Dell Henderson

Dell Henderson

1877-07-04 – 1956-12-02 (age 79) St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
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Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

George Delbert "Dell" Henderson (July 5, 1877 – December 2, 1956) was a Canadian-American actor, director, and writer. He began his long and prolific film career in the early days of silent film.

Born in the Southwestern Ontario city of St. Thomas, Dell Henderson started his acting career on the stage, but appeared in his first movie Monday Morning in a Coney Island Police Court already in 1908. Henderson was a frequent associate of film pioneer D.W. Griffith since 1909 and appeared in numerous of his early shorts in Hollywood. He also acted on a less prolific basis in the movies of producer Mack Sennett and his Keystone Studios. In addition to acting, Henderson also directed nearly 200 silent films between 1911 and 1928. Most of those films are forgotten or lost, but he also directed movies with silent stars like Harry Carey and Roscoe Arbuckle. Henderson also worked as a writer on numerous screenplays.

After retiring from directing in 1927, Henderson turned to acting full-time and played important supporting roles in King Vidor's The Crowd (1928) and as General Marmaduke Pepper in Show People (1928). The advent of sound film damaged his acting career, and he often had to play smaller roles. In the 1930s, the comedic character actor appeared on several occasions as a comic foil for such comedians as The Three Stooges, W. C. Fields and Laurel and Hardy. He often played somewhat pompous figures like judges, businessmen, detectives or mayors. Modern audiences will remember Henderson as annoyed hospital president Dr. Graves in The Three Stooges film Men in Black and the put-upon chaperone in the Little Rascals film Choo-Choo!. He also appeared as a Night Court Judge in Laurel and Hardy's Our Relations (1936) and as a friendly Car salesman in Leo McCarey's drama Make Way for Tomorrow (1937). Henderson ended his film career after numerous small roles in 1950.

Henderson died of a heart attack in Hollywood at the age of 79. He was married with actress Florence Lee until his death, they made several silent films together.

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Known For

Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
The Awful Truth
The Awful Truth

1937

as Vance's Butler (uncredited)

Undercurrent
Undercurrent

1946

as Party Guest (uncredited)

Make Way for Tomorrow
Make Way for Tomorrow

1937

as Ed Weldon - Auto Salesman (uncredited)

Love Affair
Love Affair

1939

as Cafe Manager (uncredited)

The Major and the Minor
The Major and the Minor

1942

as Doorman (uncredited)

The Crowd
The Crowd

1928

as Dick

Annie Get Your Gun
Annie Get Your Gun

1950

as Hotel Guest in Hammock (uncredited)

Stranger on the Third Floor
Stranger on the Third Floor

1940

as Detective (uncredited)

The Champ
The Champ

1931

as The Doctor (uncredited)

Young People
Young People

1940

as Eddie's Father (uncredited)

Du Barry Was a Lady
Du Barry Was a Lady

1943

as Flunky (uncredited)

Once Upon a Honeymoon
Once Upon a Honeymoon

1942

as American AttachΓ© (uncredited)

Ruggles of Red Gap
Fifth Avenue Girl
Fifth Avenue Girl

1939

as Headwaiter (uncredited)

Show People
Show People

1928

as Colonel Pepper

Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Abe Lincoln in Illinois

1940

as Minor Role (uncredited)

Slightly Dangerous
Slightly Dangerous

1943

as Doorman (uncredited)

Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo

1937

as Customer

The Missing Juror
The Missing Juror

1944

as Train Conductor (uncredited)