Ian Hendry

[Ju Upton]

Does anyone know anything interesting about Ian Hendry's later life and career (circa 1974-84)? I wrote a chapter on him in the book Fallen Stars but he seems to fall off the radar completely around the late 70s. I couldn't understand, for example, why he goes uncredited for a decent scene in McVicar (1980). It's not as if it was a scene-stealing cameo, however; it seems to me more a symptom of his plagued career. But I'm not sure.

[batman]

On TV I remember him making an appearance in The New Avengers in the late 70s, he was also in a few episodes of Jemima Shore Investigates which must have been early 80s. He did a few 'guest' roles in cop shows etc before ending up in Brookside.



In film he had a small role in Omen 2 and was in Joan Collins dreadful 'comeback' film The Bitch.



He was a good actor, I especially liked him in Girl In The Headlines, Get Carter and The Lotus Eaters.



Bats.

[Ju Upton]

Yes, I saw him in Brookside (those were the days before it turned into the insanely hysterical show it became). I was intrigued by the fact that he died penniless; I think an actor friend of his tried to raise money for the family after his death, although I don't know what became of that.

[Freddy]

Wasn't he one of the subjects in 'This Is your Life'?

Always liked himas an actor.



Freddy

[yorkist]

The last time I ever saw Ian Hendry was on this is your life I think they were doing Patrick Macnee's .Ian Hendry came on and he looked awful and it was very hard to make out what he was saying,I was not surprised when I read of his death a few weeks later on christmas eve 1984,I remember the newspaper also stated that he was living in reduced circumstances at the time of his death.







Yorkist

[Dame Starry]

The last time I ever saw Ian Hendry was on this is your life I think they were doing Patrick Macnee's .Ian Hendry came on and he looked awful and it was very hard to make out what he was saying,I was not surprised when I read of his death a few weeks later on christmas eve 1984,I remember the newspaper also stated that he was living in reduced circumstances at the time of his death. Yorkist

When his estranged wife, Janet Munroe, died, she left a lot of personal debts that Ian vowed to/had to clear - don't forget that, in those days, husbands were responsible for their wives' debts.

If I remember correctly, he took just about every job that was offered to him in order to pay it all off which, probably, contributed to his failing health and premature death.

I think that alcohol was the problem with both of them.



Starry x.

[Moor Larkin]

In Hendry's memoirs, serialised in a Sunday paper in 1980, he said that the series reflected his own bar and boat lifestyle, because he lived for most of the time on an island in the River Thames at Shepperton and used a boat to get to the mainland. He made a point of praising Michael Bird and said "the whole team was a such a happy bunch of ex-pats." Bird had a habit of blending reality with his inventions and there was great irony in Hendry playing a man whose life was damaged by alcoholism since his own drink problems were no secret.

Michael J Bird



I hadn't realised Ian Hendry had been married to Janet Munro. She self-destructed as well I believe. Who'd be an actor eh?.........

[MrSkipling]

Ian Hendry's inclusion in a film is always a safe bet, in my opinion. Both the 'Internecine Project' and 'Repulsion' are also well worth checking out.

[Merton Park]

I used to see him with Ronald Fraser at The Bull and Bush pub, just by Hampstead pond.



Wonderful actor, particularly liked him in Live Now Pay Later, always gave a good performance. He seemed to have a bit of an edge to him. Rather sad story really, both him and the wife.

[Harbottle]

I used to see him with Ronald Fraser at The Bull and Bush pub, just by Hampstead pond.

Wonderful actor, particularly liked him in Live Now Pay Later, always gave a good performance. He seemed to have a bit of an edge to him. Rather sad story really, both him and the wife.

I agree regarding LNPL would it be going to far to describe that film as a little known classic? I thought it a wonderful film when seeing it thanks to this superb forum.



Terrific actor Ian Hendry, such a shame his personal life was a bit of a mess.

[orpheum]

I saw him in the Prince Albert pub in Golders Green Road.He was totally pissed and lurched up to me and asked if he could serve me.This was not that long before his death

[Dame Starry]

I used to see him with Ronald Fraser at The Bull and Bush pub, just by Hampstead pond.

Wonderful actor, particularly liked him in Live Now Pay Later, always gave a good performance. He seemed to have a bit of an edge to him. Rather sad story really, both him and the wife.

I liked both actors - how strange that they both died the same way.

[marker]

Wasn't he one of the subjects in 'This Is your Life'?

Always liked himas an actor.



Freddy

I liked Ian Hendry in Who pays the ferryman and the music was fantasic

[Windthrop]

On TV I remember him making an appearance in The New Avengers in the late 70s, he was also in a few episodes of Jemima Shore Investigates which must have been early 80s. He did a few 'guest' roles in cop shows etc before ending up in Brookside.



In film he had a small role in Omen 2 and was in Joan Collins dreadful 'comeback' film The Bitch.



He was a good actor, I especially liked him in Girl In The Headlines, Get Carter and The Lotus Eaters.



Bats.

Sad to say Hendry was actually sacked from Jemima Shore. He was interviewed about it stating that he was worried about his landlord putting up the rent . Wish I'd kept the interview (TV Times) cos he was quite outspoken. I believe by then he was married to his children's nanny.

[christoph404]

I liked Ian Hendry in Who pays the ferryman and the music was fantasic

I remember that programme well and I remember visiting the Greek town of Elounda on the north east coast of Crete many yeasr ago, where much of the series was filmed. No doubt it has changed a lot there since filming. I also remember the episode of This is Your LIfe when Hendry comes on as a friend of the subject (Patrick Macnee) and he indeed looked dreadfull. I believe alcoholism was a major factor in his personal and professional demise......what a shame....a very talented actor.

[codsall]

As has already been said - a terrific actor. A personal favorite of mine. He had such a sad and public decline from the late 1960s right through to his death on 24 December 1984. There's no point in skirting around the issue, he was an alcoholic and it was this that hastened his demise. Despite this he gave some terrific performances. One that has not been mentioned before is a short series he did for ATV in 1980 - For Maddie with Love - with Nyree Dawn Porter. She played his wife who was dying with a brain tumor. Ian's performance was extremely touching. There's quite a lot about what he was like to work with on the Net and elsewhere. He nearly drove Gerry Anderson to despair on the set of Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (aka Doppleganger). Michael Caine has some interesting things to say about working with Ian on Get Carter on the commentary track on the DVD. Michael J Bird also recalls how he had to use a shotgun to get Ian to his senses on location filming The Lotus Eaters - check his website out. I'll post the address here in a few minutes. Both series of The Lotus Eaters now out on DVD by the way.

[codsall]

The Michael J Bird Tribute Site is on Michael J Bird

[Rennie]

Does anyone know anything interesting about Ian Hendry's later life and career (circa 1974-84)? I wrote a chapter on him in the book Fallen Stars..........

Can you give me details of 'Fallen Stars'? I have seen reference to this book elsewhere on this forum, but cannot seem to track it down anywhere. The author's name would help.

[dremble wedge]

Can you give me details of 'Fallen Stars'? I have seen reference to this book elsewhere on this forum, but cannot seem to track it down anywhere. The author's name would help.

Amazon have it for £4.43 + p&p.



Amazon.co.uk: Fallen Stars: Tragic Lives and Lost Careers: Books: Julian Upton





It's by Julian Upton who posted just before you and I've ordered a copy today!

[didi-5]

Can't find another thread on Ian so adding to this old one. I recently watched The Lotus Eaters for the first time and it (and he) was incredibly good. I don't like to dwell on people's personal problems - they are what they are. But what a shame an actor with such talent and potential (and in his prime, very good looks) should fall so far and so fast, all because of his and his wife's fondness for the bottle.

I particularly enjoy watching Ian in his films Girl in the Headlines and Theatre of Blood, and the Armchair Theatre episode Afternoon of a Nymph was a happy discovery last year, as was the recent spotting of him as a motorcycle copper in The Sandwich Man. Although his Supernatural episodes don't showcase him at his best he did a cracking episode of Return of the Saint at the end of the 70s, and I can just about remember him in Brookside at the end of his life.

With people like this you can only wonder what might have been, and just feel a little bit sad when they don't gain the success they should have had. And feel glad of the work they did leave behind.