Ian Hendry

Ian Hendry
Hendry's press photograph for Live Now, Pay Later (1962)
Born	Ian Mackendrick Hendry (1931-01-13)13 January 1931 Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Died	24 December 1984(1984-12-24) (aged 53) London, England
Resting place	Golders Green Crematorium
Alma mater	Central School of Speech and Drama
Occupation(s)	Film, television, stage and radio actor
Years active	1955–84
Spouse(s)	Phyllis J. Bell ​ ​ (m. 1955; div. 1962)​ Janet Munro ​ ​ (m. 1963; div. 1971)​ Sandra Jones ​ (m. 1975)​
Children	3 daughters

Ian Mackendrick Hendry (13 January 1931 – 24 December 1984) was an English film, television and stage actor. He worked on several British TV series of the 1960s and 1970s, including the lead in the first series of The Avengers and The Lotus Eaters, and played roles in the films 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.

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 programme of 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, Royal Artillery. During this time, Hendry paced for Christopher Chataway in athletics and ran his own motorcycle stunt team. On completion of his 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 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

Hendry's 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.

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.

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.)

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 disbarred Queen's Counsel 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 appeared in the film McVicar based on the life of the 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 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. He suffered from several health problems in his latter years, largely due to his long-term problems with alcohol which affected his professional and personal life.

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.

Death

On Christmas Eve 1984, Hendry died of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage 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	Bit part	Directed by Muriel Box Uncredited
1956	Up in the World	Commando Sergeant	Directed by John Paddy Carstairs Uncredited
1957	The Secret Place	Charles Maitland	Directed by Clive Donner Uncredited
1959	Room at the Top	Cyril	Directed by Jack Clayton
1959	Bobbikins	BBC Radio announcer	Directed by Robert Day Uncredited

1960–69

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1960	Sink the Bismarck!	Officer on 'King George V'	Directed by Lewis Gilbert Uncredited
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	Children of the Damned	Colonel Tom Llewellyn	Directed by Anton M. Leader
1964	This Is My Street	Harry King	Directed by Sidney Hayers
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	Casino Royale	Bit part	Directed by Ken Hughes Uncredited
1967	Traitors of San Angel (Original title: Los traidores de San Ángel)	Nick Thomas	Directed by Leopoldo Torre Nilsson
1969	Cry Wolf	Hobson	Directed by John Davis
1969	Vendetta for the Saint	Destamio	Directed by Jim O'Connolly
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	Tales from The Crypt	Carl Maitland	Directed by Freddie Francis (segment 2 "Reflection of Death")
1972	All Coppers Are...	Sonny Wade	Directed by Sidney Hayers
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 Morgan	Directed by Don Taylor Uncredited
1979	The Bitch	Thrush Feather	Directed by Gerry O'Hara

1980–84

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1980	McVicar	Hitchens	Directed by Tom Clegg British drama film by The Who Films, Ltd., starring Roger Daltrey of The Who Uncredited

Television work

1955–59

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1956	Vic Oliver’s This is Show Business	Clown
1956	Calling All Boys	Mr X	TV Series (all or some episodes)
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	Play by Colin Morris
August 1955	Witness For The Prosecution	Leonard Vole	Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch	Play by Agatha Christie
August–September 1955	This Happy Breed	Reg, Franks Child	Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch	Play by Noël Coward
October 1955	Our Town	Professor Willard	Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch	Play by Thornton Wilder
October–November 1955	The Recruiting Officer	Constable	Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch	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
October 1957	Dinner With The Family	Jacques	Cambridge Arts Theatre, Cambridge	Play by Jean Anouilh
October 1957	Dinner With The Family	Jacques	King's Theatre, Glasgow	Play by Jean Anouilh
October 1957	Dinner With The Family	Jacques	Theatre Royal, Brighton	Play by Jean Anouilh
December 1957	Dinner With The Family	Jacques	Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh	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
March 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
March 1970	The Bear	Grigoriy Smirnov	Oxford Playhouse, Oxford	Play by Anton Chekhov
March 1970	In Camera (a.k.a. No Exit)	Joseph Garcin	Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon	Play by Jean-Paul Sartre Also performed under the titles of No Exit, No Way Out, Vicious Circle, Behind Closed Doors and Dead End
March 1970	The Bear	Grigoriy Smirnov	Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon	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, Brighton	Play by Larry Cohen
March 1976	Motive	Wallace Barrows	Theatre Royal, Norwich	Play by Larry Cohen
June 1977	The Owl and the Pussycat	Felix	Kings Theatre, Southsea	Play by Bill Manhoff For the film version of The Owl and the Pussycat, 1970, screenplay adaptation by Buck Henry
June–July 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
June 1978	Otherwise Engaged	Simon	Grand Theatre, Leeds	Play by Simon Gray
August 1978	Otherwise Engaged	Simon	Theatre Royal, Nottingham	Play by Simon Gray
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
October 1978	Lady Windermere's Fan	Lord Windermere	Theatre Royal, Norwich	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 BBC Radio 4
13 November 1971	The Third Man	Harry Lime	An adaptation of Graham Greene's The Third Man BBC Radio
October 1973	Desert Island Discs	Himself (guest)	Roy Plomley's castaway was actor Ian Hendry BBC Radio
January 1976	Five Roundabouts to Heaven	Not known	An adaptation of John Bingham's Five Roundabouts to Heaven for BBC Radio World Service
5 February 1978	A Moon for the Misbegotten	Tyrone	BBC Radio 3
8 May 1978 (Repeating on 14 May 1978)	A Little Bit of Heaven	Gerry Mahood	BBC Radio 4
24 April - 19 June 1983	The Price of Silence	Maxon	BBC Radio

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

Further reading - Ian Hendry Biography

Hershman, Gabriel. Send In The Clowns – The Yo Yo Life Of Ian Hendry, Lulu.com, 2013; ISBN 9781291270976

External links

• Official website
• Ian Hendry at IMDb
• Ian Hendry's appearance on This Is Your Life