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Leslie Lincoln HensonEnglish actor, comedian, director and producer.
Date of Birth: 03.08.1891
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Leslie Lincoln Henson
Leslie Lincoln Henson was an English actor, comedian, director, and producer. He appeared in silent films and performed in Edwardian musical comedies, before becoming a popular music hall artist with a long career on stage. He was known for his expressive facial expressions, distinctive voice, and bulging eyes.
Early Life and Career
Leslie Henson was born on August 3, 1891, in London, England. He attended Emanuel School, a prestigious institution founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1594 and known for its association with Lady Anne Fiennes Dacre. Henson's professional career in provincial theater began when he was 19 years old. He later appeared in the pantomime "Sinbad" at the Dalston Theatre in London. In 1912, he toured as Jeremiah in the play "The Quaker Girl" and landed his first West End role in the same year in the production "Nicely, Thanks!" at the Royal Strand Theatre. Actor Stanley Holloway dedicated a chapter to Henson in his autobiography, crediting him for discovering his talent and jumpstarting his career by giving him a role in "Nicely, Thanks!". Henson went on to play comedic roles in several successful Edwardian musical comedies, including "To-Night's the Night" (1914), "Theodore & Co" (1916), and "Yes, Uncle!" (1917).
Later Career and Personal Life
Henson also appeared in several films starting from 1916 and eventually concluded his career with television series roles. During World War I, he joined the Royal Air Force but was assigned as the leader of the concert party "The Gaieties" within the 5th Army, which provided entertainment for soldiers in 1918. Afterward, he returned to West End musicals and comedies, including "Kissing Time" (1919), "Sally" (1921), and "Tons of Money" (1922), which were well-known farces at the Aldwych Theatre and a series of comedies at the Winter Garden Theatre. In 1926, Henson toured throughout England with the play "Betty Lee" and the following year appeared in the musical "Lady Luck" at the Carlton Theatre in London.
In 1930, Henson and his business partner Firth Shephard jointly leased the Novello Theatre and presented a series of farces, in which Henson and a young John Mills played the lead roles. In the early 1930s, Henson briefly returned to the film industry and acted in sound films. During the start of World War II, he returned to the UK from a tour in South Africa and co-founded the organization "Entertainments National Service Association" with Basil Dean to entertain British troops in the Far East. Henson continued to work as an actor throughout the war, and even the royal family attended his performance in "Fine and Dandy" in 1942. His career extended nearly until the end of his life.
Henson was married three times, to Madge Saunders, Gladys Gunn, and Billie Dell. His sons from his third marriage, Nicky Henson, became an actor, and Joseph Henson pursued a career as a farmer.
Leslie Henson passed away on December 2, 1957, at his home in Harrow Weald, Middlesex, at the age of 66. In July 1956, while performing in Dublin, Henson learned about the death of his close friend Gertrude Hullett in Eastbourne. Suspecting foul play due to rumors surrounding their doctor, John Bodkin Adams, Henson anonymously contacted the Eastbourne police, leading to an investigation and subsequent trial for murder. Dr. Adams was acquitted by a jury, but suspicions remain that he may have been responsible for the deaths of around 160 of his patients.
