop on BBC Radio 4". Retrieved 2014-06-09.
- ↑ "Ian Hendry - The Third Man on Sutton Elms". Retrieved 2013-03-30.
- ↑ "Ian Hendry - Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio". Retrieved 2013-03-30.
- ↑ "Five Roundabouts To Heaven - 1 The Facts About Philip Bartels". Retrieved 2015-03-03.
- ↑ "Ian Hendry - A Moon for the Misbegotten on BBC Radio". Retrieved 2014-06-09.
- ↑ "A Little Bit of Heaven on BBC Radio 4". Retrieved 2014-06-09.
- ↑ "The Price of Silence on BBC Radio 4". Retrieved 2014-06-09.
Further reading - Ian Hendry Biography
Hershman, Gabriel. Send In The Clowns – The Yo Yo Life Of Ian Hendry, Lulu.com, 2013; ISBN 9781291270976