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.^[1] 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.^[2] 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).^[3]

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, where he helped to produce and performed in several school plays.^{[citation needed]}

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. ^{[citation needed]} During this period, Hendry re-established his interest in acting, becoming involved in amateur theatre through a local amateur dramatics group in Edgware.^{[citation needed]}

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^[4] 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[5]

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.^[6][7] 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.^[8]

Hendry had lead roles in several films; Live Now, Pay Later (1962), Girl in the Headlines (1963), This is My Street (1964),^[9] 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).^[10]

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."^[11]

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).^{[citation needed]}

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.^[12]

Later years

Hendry was declared bankrupt in the late 1970s.^[13] 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.^[14][15] Gerry Anderson recalled in his biography that Hendry "was always drinking", and was intoxicated during the filming of Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969).^[16]

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.^[17][18]

Personal life

Hendry's first marriage was to Phyllis Joanna Bell, née Chaddock, in September 1955.^[19] 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. On 16 February 1963, Hendry married actress Janet Munro, whom he met making Afternoon of a Nymph on TV.^[20] 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; they had a daughter, Emma.^[12]

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.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

Film

Television

Radio appearances

Theatre credits

Awards and nominations

References

1. ^ "The tragic life of Ian Hendry, the first Avenger". Yahoo News. 2024-07-26. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
2. ^ Field, Rachel (2014). The Ipswich Book of Days. Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: The History Press. p. 13. ISBN 9780752490120.
3. ^ "George Rushton - Artist (Grandfather)". Retrieved 30 March 2013.
4. ^ "Ian Hendry, Judi Dench - Students at Central School of Speech And Drama". Retrieved 30 March 2013.
5. ^ "Ian Hendry - Other Works on IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
6. ^ "Ian Hendry - The Original Avenger". 11 February 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
7. ^ "The Avengers, Keel and Steed - The Doctor and the Spy". Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
8. ^ "The Avengers - Ian Hendry Bio". Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
9. ^ Vagg, Stephen (21 January 2025). "Forgotten British Moguls: Nat Cohen – Part Three (1962-68)". Filmink. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
10. ^ The Stage 15 September 1966, p.12
11. ^ "Return of the Saint – Yesterday's Hero". 3 June 2015.
12. ^ RUSSELL, STEVEN (12 March 2013). "Suffolk: The actor 'who should have been a star'". East Anglian Daily Times. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
13. ^ "The Avengers - Ian Hendry profile". Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
14. ^ "The Ten Hardest Drinking British Actors Ever". sabotagetimes.com. 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
15. ^ Steven Russell (12 March 2013). "Suffolk: The actor 'who should have been a star'". Eadt.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
16. ^ Archer, Simon & Hearn, Marcus (2002). What Made Thunderbirds Go! The Authorised Biography of Gerry Anderson. London, UK: BBC Books. pp. 174–175. ISBN 978-0-563-53481-5.
17. ^ "This Is Your Life: Ian Hendry". IMDB. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
18. ^ "This Is Your Life: Patrick Macnee". IMDB. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
19. ^ "Ian, Jo, Janet, Britt And A Neurotic Peter Sellers! -". ianhendry.com. 17 August 2013.
20. ^ Vagg, Stephen (6 January 2024). "Girl-next-door or girl-gone-bad: The Janet Munro Story". Filmink. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
21. ^ "Anton Leader on IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 2013-03-30.
22. ^ Editor, Neil Hendry (2018-07-28). "Ian Hendry In The James Bond Spy Film, Casino Royale [1967]?". ianhendry.com. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
23. ^ "John Davis on IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 2013-03-30.
24. ^ "- Unscheduled Stop on BBC Radio 4". Archived 1 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
25. ^ "- Unscheduled Stop by Derek Bond". TheGuardian.com. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
26. ^ "Ian Hendry - The Third Man on Sutton Elms". Retrieved 2013-03-30.
27. ^ "Ian Hendry - Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio". Retrieved 2013-03-30.
28. ^ "Five Roundabouts To Heaven - 1 The Facts About Philip Bartels". Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 2015-03-03.
29. ^ "Ian Hendry - A Moon for the Misbegotten on BBC Radio". Retrieved 2014-06-09.
30. ^ "A Little Bit of Heaven on BBC Radio 4". Archived 1 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
31. ^ "The Price of Silence on BBC Radio 4". Retrieved 2014-06-09.
32. ^ "Reluctant Heroes (1957)". Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2013-03-30.
33. ^ "Ian Hendry | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com. Retrieved 2025-01-24.

Further reading - biography

Hershman, Gabriel. Send in the Clowns – The Yo Yo Life of Ian Hendry, Lulu.com, 2013; ISBN 9781291270976

External links

• Official tribute
• Ian Hendry at IMDb