# Ian Hendry

Ian Mackendrick Hendry (13 January 1931 – 24 December 1984) was an English 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. He was nominated for two BAFTA Awards for his film work: Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles for Live Now, Pay Later (1962) and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Get Carter (1971).
His other notable film appearances included The Hill (1965), Repulsion (also 1965), Doppelgänger (1969), Tales from The Crypt (1972), Theatre of Blood (1973), and The Passenger (1975). The latter part of his career was tempered by personal and financial issues, which led him to declare bankruptcy in 1978.

## Early years

Hendry was born in Ipswich, Suffolk, on 13 January 1931. His mother, Enid (née Rushton), was born in Durham in 1906. His father, James Hendry, was born in 1901 in Glasgow where he graduated with a degree in chemistry from the University of Glasgow before moving to Ipswich in 1924 to take up a graduate position with R & W Paul Ltd. His grandfather, George Rushton, was an artist and Head of the Ipswich Art School (1906–1929).
Hendry's younger brother, Donald, was born on 15 August 1933. They were both educated at the Ipswich School and Culford School, Suffolk. At Culford School, Hendry took an interest in sport, 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
### 1947–1953: career choices and national service

On leaving school in 1947, aged 16, Hendry studied at the College of Estate Management in London. In 1948, he spent a year working for Bidwells at their Cambridge office. In 1949, he began his National Service as part of the programme of conscription in the United Kingdom introduced after World War II. He spent two years with the 32nd Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery, during which time he paced for Christopher Chataway in athletics and ran a motorcycle stunt team. On completing his national service he returned to work in estate management at Bidwells London office in Edgware. During this period, Hendry re-established his interest in acting, becoming involved in amateur theatre through a local amateur dramatics group in Edgware.

### 1953–1955: Central School of Speech and Drama

By 1953, Hendry decide to change his career and follow his ambition to become an actor. In late 1952, he applied to and was accepted for the Central School of Speech and Drama, London. He trained there from 1953 to 1955. His contemporaries at the school included Judi Dench and Vanessa Redgrave, 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.

### 1955–1959: theatre, television and film work

Hendry's professional acting career began in 1955, working in repertory at the Hornchurch Theatre in Station Lane. He appeared 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).

### 1960–1969: theatre, television and film work

In 1960, Hendry had a part in Sink the Bismarck! (1960). He then played the lead role of Dr Geoffrey Brent in the 12 episode crime series Police Surgeon. Hendry was next cast in the similar role of Dr David Keel in the action-adventure series 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 with Macnee as its lead.
Hendry had lead roles in several films; Live Now, Pay Later (1962), Girl in the Headlines (1963), This is My Street (1964), 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).

### 1970–1979: theatre, television and film work

In the early 1970s, Hendry had lead roles in several TV series including 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 including 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." (Season 1, Ep. 7 "To catch a rat").
Towards the end of the decade Hendry appeared as a former SAS Trooper and convict Roy Gates in the Return of the Saint episode "Yesterday's Hero."
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).

### 1980–1984: 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 1984 in the Channel Four soap opera Brookside, playing Davey Jones, father of Petra Taylor, Marie Jackson and Michelle Jones.

## 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 (1980).
His last public appearance was as a guest on an October 1984 episode of This Is Your Life which profiled his former Avengers co-star Patrick Macnee, who had been a special guest when This Is Your Life featured Hendry in March 1978.

## Personal life

Hendry's first marriage was to Phyllis Joanna Bell, née Chaddock, in September 1955. Phyllis preferred to be known as 'Jo' – an abbreviation of her middle-name – and worked as a make-up artist for Leichner. The marriage ended in 1962. Hendry married actress Janet Munro on 16 February 1963, who he met making Afternoon of a Nymph on TV. 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 a daughter, Emma.

## Death

On 24 December 1984, Hendry died of gastrointestinal bleeding in London, aged 53. He was cremated, and his ashes interred in the Lily Pond beds at the Golders Green Crematorium.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1955 | Simon and Laura | Bit part | Uncredited |
| 1956 | Up in the World | Commando Sergeant | Uncredited |
| 1957 | The Secret Place | Charles Maitland | Uncredited |
| 1959 | Room at the Top | Cyril | |
| 1959 | Bobbikins | BBC announcer | Uncredited |
| 1960 | Sink the Bismarck! | Officer on King George V | Uncredited |
| 1960 | In the Nick | Ted Ross | |
| 1962 | Live Now, Pay Later | Albert Argyle | |
| 1963 | Girl in the Headlines | Inspector Birkett | |
| 1964 | Children of the Damned | Colonel Tom Llewellyn | |
| 1964 | This Is My Street | Harry King | |
| 1964 | The Beauty Jungle | Don Mackenzie | |
| 1965 | Repulsion | Michael | |
| 1965 | The Hill | Staff-Sergeant Williams | |
| 1966 | The Sandwich Man | Motorcycle Policeman | |
| 1967 | Casino Royale | Hitman | Role deleted |
| 1967 | Traitors of San Angel | Nick Thomas | |
| 1969 | Cry Wolf | Hobson | |
| 1969 | The Southern Star | Karl | |
| 1969 | Journey to the Far Side of the Sun | John Kane | |
| 1970 | The McKenzie Break | Major Perry | |
| 1971 | Get Carter | Eric Paice | |
| 1972 | The Jerusalem File | General Mayer | |
| 1972 | Tales from The Crypt | Carl Maitland | |
| 1972 | All Coppers Are... | Sonny Wade | |
| 1973 | Theatre of Blood | Peregrine Devlin | |
| 1973 | Assassin | The Assassin | |
| 1974 | Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter | Kerro | |
| 1974 | The Internecine Project | Alex Hellman | |
| 1975 | The Passenger | Martin Knight | |
| 1976 | Intimate Games | Uncle Rodney | |
| 1978 | Damien - Omen II | Michael Morgan | Uncredited |
| 1979 | The Bitch | Thrush Feather | |
| 1980 | McVicar | Hitchens | Uncredited |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1956 | Calling All Boys | Mr. X | TV series (all or some episodes) |
| 1956 | As Others See Us | Husband | TV series (1 episode, 20/11/56) |
| 1958 | Emergency Ward 10 | Mr. Clarke | TV series (8 episodes) |
| 1958–59 | Murder Bag | Various | TV series (Episodes: 2.2: Lockhart Bags a Brooch (7/7/58) – unknown; 2.21: Lockhart Pulls The Trigger (19/11/58) – unknown; 2.32: Lockhart Visits a Hospital (5/2/59) – Doctor) |
| 1958–59 | Television Playwright | Tony | TV series (Episode 1.30: Walk on the Grass) |
| 1959 | BBC Sunday-Night Theatre | Leading Seaman Dembury | TV series (Episode 10.1: The Stone Ship) |
| 1959 | The Invisible Man | Lt. Daniels | TV series (Episode 2.12: Shadow Bomb) |
| 1959 | Crime Sheet | Not known | TV series (Episode 1.19: Lockhart Has It in Store (12/8/59)) |
| 1960 | Inside Story | Peter | TV series (Episode 1.7, Return to Base) |
| 1960 | Probation Officer | Christopher Stamp | TV series (Episode 1.37) |
| 1960 | Police Surgeon | Dr. Geoffrey Brent | TV series (all 13 episodes) |
| 1961 | The Avengers | Dr. David Keel | TV series (Season 1: 25 of 26 episodes) |
| 1962 | The Ginger Man | Sebastian Balfe Dangerfield | TV film |
| 1962 | BBC Sunday-Night Play | Morgan Delt | TV plays (Play: A Suitable Case for Treatment) |
| 1962–63 | Armchair Theatre | David Simpson Richard Bligh | Afternoon of a Nymph A Cold Peace |
| 1963 | Drama 61-67 | Harry Barnes | TV series (Drama 63: 54 Minute Affair) |
| 1965 | Danger Man (US title: Secret Agent) | Wallace/Hagen | TV series (Episode 3.13: Say it with Flowers) |
| 1965–66 | Blackmail | Various | TV series (Episode 1.8: The Case of the Phantom Lover – Steve Keen; Episode 2.11: The Man Who Could See – Ronnie Wade) |
| 1966 | Preview Tonight | Angus | TV series (Episode 1.4: Roaring Camp) |
| 1966–67 | The Informer | Alex Lambert | TV series (all 21 episodes) |
| 1967 | ITV Play of the Week | Paul Du Pre | TV plays (Play: The Crossfire) |
| 1968 | Jackanory | Narrator | TV series (Episodes 504–508) |
| 1969 | The Saint | Alessandro Destamio | TV series (Episodes 6.15 and 6.16: Vendetta for the Saint) |
| 1969 | The Gold Robbers | Tom Goodwin | TV mini-series (Episode 1.7: An Oddly Honest Man) |
| 1970 | The Adventures of Don Quick | Capt. Don Quick | TV series (all 6 episodes) |
| 1970 – 72 | ITV Playhouse | See notes | TV plays (Plays: Thursday's Child (1970) – Peter Ware; The High Game (1970) – Paul Venniker; A Splinter of Ice (1972) – Tony) |
| 1970 – 72 | ITV Saturday Night Theatre | See notes | TV plays (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 (Episode 1.6: The Time and the Place) |
| 1972 | Suspicion | Freddo Watts | TV series (Episode: Old Man's Hat) |
| 1972 | Joy | Ben | TV film |
| 1972 | The Protectors | Inspector Wilson | TV series (Episode 1.9: Thinkback) |
| 1972 | The Frighteners | Anthony Ashworth | TV series (Episode 1.9: Bed and Breakfast) |
| 1972 – 73 | The Lotus Eaters | Erik Shepherd | TV series (all 15 episodes) |
| 1973 | Late Night Theatre | Dave | TV series (Episode: We're Strangers Here) |
| 1974 | Dial M for Murder | Marvin Stone | TV series (Episode 1.2: Contract) |
| 1975 | Thriller | Bob/Terry Spelling | TV series (Episode 4.4: Killer with Two Faces) |
| 1975 | The Sweeney | Dave Brooker | TV series (Episode 1.1: Ringer) |
| 1975 | Churchill's People | William Davenant | TV series (Episode 1.16: March On, Boys!) |
| 1975 | Village Hall | Wally | TV series (Episode 2.7: Battleground) |
| 1975 | Cooper | Officer Bryce | TV series (Episodes 1.5 and 1.6) |
| 1976 | Shades of Greene | The Man | TV series (Episode 2.8: Dream of a Strange Land) |
| 1976 | Killers | Mr. J.D. Cassels, KC | TV series (Episodes: 1.4, Murder at the Metropole; 1.3, The Crumbles Murder) |
| 1976 | The Dick Emery Show | Russian agent | TV series (Episode 15.2) |
| 1976 | The New Avengers | Irwin Gunner | TV series (Episode 1.7: To Catch a Rat) |
| 1976 | ITV Sunday Night Drama | Alex Fleming | TV series (Episode: The Goldfinch) |
| 1977 | Supernatural | Zoltan Vinzenz | TV series (Episodes: 1.2, Countess Ilona; 1.3, The Werewolf Reunion) |
| 1977 | Van der Valk | Boersma | TV series (Episode 3.11: Gold Plated Delinquents) |
| 1978 | Premiere | Nifty | TV series (Episode 2.1: Crest of a Wave) |
| 1978 | Return of the Saint | Roy Gates | TV series (Episode 1.7: Yesterday's Hero) |
| 1979 | Crown Court | Frank Edwards | TV series (Episodes 8.43–8.45: Cowboy, parts 1 to 3) |
| 1980 | The Enigma Files | Joe Mackie | TV series (Episode 1.5: Investigation of a Copper) |
| 1980 | For Maddie with Love | Malcolm Laurie | TV series |
| 1981 | The Chinese Detective | Eddie Dwyer | TV series (Episode 1.6: Ice and Dust) |
| 1981 | Smuggler | Agate | TV mini-series (Episode1.11: An Eye for an Eye) |
| 1981 | Bergerac | Major Furneaux | TV series (Episode 1.4: Campaign for Silence) |
| 1983 | Jemima Shore Investigates | Cy | TV series (Episodes: 1.5: Dr. Ziegler's Casebook; 1.10 High Style; 1.11: The Damask Collection) |
| 1984 | Brookside | Davey Jones | TV series (Episodes 142–146: Etiquette; King Rat; Tights; Transport; Off) |

## Theatre credits

| Year | Title | Role(s) | Venue |
| 1951 | Ring Round The Moon | Hugo/Frederic | Edgware Amateur Dramatics Production |
| 1955 | Reluctant Heroes | Tone | Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch |
| 1955 | Witness for the Prosecution | Leonard Vole | Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch |
| 1955 | This Happy Breed | Reg | Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch |
| 1955 | Our Town | Prof. Willard | Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch |
| 1955 | The Recruiting Officer | Constable | Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch |
| 1956 | The Adventures of Davy Crockett | | Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch |
| 1957 | Paradise Street | | Mahatma Gandhi Hall, Studio Theatre Club |
| 1957 | Frost at Midnight | Dodger | Oxford Playhouse |
| 1957 | Lysistrata | Strymodoros | Oxford Playhouse |
| 1957 | Figure of Fun | Freddie | Oxford Playhouse |
| 1957 | The Critic and the Heart | Pat Rye | Oxford Playhouse |
| 1957 | The Beaux Stratagem | Francis Archer | Oxford Playhouse |
| 1957 | Change in the Wind | Charles Auguste | Oxford Playhouse |
| 1957 | The Man Who Came To Dinner | Prof. Metz | Oxford Playhouse |
| 1957 | Arlecchino | | Edinburgh Festival |
| 1957 | Dinner with the Family | Jacques | Oxford Playhouse |
| 1957 | Dinner with the Family | Jacques | Cambridge Arts Theatre |
| 1957 | Dinner with the Family | Jacques | King's Theatre, Glasgow |
| 1957 | Dinner with the Family | Jacques | Theatre Royal, Brighton |
| 1957 | Dinner with the Family | Jacques | Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh |
| 1957 | Dinner with the Family | Jacques | New Theatre, London |
| 1959 | Murder on Arrival | Steve Taylor | Westminster Theatre, London |
| 1960 | Hedda Gabler | George Tesman | Oxford Playhouse |
| 1970 | No Exit | Joseph Garcin | Oxford Playhouse |
| 1970 | The Bear | Grigoriy Smirnov | Oxford Playhouse |
| 1970 | In Camera | Joseph Garcin | Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon |
| 1970 | The Bear | Grigoriy Smirnov | Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon |
| 1976 | Motive | Wallace Barrows | Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, Surrey |
| 1976 | Motive | Wallace Barrows | Theatre Royal, Brighton |
| 1976 | Motive | Wallace Barrows | Theatre Royal, Norwich |
| 1977 | The Owl and the Pussycat | Felix | Kings Theatre, Southsea |
| 1977 | The Owl and the Pussycat | Felix | Cambridge Arts Theatre |
| 1977 | The Owl and the Pussycat | Felix | Wolverhampton Grand Theatre |
| 1978 | Otherwise Engaged | Simon | Grand Theatre, Leeds |
| 1978 | Otherwise Engaged | Simon | Theatre Royal, Nottingham |
| 1978 | Otherwise Engaged | Simon | Wolverhampton Grand Theatre |
| 1978 | Lady Windermere's Fan | Lord Windermere | Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, Surrey |
| 1978 | Lady Windermere's Fan | Lord Windermere | Theatre Royal, Norwich |

## Radio appearences

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1969 | Unscheduled Stop | Robin Fiske | An adaptation of Derek Bond's Unscheduled Stop BBC Radio 4 |
| 1971 | The Third Man | Harry Lime | An adaptation of Graham Greene's The Third Man BBC Radio |
| 1973 | Desert Island Discs | Himself (guest) | Roy Plomley's castaway was actor Ian Hendry BBC Radio |
| 1976 | Five Roundabouts to Heaven | Not known | An adaptation of John Bingham's Five Roundabouts to Heaven for BBC Radio World Service |
| 1978 | A Moon for the Misbegotten | Tyrone | BBC Radio 3 |
| 1978 | A Little Bit of Heaven | Gerry Mahood | BBC Radio 4 |
| 1983 | The Price of Silence | Maxon | BBC Radio |

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Year | Category | Work | Result |
| British Academy Film Award | 1962 | Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles | Live Now, Pay Later | Nominated |
| British Academy Film Award | 1971 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Get Carter | Nominated |
| Rediffusion Golden Star Award | 1966 | Best Actor | The Informer | Won |