Ian Hendry Biography | BBC Radio London Robert Elms Interviews Gabriel Hershman

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New Ian Hendry Biography: ianhendry.com/new-biography
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Biography: Send In The Clowns - The Yo Yo Life Of Ian Hendry by Gabriel Hershman ( available shortly on Lulu.com)
Explore the life and work of actor Ian Hendry. In a career spanning over 30 years, Hendry appeared in 30+ films, 600+ TV appearances, theatre + radio plays. With the new website IanHendry.com and a new biography on his life, discover just why he is regarded as one of the best British actors of this, or any era.
Get Carter (1971)
The Avengers (1961)
The Lotus Eaters

[@steviecampbell4483]

Ian Hendry exuded charisma and charm, I was entranced by him at a very early age and remain so to this day. He was acting when I was born in 1960. RIP

[@jeffhubbard4688]

Exactly right. I first saw Ian Hendry in the T.V. series Lotus Eaters and then found his performances in earlier movies. In every role he was immediately believable and like so many actors of earlier times he had a wonderful voice. Sad he died so soon.

[@ontheunited45]

I have now completed reading the Ian Hendry biography by Gabriel Hershman.
I was familiar with quite a lot of Hendry's work, although there is a lot more which I haven't seen, and it is all covered. I didn't know much about Hendry as regards his private life. I just knew basic details about him being a good actor who liked a drink, and this could/would occur on-set. But this was not unusual in those years, when those involved would go for a half or two on breaks etc.
In his introduction, the author writes that:
'(I) was aware that Ian was dogged by alcoholism throughout most of his adult years and that this had contributed to his premature death in 1984. It was "a problem" that I thought I could move to the back seat. In the end I reversed this decision because of the role it played in stalling his career and because it features so prominently in colleague’s recollections.....Instead, I felt I had no option but to address Ian's illness head on. I hope that I have done so with sympathy and understanding.'
The book is sympathetic to Ian. It is striking that he seemed to be drinking alcohol in a way that others would drink tea or coffee, such that it did not impair his performance or reliability. But perhaps, in conjunction with some personal difficulties with his wife Janet Munro, and car accidents that he was involved in, Ian was viewed as a liability by certain producers, and this prevented him getting prime film roles. Brian Clemens said:
'Ian could give professional people a hard time because you never knew if he'd turn up, although he always did. Sometimes you'd try to help him but then he'd revert entirely to the person you were trying to pull him away from'.
It could be argued that he should never have left 'The Avengers'. I don't know what direction this show would have taken had Ian stayed - would e.g. the Steed-Gale/Peel/King (& even Purdey) partnerships have developed and would the Dr. David Keel character have fitted in around them, or would Keel himself have formed the lead partnership? Anyway, this book details how Ian decided to leave the show.
The author then details his continuing career, in which he was almost always in work. The research is excellent, with contemporary press reports (newspapers, TV & Radio Times etc). Also, there are interviews with co-stars and others in productions that Ian worked with. The alcoholism is apparent throughout, yet almost all say that Ian was good to work with. This is not just in idle quotes or anecdotes; they often give reasons why he was good to work with. Wanda Ventham said:
'He'd get up in the morning and act you off the screen. It was absolutely extraordinary. It had no effect on him at all.'
The screenwriter Douglas Watkinson, from the TV show 'From Maddie With Love' (1980), said:
'(h)e was devoid of any excess of ego. He was extremely patient and helpful towards the younger actors on the show....And I don't think I heard him moan once. About anything.'
I think Ian Hendry was unpretentious. The British film industry was declining anyway during his prime, so he took TV roles as well, in a way that Michael Caine, Richard Harris, Oliver Reed etc would not. Thus, Ian was nominated for a BAFTA for 'Get Carter', and appeared as a lead in the BBCs 'The Lotus Eaters', ITVs 'The Sweeney' and in Tommy Coopers show, all in a short five-year period for instance. If he had stayed in 'The Avengers', or took a 'films-only' career path, he might not have been any more interesting, or more successful.
A true cult actor. Read the book.