View source for Leslie Henson

{{Short description|English actor, producer and comedian (1891–1957)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
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[[File:Leslie Henson.jpg|thumb|Henson, c. 1920]]
'''Leslie Lincoln Henson''' (3 August 1891 – 2 December 1957) was an English comedian, actor, singer, producer for films and theatre, and [[film director]]. He initially worked in [[silent films]] and [[Edwardian musical comedy]] and became a popular [[music hall]] comedian who enjoyed a long stage career. He was famous for his bulging eyes, malleable face and raspy voice and helped to form the [[Entertainments National Service Association]] (ENSA) during the [[World War II|Second World War]].

Born in [[Notting Hill]], London, Henson became interested in the theatre from an early age, writing and producing theatrical pieces while at school. He studied with the [[Cairns James]] School of Musical and Dramatic Art as a child, making his professional stage début at the age of 19. His first [[West End theatre|West End]] role was in ''Nicely, Thanks!'' (1912) and he later starred in several hit West End [[Edwardian musical comedies]], including ''[[To-Night's the Night (musical)|To-Night's the Night]]'' (1915) and ''[[Yes, Uncle!]]'' (1917). After briefly serving with the [[Royal Flying Corps]], he was released from active service by the British government to help run a concert party called "The Gaieties", which provided entertainment for the troops during [[World War I]]. After the war, he returned to the West End, playing in ''[[Kissing Time]]'' (1919) and a series of musical comedies and farces throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

At the start of [[World War II]], together with [[Basil Dean]], he helped to form ENSA, with which he entertained British troops abroad. Henson's postwar stage success continued in [[revue]]s, musicals and plays, including a West End adaptation of ''[[The Diary of a Nobody]]'' in 1955. Henson's film career was intermittent, and he made 14 films from 1916 to 1956. The most notable of these was ''[[Tons of Money (1924 film)|Tons of Money]]'' in 1924, which introduced the popular [[Aldwych farces]] to British cinema audiences. In 1956, Henson's friend [[Gertrude Hullett|Bobby Hullett]] died in circumstances that struck him as suspicious. Henson anonymously notified the police that her doctor, [[John Bodkin Adams]], should be investigated. Adams was subsequently tried for a different murder but acquitted.

==Biography==
Leslie Henson was born in [[Notting Hill]], London, the eldest child and only son of Joseph Lincoln Henson, a tallow [[chandlery|chandler]], and his wife, Alice Mary (née Squire).<ref>''1911 Census Returns of England and Wales'', Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA), 1911.</ref> He was educated at the [[Emanuel School]] (Wandsworth), and at Cliftonville College (Margate). Interested in the theatre from an early age, Henson wrote and produced theatrical pieces while at school. He worked briefly in the family business but soon studied with the [[Cairns James]] School of Musical and Dramatic Art.<ref name=dnb>Shorter, Eric. [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/33826 ''Henson, Leslie Lincoln (1891–1957)''], ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, January 2011; accessed 20 June 2011.</ref>

===Early career===
[[File:Fine and dandy with Holloway and Henson.JPG|thumb|Henson and [[Stanley Holloway]] on stage in ''Fine and Dandy'']]
Henson began his professional stage career at age 19 in the provinces with The Tatlers' concert party, soon appearing in London in the [[pantomime]] ''Sinbad'' at the Dalston Theatre at Christmas 1910. After concert appearances, he toured in ''[[The Quaker Girl]]'' in 1912 in the role of Jeremiah. His first [[West End theatre|West End]] role was later that year in ''Nicely, Thanks!'' at the [[Royal Strand Theatre]].<ref name=dnb/><ref name=Glasgow>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19571203&id=ny41AAAAIBAJ&sjid=AqYLAAAAIBAJ&pg=4090,3857700 "Outstanding Stage Personality"], ''Glasgow Herald'', 3 December 1957, p. 3; accessed 8 June 2010.</ref> Actor [[Stanley Holloway]] dedicated a chapter in his 1967 autobiography to Henson, describing how Henson helped establish his career by signing him to perform in ''Nicely Thanks!''<ref>{{cite book|title=Wiv a little bit o' luck: The life story of Stanley Holloway|last=Holloway|first=Stanley|author2=Richards, Dick|year=1967|publisher=Frewin|location=London, UK|asin=B0000CNLM5|oclc=3647363}} Chapter 16: "The Lovable Jester", pp. 289–99</ref> He performed with The Scamps' concerts and starred in the comic roles in hit West End [[Edwardian musical comedies]] such as ''[[To-Night's the Night (musical)|To-Night's the Night]]'' (1914 on Broadway and 1915 at the [[Gaiety Theatre, London]]), ''[[Theodore & Co]]'' (1916),<ref>[http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_t/theodore.htm ''Theodore & Co'']. Guide to Musical Theatre, accessed 8 June 2010</ref> and ''[[Yes, Uncle!]]'' (1917). His malleable features, bulging eyes and raspy voice made him an audience favourite, especially in his own comic sketches.<ref name=dnb/> He also appeared in films occasionally, beginning with ''Wanted: A Widow'' (1916).<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378225 Profile], IMDb.com; accessed 17 September 2014.</ref>

Henson signed up with the [[Royal Flying Corps]] but was removed from active service in 1918 to run a concert party group called "The Gaieties" in the 5th Army, to give shows for the troops.<ref>Collins, Larry J. [http://www.huntscycles.co.uk/C%20L%203%20Leslie%20Henson.htm "Leslie Henson in Lille"]. The Charles Laughton Pages, excerpt from Collins, Larry J. ''Theatre at War 1914–18''. Jade Publishing Ltd., Oldham, Lancashire (2004); accessed 8 June 2010</ref> That autumn, he was stationed in [[Lille]], which had been recently evacuated by the Germans, and was able to stage [[revue]]s and a pantomime at the abandoned Opera House.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Collins|first1=L. J.|title=Theatre at War, 1914-18|date=1997|publisher=Springer|pages=113–115}}</ref>

He returned to the West End in ''[[Kissing Time]]'' (1919), ''[[Sally (musical)|Sally]]'' (1921) and a string of musicals at the [[Gillian Lynne Theatre|Winter Garden Theatre]], including ''[[A Night Out (musical)|A Night Out]]'' (1920), ''[[The Cabaret Girl]]'' (1922) and ''[[The Beauty Prize]]'' (1923).<ref name=dnb/><ref>[http://library.kent.ac.uk/library/special/icons/playbills/PLAYDAT3.htm Listing of shows in the 1920s noting the shows in which Leslie appeared] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311044417/http://library.kent.ac.uk/library/special/icons/playbills/PLAYDAT3.htm |date=11 March 2007 }}</ref> In ''[[Tons of Money (play)|Tons of Money]]'' (1922), he starred as Aubrey Allington, which led to the long-running series of [[Aldwych Farces]], which he co-produced with [[Tom Walls]].<ref>McCallum, David. [http://www.edinburghtheatrearts.com/TonsOfMoney2.html "Comedy Connections –Tons Of Money"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425161809/http://www.edinburghtheatrearts.com/TonsOfMoney2.html |date=25 April 2012 }}, EdinburghTheatreArts.com; accessed 13 November 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.britishpictures.com/stars/Walls.htm Tom Walls (1883-1949) profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916142827/http://www.britishpictures.com/stars/Walls.htm |date=16 September 2012 }}, BritishPictures.com; accessed 2 June 2012.</ref> In 1924, he played Aubrey Allington again when he and Walls made his most notable film, ''[[Tons of Money (1924 film)|Tons of Money]]'', which introduced the Aldwych farces to British cinema audiences for the first time.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090205175836/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/54789 ''Tons of Money''], Walls and Henson films, British Film Institute website; accessed 13 November 2011</ref>

In 1926, he starred in ''[[Kid Boots]]'' in London<ref name=dnb/> and then toured the English provinces in ''Betty Lee'' in 1926.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1209325 "Josie Melville Returning"], ''Canberra Times'', 9 December 1926, p. 12; accessed 5 October 2010.</ref> In 1927, he appeared in a musical, ''Lady Luck'' at the [[Carlton Theatre]], London, followed by ''Funny Face'', 1928.<ref name="Suskin">Suskin, Steven. ''Show Tunes: the songs, shows and careers of Broadway's major composers'', Oxford University Press {{ISBN|0-19-531407-7}}</ref> In 1930, Henson and his business partner Firth Shephard co-leased the [[Novello Theatre]] and presented a series of farces, ''It's a Boy!'' (1930, also starring Henson), ''It's a Girl!'' (1930), ''Follow Through'', ''Nice Goings On!'' (1933), ''Lucky Break'' and ''Aren't Men Beasts!'' (1936).<ref name="Suskin"/>

In 1935, he and Shephard took over the [[Gaiety Theatre, London]] and produced four successful shows, ''Seeing Stars'' (1936), ''Swing Along'' (1937), ''Going Greek'' (1937) and ''Running Riot'' (1938).<ref name="Wilton">[http://www.phyllis.demon.co.uk/theatricalia/09mus/mus30.htm "Rob Wilton Theatricalia"]. Listing of Henson shows in the 1930s. Accessed 8 June 2010</ref> During the run of the last of these, the aged theatre was condemned and was required to be closed.<ref>[http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/resources/theatres/show/3260-gaiety-theatre-ii-london The Gaiety Theatre], ''The Theatres Trust'', accessed 15 September 2011</ref> Henson also returned to film work in the 1930s, appearing in ''[[A Warm Corner]]'' (1930), ''[[The Sport of Kings (1931 film)|The Sport of Kings]]'' (1931), ''It's a Boy'' (1933), ''[[The Girl from Maxim's]]'' (1933) and ''[[Oh, Daddy!]]'' (1935). His later films were ''[[The Demi-Paradise]]'' (1943) and ''[[Home and Away (film)|Home and Away]]'' (1956). In 1938, Leslie Henson was appointed president of the Royal Theatrical Fund.<ref name=dnb/>

===Later career===
At the outbreak of [[World War II]], he returned to the UK from a tour of South Africa and, together with [[Basil Dean]], formed the [[Entertainments National Service Association]] (ENSA), a government-sponsored organisation with which he entertained British troops in Europe, the Near East and the Far East. He was in London in 1940, however, for the revue ''Up and Doing''<ref>[http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_u/updoing.htm ''Up and Doing''], guidetomusicaltheatre.com; accessed 8 June 2010</ref> and in 1942 for ''Fine and Dandy'' (at which the [[George VI of the United Kingdom|King]] and [[Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon|Queen]] and Princesses [[Elizabeth II|Elizabeth]] and [[Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon|Margaret]] were surprise guests),<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11989640 "Princesses' First Night at Theatre"], trove.nla.gov.au (''Melbourne Argus'', 8 August 1942, p. 3); accessed 5 October 2010</ref> both at the [[Saville Theatre]]. In 1945, he starred in [http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_g/gaieties.htm ''The Gaieties''] at the Winter Garden Theatre, and in a revival of ''[[1066 and All That]]'' at the [[Palace Theatre, London]]. In 1946, he toured the provinces in ''The Sport of Kings''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071030214933/http://www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/media/9822_Stars%20and%20Shows%20of%20the%201940s.pdf The Grand Theatre, Blackpool, "Stars of the 1940s"]. See 21 October 1946; accessed 8 June 2010.</ref>

In 1948 he starred in ''[[Bob's Your Uncle (play)|Bob's Your Uncle]]''.<ref>[http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/biographies/gay_noel.htm Noel Gay biodata], guidetomusicaltheatre.com; accessed 8 June 2010.</ref> Later performances included non-comedic roles, though with less success, such as Elwood P. Dowd in ''[[Harvey (play)|Harvey]]'' (1950), in which he toured, and as [[Samuel Pepys]] in a musical composed by [[Vivian Ellis]] ''And So to Bed'' by [[J. B. Fagan]] (1951). He also had a hit in the title role of the musical farce ''Bob's Your Uncle'' (1948) by [[Austin Melford]] and later starred in ''Relations Are Best Apart'' at the [[Theatre Royal, Bath]] (1953), as Mr Pooter in a stage adaptation of ''[[The Diary of a Nobody]]'' ([[Duchess Theatre]], 1955), and as Old Eccles in a musical version of [[T. W. Robertson|Tom Robertson]]'s ''[[Caste (play)|Caste]]'' (1955).<ref name=dnb/> Henson acted up until the time of his death.<ref name=Glasgow/>

===Family and death===
Henson was married three times, in each case to an actress:
* Marjorie Kate Farewell "Madge" Saunders, daughter of Edward Henry Master Saunders and Ellen Lucie Margaret White (died 1967), whom he married at St. George's Church, Hanover Square, [[Marylebone]], London in 1919<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140309234627/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/602008 The British Film Institute], ''Gaiety wedding at St.George's''; accessed November 2011; and [https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KC8L-192 "Marjorie Kate Farewell Saunders"], England, Middlesex, Westminster, Parish Registers, 1538–1912, FamilySearch, 24 December 2014, from "Parish registers 1539–1945, findmypast.com, citing St George, Hanover Square, Middlesex, England, City of Westminster Archives Centre, London; FHL microfilm, accessed December 31, 2016</ref> 
* [[Gladys Henson|Gladys Gunn]], in 1926<ref>"Mr. Leslie Henson Married", ''Cork Examiner'', 9 July 1926, p. 12</ref> 
* Harriet "Billie" Dell, in 1944<ref name=dnb/><ref name=Nicky>Henson, Nicky. [http://www.nickyhenson.me.uk/about_nicky_henson.html "Nicky Henson - Actor"], Nicky Henson website, accessed 23 April 2009</ref>

He had two sons with Harriet – [[Joe Henson|Joe]], a farmer (born 1932), and [[Nicky Henson|Nicky]], an actor (born 1945).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/nov/01/joe-henson|title=Joe Henson obituary|date=1 November 2015|author=Stephen Moss|website=The Guardian|access-date=23 May 2023}}</ref> Joe founded Cotswold Farm Park; his son, [[Adam Henson]], runs the park and is a TV presenter.<ref>[http://www.horseandcountry.tv/celebrity/adam-henson Adam Henson profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528091306/http://www.horseandcountry.tv/celebrity/adam-henson |date=28 May 2010 }}, horseandcountry.tv; accessed 16 October 2010</ref><ref>Henson, Adam. [https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/people/22601205.joe-henson-mbe-year-remember "Joe Henson MBE: A year to remember"], ''Cotswold Life'', 17 November 2011</ref> Nicky's sons with ex-wife [[Una Stubbs]] are composers [[Christian Henson|Christian]] and Joseph, and another son with wife [[Marguerite Porter]] is [[Keaton Henson|Keaton]], a musician and artist.<ref name=Nicky/>

Henson died at his home in [[Harrow Weald]], [[Middlesex]], in 1957, aged 66.<ref name=Glasgow/><ref>London Metropolitan Archives, All Saints, Harrow, Register of burials, DRO/108, Item 024;&nbsp;Call Number:&nbsp;dro/108/024.</ref> His body was cremated at [[Golders Green Crematorium]].<ref>[http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Burials.htm "Music Hall and Variety Artistes Burial Places"], ArthurLloyd.co.uk, accessed 23 May 2023</ref>

==Bobby Hullett's death==
On 23 July 1956, while in [[Dublin]] performing, Henson heard that his close friend [[Gertrude Hullett|Bobby Hullett]] had died in [[Eastbourne]]. Henson was suspicious because Hullett's husband had died just four months earlier and that Dr [[John Bodkin Adams]] had treated both of them. He telephoned the Eastbourne police anonymously to warn them of his fears, instigating an investigation into the death of Hullett. After Adams was acquitted in 1957 of the murder of another patient, [[Edith Alice Morrell]], he was never tried for Hullett's murder. The Home Office pathologist at the time, Dr [[Francis Camps]], noted 163 suspicious deaths among Adams's patients between 1946 and 1956.<ref>Cullen, Pamela V. ''A Stranger in Blood: The Case Files on Dr John Bodkin Adams'', London, Elliott & Thompson, 2006; {{ISBN|1-904027-19-9}}</ref>

==Recordings==
*[https://archive.org/details/LeslieHensonMoyaMannering ''Meet Me 'Round the Corner''], with Moya Mannering 1912 (streaming audio/HTTP download)
*''Sally: original 1921 London cast recordings'' Monmouth-Evergreen MES-7053 (LP)
*''Primrose: original 1924 London cast recordings'' World Records SH-214 (LP), Pearl 113 (CD)
*''Cole Porter in London: original cast recordings from London productions of Nymph Errant”. “Anything Goes”, “Wake Up and Dream”, “Kiss Me Kate” etc.'' World Records SHB-26 (2xLP)
*[http://us.dada.net/music/stanleyholloway/careless-talk-(with-leslie-henson)_2759343m.html ''Careless Talk'']. Monologue by Stanley Holloway with Leslie Henson (MP3 download)
*''A Few Drinks'' with Sydney Howard, Columbia (Australia) DOX9

==Filmography==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*''Wanted: A Widow'' (1916, Short)
*''[[The Real Thing at Last]]'' (1916, Short) .... [[Charlie Chaplin]]
*''The Lifeguardsman'' (1916) .... Lt Spiff
*''Broken Bottles'' (1920, Short, also writer and director) .... Bottling Barrows
*''[[Alf's Button (1920 film)|Alf's Button]]'' (1920) .... Alf Higgins
*''[[Tons of Money (1924 film)|Tons of Money]]'' (1926, also producer) .... Aubrey Allington<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090205175836/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/54789 ''Tons of Money''], British Film Institute, accessed 5 June 2012</ref>
*''On with the Dance'' (1927, Short)

{{col-break}}
*''[[A Warm Corner]]'' (1930) .... Mr Corner
*''[[The Sport of Kings (1931 film)|The Sport of Kings]]'' (1931) .... Amos Purdie
*''[[It's a Boy (film)|It's a Boy]]'' (1933) .... James Skippett
*''[[The Girl from Maxim's]]'' (1933) .... Dr Petypon
*''[[Oh, Daddy!]]'' (1935) .... Lord Pye
*''[[The Demi-Paradise]]'' (1943) .... Himself
*''[[Home and Away (film)|Home and Away]]'' (1956) .... Uncle Tom
*''The Vise'' (1958, TV Series) .... Police Sergeant (final appearance)
{{col-end}}
:''Notes<nowiki>:</nowiki> The source for the television and film appearances is the [[British Film Institute]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090122065947/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/15353?view=credit "Henson, Leslie"], British Film Institute; accessed 5 June 2012.</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
*Henson, Leslie. ''My Laugh Story''. London: Hodder and Staunton, 1926
*Henson, Leslie. ''Yours Faithfully''. London: Long, 1948.

==External links==
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Leslie Henson |sopt=t}}
* [http://www.bris.ac.uk/theatrecollection/search/people_sub_plays?forename=Leslie&surname=HENSON&job=Actor&pid=4490&image_view=Yes&x=19&y=17 Performances listed in Theatre Archive University of Bristol]
*[http://www.cyranos.ch/sphens-e.htm Photo and information about Henson]
*[http://www.arts-autographs.co.uk/pageID_8097906.html Photos of Henson]
* {{IMDb name |id=nm0378225 |name=Leslie Henson}}
* [http://www.britishpathe.com/results.php?search=leslie+henson Clips of Henson]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Henson, Leslie}}
[[Category:1891 births]]
[[Category:1957 deaths]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male silent film actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:English male musical theatre actors]]
[[Category:Entertainments National Service Association personnel]]
[[Category:People educated at Emanuel School]]
[[Category:Actors from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century English singers]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century British male singers]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]
[[Category:Comedians from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea]]
[[Category:Singers from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea]]
[[Category:People from Notting Hill]]