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Nicky Henson

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Nicky Henson
Henson in Witchfinder General (1968)
Born
Nicholas Victor Leslie Henson

(1945-05-12)12 May 1945
London, England
Died15 December 2019(2019-12-15) (aged 74)
OccupationActor
Years active1964–2019
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1969; div. 1975)​
​
(m. 1986)​
Children3, including Christian and Keaton

Nicholas Victor Leslie Henson (12 May 1945 – 15 December 2019)[1] was a British actor.

Early life

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Henson was born in London, the son of Harriet Martha (née Collins) and comedian Leslie Henson,[2] a few days after VE Day, hence the middle name Victor.[3] Adam Henson, a farmer and regular presenter on BBC TV's Countryfile, was Henson's nephew; being the son of Nicky's brother Joe Henson.[4]

He attended St. Bede's Prep School in Eastbourne and Charterhouse in Godalming.[5] He trained as a stage manager at RADA and first appeared on stage himself as a guitarist. As a member of the Young Vic Company, he played Pozzo in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot.

Career

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Television

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Henson appeared in various television roles, including guest roles in Fawlty Towers, Minder, Boon, Inspector Morse, A Touch of Frost, Heartbeat, After You've Gone, Lovejoy and Doctors. In 1990 he played the doctor in the BBC’s adaptation of Kingsley Amis’ Ghost story The Green Man. He played the eponymous hero in Shine on Harvey Moon when the series was revived in 1995.

In 2005, he played Hugo, an antique dealer, in Bad Girls. In February 2006, Henson joined the cast of EastEnders, playing Jack Edwards. Henson left the production towards the end of the year due to health problems.[6]

Henson played three different characters in the police drama series The Bill, the first in 1991, the second in 1998, and the third in 2007. In 2010, he appeared as Charles Grigg, a former acquaintance of Carson the butler, in an episode of Downton Abbey and appeared in two episodes in 2013.[7] He also played Randolph Mepstead, the older brother of David Jason's character in the pilot episode of the mid-1970s series Lucky Feller.

Henson played the role of Mr. Johnson in the Fawlty Towers episode "The Psychiatrist". He stated that despite his 50 years of professional acting, his tombstone will probably read "Here lies Nicky Henson – he was in one episode of Fawlty Towers". He was paid a modest appearance fee, and he was told he might earn the same again in repeats fees.[8][9][10][11]

Films

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Henson's film appearances include Witchfinder General (1968), There's a Girl in My Soup (1970), Mosquito Squadron (1970) and Psychomania (1973). He graduated to lead roles in The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones (1976) and No. 1 of the Secret Service (1977), before returning to supporting roles in Vera Drake (2004) and George Clooney's Syriana (2005).

Theatre

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On stage, Henson played many Shakespearean characters (including a period with the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1977) and had leading roles in Look Back in Anger, Man and Superman, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, She Stoops to Conquer, Noises Off and others. He appeared as Mordred in the original 1964 London version of Camelot opposite Laurence Harvey as King Arthur. Henson made his Broadway debut in a production of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband, opposite Stephanie Beacham. He was nominated for a 1998 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical of 1997 for his role in Enter the Guardsman.

He started directing with a Restoration workshop at LAMDA with a production of The Provok'd Wife. In 2009, he directed the Jack Shepherd play Only When I Laugh at the Arcola Theatre in London and Alan Ayckbourn's Intimate Exchanges at Sheringham Little Theatre.

Radio

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Henson played Lemuel "Chipper" Barnet in Space Force series 1 and 2 (1984–1985). He also played Major in Dombey and Son (BBC Radio 15 Minute Drama, 2007).

Personal life

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Henson married actress Una Stubbs (who incidentally played his sister-in-law Caroline Bishop in EastEnders).[12] The couple had two sons, Joe and Christian, both of whom are composers.[12] The marriage ended after Henson began an affair in 1974 with actress Susan Hampshire, his co-star in several stage productions.[13]

He then married ballerina Marguerite Porter, with whom he had a third son, Keaton, a musician and illustrator.[14]

Health

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Henson was diagnosed with cancer in 2003. Surgeons removed tumours from around his spleen, but a routine check-up in 2006 showed that other tumours had grown, and it would be dangerous to remove them. Henson was put on a regime of chemotherapy, and he worked regularly to raise funds for cancer charities, especially Marie Curie Cancer Care.[15] He died on 15 December 2019, aged 74.[16]

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
1964 Father Came Too! Motorcyclist
1965 Every Day's a Holiday Tailor's Shop Customer Uncredited
1966 Doctor in Clover Boutique Assistant
1967 The Jokers Man at Party with Hunting Horn
1967 I'll Never Forget What's'isname Young Man at Disco Uncredited
1968 Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush Craig Foster
1968 30 Is a Dangerous Age, Cynthia Paul
1968 Witchfinder General Trooper Swallow
1969 Crooks and Coronets Lord Freddie Fitzmore
1969 Mosquito Squadron Flight Sergeant Wiley Bunce
1969 The Coward Revue TV movie
1970 There's a Girl in My Soup Jimmy
1972 All Coppers Are... Barry
1973 Psychomania Tom Latham
1973 The Love Ban Baker
1973 Penny Gold Rogers
1974 Vampira Marc Williams
1975 Bedtime with Rosie Fantasy Man Uncredited
1976 The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones Tom Jones
1977 No. 1 of the Secret Service No. 1 / Charles Bind
1980 The Double Dealer Brisk TV movie
1981 A Midsummer Night's Dream Demetrius TV movie
1982 Anyone for Denis? Vouvrey TV movie
1985 Tropical Moon Over Dorking Rex TV movie
1985 Absurd Person Singular Sidney Hopcroft TV movie
1986 Season's Greetings Neville TV movie
1988 Star Trap Adam Blunt TV movie
1993 Micky Love Martin Bowen TV movie
1994 The Healer Dr. Ralph Raebryte TV movie
1996 Death at Broadcasting House Detective Sergeant Ring (voice) Direct-to-video
1997 From the Bottom of a Well (voice) Direct-to-video
1998 Anorak of Fire Jim O'Rourke TV movie
1999 Parting Shots Askew
2001 Me Without You Ray
2001 Death, Deceit and Destiny Aboard the Orient Express Tom Finlay
2001 Love or Money Guy TV movie
2002 Flyfishing Howard
2004 Vera Drake Private Doctor
2004 The Fete Ray Short
2005 A Waste of Shame John Shakespeare TV movie
2005 Syriana Sydney Hewitt
2006 A Quiet Drink Peter Short
2008 Dr. No: The Radio Play Chief of Staff (voice)
2011 Blitz Superintendent Brown
2012 Truth or Dare Mr. Hautbois Uncredited
2012 Run for Your Wife Hospital Patient
2014 We Still Kill the Old Way (2014 film) Jack Houghton
2015 Narcopolis Chief Ballard
2015 Draw on Sweet Night Sir Thomas Kytson
2015 Brackish Water Richard Holmwood Short
2016 Tommy's Honour Charles Kinloch
2016 Gozo Tony
2016 We Still Steal the Old Way Jack Houghton
2017 The Holly Kane Experiment Marvin Greenslade
2018 Tango One Latham Final film role
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1961 The Avengers Crowd member Series 1, episode 20
1964 Paris 1900 Dardillon Series 1, episode 5
1964 The Human Jungle (Uncredited) Series 2, episode 8
1966 The Frost Report Various roles Series 1 (13 episodes)
1967 Vacant Lot Rock Series 1, episodes 1 & 3
1968 ITV Playhouse Amos Wild Series 1, episode 21
1971 Shirley's World Beanie Series 1, episode 7
1971 Comedy Playhouse Nicky Series 11, episode 5
1972 BBC Show of the Week 1 episode
1972 Arthur of the Britons Garet Series 1, episode 3
1974 Comedy Playhouse Nick Ransley Series 14, episode 9
1975 Prometheus: The Life of Balzac Honore de Balzac Miniseries (6 episodes)
1975 Lucky Feller Randolph 'Randy' Mepstead Pilot episode
1977 The Foundation Douggie Taylor Series 1 (4 episodes)
1977 Cottage to Let Steve Series 1, episode 4
1978 That's the Way the Money Goes Paul Series 1 (8 episodes)
1979 Fawlty Towers Mr. Johnson Series 2, episode 2
1979 Minder George Wilson Series 1, episode 2
1980 Seagull Island[a] Martin Foster Miniseries (5 episodes)
1981 Whoops Apocalypse Engelbert (uncredited) Series 1, episode 4
1982 BBC2 Playhouse Tosh Series 8, episode 29
1983 The Happy Apple Charles Murray Series 1 (7 episodes)
1984 Driving Ambition Allan Hearshner Series 1, episodes 5 & 8
1987 Sunday Premiere Alistair 1 episode
1987 Home to Roost Edward Willows Series 3, episode 2
1988 Singles Gerry Series 1, episode 5
1988 Thin Air Richard Heller Miniseries (5 episodes)
1989 Inspector Morse Vince Cranston Series 3, episode 3
1989 Boon Terry Patterson Series 4, episode 13
1990 After Henry Ian Series 3, episode 10
1990–1991 The Upper Hand Michael Wheatley Series 1–2 (4 episodes)
1990 The Green Man Jack Miniseries (3 episodes)
1991 The Bill Colin Mathews Series 7, episodes 75 & 76
1992 Between the Lines Ch. Supt. Charlie McGregor Series 1, episode 10
1993 Wales Playhouse Gruff Series 2, episode 3
1993 Sitting Pretty Philip Series 2, episode 1
1994 Health and Efficiency Anthony Bolt Series 1, episode 4
1994 Class Act Sammy Buchanan Series 1, episode 2
1995 Shine on Harvey Moon Harvey Moon Series 5 (main role, 12 episodes)
1995–1997 All Quiet on the Preston Front Greg Scarry Series 2–3 (5 episodes)
1995 Coronation Street: The Feature Length Special Henri de Vence Direct-to-video
1996 Pie in the Sky Harrington Smithfield Series 4, episode 3
1997 Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's... CID Officer Series 2, episode 2
1998 The Bill John Defoe Series 14, episode 67
1999–2000 A Touch of Frost DS Larry Finlay Series 7, episodes 1 & 2
2001 Midsomer Murders Simon Reason Series 4, episode 5
2002 Heartbeat Alan Jones Series 11, episode 16
2002 NCS: Manhunt Vincent Fairey Series 1, episode 3 & 5
2003 Swiss Toni Mike Black Series 1, episode 3
2003 Blue Dove Gerry Weston Miniseries
2005 Bad Girls Hugo Series 7, episode 3
2006 EastEnders Jack 37 episodes
2007 Midsomer Murders Terence Charteris Series 10, episode 7
2007 After You've Gone David Series 2, episode 4
2007 The Bill Vince Murray Series 23, episodes 73 & 74
2008 Doctors Carl Knight Series 9, episode 205
2010 Casualty A Dawson (uncredited) Series 24, episode 20
2010, 2013 Downton Abbey Charles Grigg Series 1 & 4 (3 episodes)
2014 No Point Charity Shop Customer
2016 Grantchester Frank Archer Series 2, episode 2
2017 Doctors Eddie Canbray Series 19, episode 57
Audio plays
Year Title Role Notes
2001,
2008 		Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures Anton Lichfuss
Dick Turpin / Grel 		Series 2, episode 5
Series 9, episode 9
2010 Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor Adventures Gregson Grenville
Ice Warriors 		Series 4, episode 5
Series 4, episode 6

Notes

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  1. ^ A feature length version, titled The Secret of Seagull Island, was released in 1982.

References

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  1. ^ Coveney, Michael (17 December 2019). "Nicky Henson obituary". DeathRecords. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  2. ^ "Nicky Henson Biography (1945–)". Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  3. ^ Pendreigh, Brian (23 December 2019). "Obituary: Nicky Henson, actor known for Fawlty Towers and EastEnders". The Herald. Glasgow.
  4. ^ "Cotsworld Farm Park: About Adam Henson". Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Nicky Henson – Actor". Nicky Henson. Archived from the original on 16 March 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  6. ^ Needham, Lucy; Shaw, Neil (16 December 2019). "EastEnders and Fawlty Towers actor Nicky Henson dies, aged 74". Cambridge News. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Henson Nicky – Artist Information and Profile". Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  8. ^ Media, P. A. (16 December 2019). "Fawlty Towers actor Nicky Henson dies aged 74". the Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Fawlty Towers and EastEnders actor Nicky Henson dies, aged 74". The Independent. 16 December 2019. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Fawlty Towers–Forty years old!". Robin Ellis. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  11. ^ McGrath, Rachel (16 December 2019). "Fawly Towers actor Nicky Henson dies, aged 74". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  12. ^ a b Coveney, Michael (17 December 2019). "Nicky Henson obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  13. ^ Lambert, Angela (2 January 2001). "A rose that refuses to wilt". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 July 2018. When Pierre left [Susan] in 1974, she divorced him...[and] threw herself into work, appearing that year as Katherine in The Taming of the Shrew and Peter Pan that Christmas. Appearing with her was Nicky Henson, then married to Una Stubbs, and the two began a lengthy affair that led to his divorce.
  14. ^ "Keaton Henson". Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  15. ^ "Institute of Sport and Recreation Management website". Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  16. ^ "Fawlty Towers and EastEnders actor Nicky Henson dies aged 74". Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard. 16 December 2019.
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