He's 47 here - tragically he died 5 years later, Xmas Eve, '84, aged 53. His 2d wife & his 2 eldest daughters' Mum, died similarly thru spirits, but she was aged 38. They were divrced, but they say he was devastated. He is clearly very ill & I'd say weighs at least 15lbs less thah he shud, but crikey - what charisma, & what a smile! The guy had it all - he deserved 2 be a HUGE star. Life races by, which cf us escapes here alive... Grab each day, squeeze it hard & get as much happy as U are able! Great 2 see him get this tribute, a very special guy, bless U 4 the share! XXX
Ian's second wife Janet Munro did not die because of spirits. She had not drunk alcohol for several years at the time of her death. She had an undiagnosed condition. I wrote Ian's biography, Send in the Clowns, in 2013.
Iooking at Mr Hendry here makes me very sad indeed.For a man in his late forties he looks alot older . He was great in Get Carter and with Vincent Price in Theatre of Blood.
Thanks for that heartfelt comment. Yes, he was a rare and under-appreciated talent who did not get the recognition he deserved. This channel, the new website and biography plus the Facebook page are to ensure that his life and work are remembered, for fans old and new!
Ian Hendry was one of those rare gems....a brilliant actor who made magic wherever he found himself. My particular favourite role of his was in Children of the Damned (MGM 1963 ) where he appeared alongside Alan Badel. I found his character in this film one of the great "ordinary" heroes, and I often watch this film to remind myself what a national treasure Ian ought to have been considered in his life. RIP Ian.....a wonderful soul!
One of my all time favorite actors. He literally never gave a bad performance. Gone way, way too soon. Just watched Theater of Blood yesterday. He's perfect in it.
Thanks for the comment James. Yes, it's a shame and one wonders what might have been, but at least there are still many surviving recordings of his work to enjoy.
He was of the generation known as hellraisers - O'Toole, Burton, Harris, Reed, probably many more, think someone has written a book about it under that title.
Yes, a great loss but he left us with many memorable moment on TV and Film....and that is a gift that keep returning.....thanks for taking the time to comment
A great actor and a nice guy. I read somewhere that he died broke and they had to have a whip round to pay for his funeral. It's amazing how many actors died early because of drink problems.
Lovely to see the affection that everyone had for him. It's uncomfortable viewing though as even with the flu he's looking seriously anxious throughout - it wouldn't surprise me if he had the odd panic attack during this. I've just enjoyed another of his performances with the recent release of the rediscovered Avengers episode Tunnel of Fear. His comedic moments are so subtle and brilliant as a result.
Had he not left The Avengers, we'd never have had Cathy Gale, Emma Peel, Tara King & Purdey. But he had to leave to work with Sean Connery, Sidney Lumet & alien children.
a marvellous actor who does not receive the credit he deserves. I enjoy ian Hendry's performances in things like "armchair theatre," "the avengers," "theatre of blood," "vendetta for the saint," "the hill" and other things. under-rated but fascinating to watch
Ian Hendry was a fine actor, always gave compelling performances in a professional and dedicated manner. Favourite performances were as Eric Paice in Get Carter and Dave Brooker in The Sweeney, remarkable because they were both so against type. His final film was McVicar where he gave a world weary and immensely human performance I've remembered to this day. Easily one of the finest British actors of all time. RIP Ian, and Thank You.
From a time when television rewarded and honoured people who had made something of themselves through a depth of talent and not a depth of desperation as is the norm today. It's barely worth thinking about the reality tv pond life such a show would be celebrating if TIYL was still on the air after a decade of such shows being forms of popular entertainment.
And all that with the red flue? Amazing. you can see he has trouble with breathing now and then and still he pulls off the one legged golfer trick. Wow! Thank you for posting this, enjoyed it thoroughly and of course as with all those programs, it's too short to capture his life.
Ian really WAS a very fine actor - one of those talented souls who make acting seem much 'simpler' than it really is. If it hadn't been for the booze, he would have blessed us with many more fine performances. For those who'd like to see more of his work, I HIGHLY recommend 'The Lotus Eaters' - an intriguing TV series from the early Seventies. The sexy Wanda Ventham, and the still-unspoiled island of Crete are an added bonus ! RIP, Mate.
marvinc999 Thanks for the comment - yes, he was very gifted and as you say - despite his problems - he still managed to deliver! Also recommend The Hill from 1965 - fine cast including Sean Connery, Harry Andrew, Michael Redgrave and Ian Bannen
Ian Hendry I agree with you about 'The Hill' - amazing performances all round, in fact. I'm glad to be living in a country that still manages to produce so much REAL acting talent (despite the sad demise of Rep - a fine training ground), but find myself increasingly missing the performers of my youth. Thank God for the DVD !
THAT WAS LOVELY. EVERYONE WAS SO YOUNG. SOME HAVE PASSED AWAY NOW . A VERY HUMBLE MAN , I COULDN'T MISS THE BODY LANGUAGE FROM HIS WIFE THOUGH. HIS CHILDREN ARE SWEET AND LOVE THEIR DADDY.A VERY SENSITIVE MAN 🙏🎩🎥🇬🇧🇫🇷
Enjoyed Hendry's work immensely - as many have said, he was an underrated actor - really enjoyed his villainous roles in "Get Carter" and "Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter"
Having just watched Live Now, Pay Later and being aware of some of his other work makes me realise what a great actor he was..! So.so many other great actors sadly no longer no longer with us either. Great post...Thanks
Hi Geoff, thanks for your comment and I think you summarised it very well....fortunately he left us with many good memories which this collection aims to bring together on this channel.....glad you are enjoying them too
Underrated by some and never reached the international status he deserved, but then luck and other factors play a big part, that said he was one of the best actors of his generation. His acting in The Hill alongside Sean Connery and Harry Andrews was, in a word, ansolutely unforgettable and his best role. What a lovely tribute to the man that so many great actors of the period turned up and spoke so favourably of him
Thanks for uploading this video ! Ian Hendry was a wonderful actor. Glad to see the other Ian, Bannen as well ! The two didn't change much since The Hill.
What a trooper - suffering from a nasty dose of flu and he does a pratfall for his audience (the one legged golfer routine) despite how achey and weary he must have been feeling.
I say with most humble and no contradiction that Ian Hendry was one of the great British charcter actors, I love his work specialy the movie The Theatre Of Blood with Vincent Price sadly most of the cast of that film are no longer around, those episodes of The Avengers are good too. Paul Bacchus
Interesting that both Hendry and Ronald Fraser both died of gastric hemorrhages, due to alcoholic liver cirrhosis. I wonder if the acting profession _engenders_ heavy drinking? I always thought that he was just about the best actor I've ever seen. Watch "Live now, Pay layer". It's his finest work.
Completely agree. Fortunately much of his work is still available. Some of his work in the 60's is lost, presumed wiped including The Informer (1966) series, which now seems criminal. However, we are on the look out for any available copies of work and have already uncovered some lost gems, such as The Crossfire which is now on this channel. Thanks for commenting!
A great Actor indeed, underrated in so many ways......Watch 'The adventures of Don Quick' and his appearance in Doppleganger (aka Journey to the far side of the sun), genuine acting always. RIP Mr Hendry.
Thanks for uploading all this stuff featuring Ian Hendry. There seems to be universal admiration of and respect for his acting skills, and remorse for his early death. I was at school with his nephew, who was a great guy.
Even allowing for the flu, he does look uncomfortable for much of this (though he seems to relax more toward the end), and I suspect he had to use his acting skills to get through it. He was clearly a complex and sensitive person, so perhaps he was shy about appearing as himself with no time to acclimatise himself to the idea. I was touched by how moved he was when he heard the voice of Coco the Clown's widow Valentina - his eyes and that momentary twitch of his bottom lip. I wanted to give him a hug at that point.
Yes, a great actor, sadly missed. Also check out our website dedicated to his life and work. Link in description box above. Thanks Mark for taking time to comment......
Ian Hendry was such a special actor. He had such possession . That scene with 'Steed' from the first series of The Avengers when he's leading all the way. Then 'The Hill'. Easily one of the best ever British casts put before a camera by Sidney Lumet. Both he and Ian Bannen could generate an electricity before the cameras that literally crackled. But we have to mention his alcoholicism that had such a dreadful grip on him. Ronnie Fraser had it as bad really, but managed to pull back from the brink. Still, his reputation will endure.
Thanks for leaving such a great tribute to Ian and glad to hear that you appreciate his work. He met Ronnie back in the 50s, when they were both starting out in theatre at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch. Their lives were very much intertwined from that day forth. The drink was a problem, no doubt, as it was for many great actors in that era. The Hill is a classic film and Harry Andrews was superb too, as was all the cast. A real gem.
Firstly, thanks for the comment. As mentioned at the beginning of the video, Ian was also quite ill on that day, with Red Flu. There were some question marks as to whether the show would go ahead. But there is also some truth in what you say....I think he liked to be in control of situations and TIYL is one of those occasions when you certainly are not!
Poor chap, he looked nervous, even furtive the whole way through, as if expecting some great 'skeleton' was about to be thrust upon him. It wasn't, and he looked much more relaxed in the closing scene. In his acting his roles, Ian always conveyed a slightly reticent demeanour, and judging by the show, perhaps this was his natural visage! Nevertheless, a rare talent!
I remember the excellent short story he did in a horror compendium film with Peter Cushing (the name of it escapes me for the moment). He played a man disfigured in a car accident after leaving his wife for another woman... it was really quite disturbing! Good to see Neil McCarthy,Ian Bannen, Maurice Denham and Tommy as well! What a treat to see all these artists of the seventies who gave us all such great entertainment..
Great actor incredibly intelligent performances but at times during this he definitely seemed stressed at one point you can see his breathing very fast and says 'oh god' I hope he was OK.
I read that the series was called The Avengers because Ian's character wanted to avenge his wife's murder. However, I must say that this chap did not age well considering that only 17n years had passed since being on the Avengers, and in the series he looked like a dashing chap. Patrick McNeil still looked like Steed in his outfit only slightly heavier.
I feel the only reason he drank so much was because he was such a very sensitive man forced to live in a world full of disappointments. Probably the only people who never let him down were Coco and his lovely wife.
..... He was like Billie Whitelaw; that 'undercurrent' of something Much Bigger going on - like sitting on the Edge of a Volcano Phil 👍 Liverpool UK 🇬🇧
I wish they wouldn't make the 4/3 TV screen into a 16/9 by zooming into the screen. Not only do you lose the sides but the top of the screen too. I wish this show was in the old 4/3. Thanks anyway.
Hairy Neck Great. Thanks for the suggestion - this one was made before I realised iMovie automatically changes 4:3 format to 16:9 without any notification. There is a manual override but it's not obvious until you search online for a solution. There are probably a few other videos that will also benefit from a reformat - in due course!
Great actor, but he must have seriously drunk and smoked a lot, to change in appearance as he did. The B & W photo on here granted is 1962, (and ive seen it before) but it dosnt look like the same man. He was very handsome in the photo i would say, but even in the video he's only 47. Looks nearer to 60.
Who gives a fuck what you think of his looks he had one life to live and he lived it his way. This was before actors and people in the public eye were pressured into looking a certain way to appease a knee jerk public. Bobby Charlton also looked like a man in his 50's by today's standards when he was playing so I doubt being a big drinker played a part in Ian's natural progression of age. This was from a time when actors did not have to apologise for being human and their private life was respected more then it is today. He was a towering talent and did not chose easy or safe roles.
Yes, it's from the original broadcast tape. Not sure when this transfer was made as it came via a friend - in a digital file format. I know Thames made a few VHS videotape copies for private use back in the 70s.
+Peter M Ian had red flu and a high temperature on the day and the producers thought they may have to cancel the show. He made it though - he actually thought he was going for an interview with a Sunday paper before being intercepted - and the show went ahead as planned.
I used to work with a bloke who swore blind that he gave Hendry a wallop. He reckoned that he had encountered him in a pub, Hendry was making a nuisance of himself, and got nasty when asked to stop making a scene, and then wallop.
