{{Short description|English actor (1918–1990)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Use British English|date=August 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Basil Henson | image = Basil_Henson.jpg | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1918|07|31}} | birth_place = London, England | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1990|12|19|1918|07|31}} | death_place = Sevenoaks, Kent, England | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1946–1990 | alma_mater = Royal Military Academy Sandhurst | spouse = {{ubl|First wife (died 1941)|Eleanor Drew (divorced)|Patricia Raine}} | children = 3 }} '''Basil Henson''' (31 July 1918 – 19 December 1990) was an English actor.<ref name=bfi>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/117314|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115074408/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/117314|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 January 2009|title=Basil Henson|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/basil-henson-84153|title=Basil Henson – Broadway Cast & Staff - IBDB|publisher = The Broadway League|website=www.ibdb.com}}</ref> He appeared on film, television, and the stage, where he was particularly known for his work at the National Theatre.<ref name = Guardian>{{cite news|url = https://newspapers.com/image/260309091/|title = Obituary: Basil Henson - NT's universal uncle|last1 = Hare|first1 = David|authorlink1 = David Hare (playwright)|last2 = Billington|first2 = Michael|authorlink2 = Michael Billington (critic)|date = 22 December 1990|page = 17|newspaper = The Guardian|via = Newspapers.com|url-access = subscription|accessdate = 27 November 2023}}</ref>

==Early life== Henson was born in London in 1918. He was educated at Malvern College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and served in the British Indian Army during World War II, where he was a major with the Garhwal Rifles.<ref name = Times>{{cite news|title = Basil Henson|newspaper = The Times|date = 24 December 1990|page = 10}}</ref>

==Career== Henson began his acting career in 1946 after returning to Britain, in a production of ''The Dancing Years'' at the London Casino.<ref name = Times/> This began a long list of appearances on stage and television.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/person/tw6/basil-henson|title=Basil Henson - Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com}}</ref> His stage performances included a number of parts in Shakespeare productions, including ''The Merchant of Venice'' opposite Dustin Hoffman in London's West End and on Broadway.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/play/6/the-merchant-of-venice/production/cch|title=Production of The Merchant of Venice &#124; Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/20/theater/review-theater-merchant-restored-as-a-comedy.html|title=Review/Theater; 'Merchant' Restored as a Comedy|date=20 December 1989|website=The New York Times}}</ref> He also played in the original West End production of Terence Rattigan's ''Separate Tables'' at the St. James' Theatre in 1954.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/play/44p/separate-tables/production/pe9|title=Production of Separate Tables - Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com}}</ref> He appeared frequently at the <!-- Not 'Royal' until 1988; Amadeus debuted at the NT in 1979. -->National Theatre, including a part in the world premiere of ''Amadeus'' by Peter Shaffer. He had the very rare honour, along with his actor contemporaries Denis Quilley and Michael Bryant, of having a dressing room there named after him.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BA3DAgAAQBAJ&q=Basil+Henson+amadeus+national+theatre&pg=PP404|title=The National Theatre Story|first=Daniel|last=Rosenthal|date=7 November 2013|publisher=Oberon Books|isbn=9781849439435|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/play/55g/amadeus/production/p0d|title=Production of Amadeus - Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com}}</ref> His last appearance at the National Theatre was in a performance of ''Piano'' the week before his death.<ref name = Guardian/>

He also appeared in many British films during his career. Among them ''Dr. Crippen'' (1962), the ''Edgar Wallace Mysteries'' series of second features, ''Darling'' (1965), ''The Frozen Dead'' (1966), ''Arthur? Arthur!'' (1969), ''The Walking Stick'' (1970), ''Cromwell'' (1970), ''The Final Programme'' (1973), and ''Galileo'' (1975).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/basil-henson-p31858|title=Basil Henson - Movies and Filmography - AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}</ref><ref name=bfi/>

Henson's television appearances included ''Emergency Ward 10'', ''The Power Game'', ''Sexton Blake'', ''Casting the Runes'', ''The Champions'', ''Kate'', ''Follyfoot'', ''War and Peace'', ''Fall of Eagles'', the Judge, in ''Crown Court'', and as Sir Horatio Manners in ''When the Boat Comes In''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/when-the-boat-comes-in-tv-series-v274152/cast-crew|title=When the Boat Comes In [TV Series] (1976) - Gilchrist Calder - Cast and Crew - AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1970s/kate/ |title=KATE |website=nostalgiacentral.com}}</ref> He also appeared as Dr. Abbott in the ''Fawlty Towers'' episode "The Psychiatrist" 1979.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=7855|title=Basil Henson|website=www.aveleyman.com}}</ref>

==Personal life== Henson was married three times; he was married to his first wife for eighteen months, until her death in 1941. He was then married to actress Eleanor Drew, with whom he had two sons before their marriage ended in divorce. His third marriage was to Patricia Raine, with whom he had a daughter.<ref name = Times/>

Henson died at his home in Sevenoaks, Kent, on 19 December 1990, at the age of 72.<ref name = Guardian/><ref name = Times/>

==Partial Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- |1962|| ''Dr. Crippen'' || Mr. Arditti || |- |1963|| ''The Double'' || Derreck Alwyn || ''Edgar Wallace Mysteries'' |- |1965|| ''Change Partners'' || Cedric Gallen || ''Edgar Wallace Mysteries'' |- |1965|| ''Darling'' || Alec Prosser-Jones || |- |1966|| ''The Frozen Dead'' || Dr. Tirpitz || |- |1969|| ''Arthur? Arthur!'' || Coverdale || |- |1970|| ''The Walking Stick'' || Insp. Malcolm || |- |1970|| ''Cromwell'' || Hacker || |- |1970|| ''The Man Who Haunted Himself'' || Casino Manager || Uncredited |- |1971|| ''Quest for Love'' || Doctor || Uncredited |- |1973|| ''The Final Programme'' || Dr. Lucas || |- |1975|| ''Galileo'' || Infuriated Monk || |}

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|0378188|Basil Henson}} *{{IBDB name|84153}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Henson, Basil}} Category:1918 births Category:1990 deaths Category:20th-century English male actors Category:British Indian Army officers Category:English male film actors Category:English male stage actors Category:English male television actors Category:Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II Category:Male actors from London Category:People from Sevenoaks Category:Male actors from Kent Category:Actors from Sevenoaks District