CINEFILER

Dell Henderson

Born
July 4, 1877
Died
December 2, 1956
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.
Known For
Love Affair
(1939)
Cafe Manager (uncredited)
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
(1916)
Extra (uncredited)
The Awful Truth
(1937)
Vance's Butler (uncredited)
Make Way for Tomorrow
(1937)
Ed Weldon - Auto Salesman (uncredited)
The Crowd
(1928)
Dick
The Major and the Minor
(1942)
Doorman (uncredited)
Once Upon a Honeymoon
(1942)
American Attaché (uncredited)
It's a Gift
(1934)
Mr. Abernathy
The Champ
(1931)
The Doctor (uncredited)
Frontier Marshal
(1939)
Dave Hall
Ramona
(1910)
Man at Burial
Undercurrent
(1946)
Party Guest (uncredited)
Wells Fargo
(1937)
Customer
Ruggles of Red Gap
(1935)
Sam
Young People
(1940)
Eddie's Father
Show People
(1928)
Colonel Pepper
Full Filmography
Acting
Monday Morning in a Coney Island Police Court
(1908)
The Broken Locket
(1909)
A Child of the Ghetto
(1910)
The Proprietor
The Lesson
(1910)
Policeman
Over Silent Paths
(1910)
The Wanderer
The Two Brothers
(1910)
Manuel
The Unchanging Sea
(1910)
The Rescuer
The Song of the Wildwood Flute
(1910)
A Suitor
A Plain Song
(1910)
The Manager
Gold Is Not All
(1910)
Ramona
(1910)
Man at Burial
A Gold Necklace
(1910)
In Cafe
The Converts
(1910)
In Bar
The Gold Seekers
(1910)
The Claim Agent
Wilful Peggy
(1910)
The Modern Prodigal
(1910)
At Post Office
In the Border States
(1910)
Union Officer
The Usurer
(1910)
First Mover
That Chink at Golden Gulch
(1910)
Gentleman Jim Dandy
Muggsy Becomes a Hero
(1910)
A Tramp
His Trust
(1911)
Col. Frazier
The Last Drop of Water
(1911)
Undetermined Role
The Baron
(1911)
The Baron / A Waiter
The Primal Call
(1911)
The Creditor
The Making of a Man
(1911)
Leading Man
When a Man Loves
(1911)
Mr. Bach
The Long Road
(1911)
Wedding Guest
The Adventures of Billy
(1911)
Rich Man
The Lonedale Operator
(1911)
A Tramp
The Ghost
(1911)
A Crook
A Victim of Circumstance
(1911)
The Husband
His Trust Fulfilled
(1911)
Teaching Dad to Like Her
(1911)
Harry's Father
Tragedy of the Dress Suit
(1912)
Dick
The Brave Hunter
(1912)
The Brave Hunter's Rival
The Furs
(1912)
The Husband
The Sunbeam
(1912)
The Bachelor
A Voice from the Deep
(1912)
On Roller Coaster
The Speed Demon
(1912)
Racing Official
Won by a Fish
(1912)
The Woman's Father
The Mender of Nets
(1912)
The Rival's Brother
The Engagement Ring
(1912)
Redmond
The Fatal Chocolate
(1912)
The City Beau
Hot Stuff
(1912)
Cigar Drummer
The Massacre
(1912)
In Wagon Train
Help! Help!
(1912)
Office Worker
When the Fire-Bells Rang
(1912)
An Actor
For His Son
(1912)
Dopokoke Factory Employee (uncredited)
Helen's Marriage
(1912)
Friend
The Power of the Camera
(1913)
Second Convict
The Widow's Kids
(1913)
The Traveling Man
Papa's Baby
(1913)
Papa Binks
Those Bitter Sweets
(1915)
The Rival
For Better - But Worse
(1915)
The Police Chief's Daughter's Romeo
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
(1916)
Extra (uncredited)
The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary
(1916)
Aunt Mary's Sweetheart
The Clinging Vine
(1926)
B. Harvey Doolittle
Getting Gertie's Garter
(1927)
Barry Scott
Show People
(1928)
Colonel Pepper
The Patsy
(1928)
Pa Harrington
Riley the Cop
(1928)
Judge Coronelli
The Power of the Press
(1928)
Bill Johnson
The Crowd
(1928)
Dick
Is Everybody Happy?
(1928)
Wrong Again
(1929)
Painting owner
Hit the Deck
(1929)
Admiral
Off to Buffalo
(1929)
Charley's boss
The Sins of the Children
(1930)
Ted Baldwin
The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case
(1930)
Housekeeper (uncredited)
Bigger and Better
(1930)
Mr. Kornman
Looser Than Loose
(1930)
Mr. Henderson
All Teed Up
(1930)
Judge Quirt
Fast Work
(1930)
Old Faithful
Whispering Whoopee
(1930)
Mr. Henderson
Night of Goblins
(1930)
Housekeeper
Up a Tree
(1930)
Del - Publicity Promoter
Chiselers of Hollywood
(1930)
Big Money
(1930)
Getting a Raise
(1930)
Windy Riley Goes Hollywood
(1931)
The Champ
(1931)
The Doctor (uncredited)
Thundering Tenors
(1931)
Senator D.H. Henderson
Helping Grandma
(1931)
Henderson
Haunted at Midnight
(1931)
Housekeeper
Skip the Maloo!
(1931)
Mr. Benson
Newly Rich
(1931)
Director
In Walked Charley
(1932)
Delbert Henderson
Mr. Bride
(1932)
J. P. Henderson
Choo-Choo!
(1932)
Mr. Henderson
Rainbow Over Broadway
(1933)
Bowers
Too Much Harmony
(1933)
Small Town Theatre Manager
Goldie Gets Along
(1933)
Mr. Moon
On Your Guard
(1933)
Detective Calvin Carter - aka O'Hara
Lone Cowboy
(1933)
Mr. Burton (uncredited)
Stolen by Gypsies or Beer and Bicycles
(1933)
The Masque
It's a Gift
(1934)
Mr. Abernathy
Bottoms Up
(1934)
Lane Worthing
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
(1934)
House Manager
Men in Black
(1934)
Dr. Graves (uncredited)
You're Telling Me!
(1934)
Mayor (as Del Henderson)
Something Simple
(1934)
Tanhauser
Slightly Static
(1935)
Mr. Campbell (as Del Henderson)
The Daring Young Man
(1935)
Mayor
Hot Tip
(1935)
Sheriff
Thunder in the Night
(1935)
Ambassador - Party Guest
Diamond Jim
(1935)
Gambler
Little Big Shot
(1935)
Policeman
Steamboat Round the Bend
(1935)
Salesman
Ruggles of Red Gap
(1935)
Sam
3 Kids and a Queen
(1935)
Reporter
The Mystery Man
(1935)
Mr. Clark, Hotel Manager
Hitch Hike Lady
(1935)
Williams
The Texas Rangers
(1936)
Citizen (uncredited)
The Grand Bounce
(1937)
Harry Briggs (uncredited)
Wells Fargo
(1937)
Customer
We Who Are About to Die
(1937)
Blake's Associate (uncredited)
The Awful Truth
(1937)
Vance's Butler (uncredited)
Make Way for Tomorrow
(1937)
Ed Weldon - Auto Salesman (uncredited)
Artists & Models
(1937)
Lord (uncredited)
The Girl of the Golden West
(1938)
Stagecoach Passenger
Men with Wings
(1938)
Chairman
Rebellious Daughters
(1938)
Mr. Stanley - First Victim
Arsène Lupin Returns
(1938)
Plainclothes Detective (uncredited)
5th Ave Girl
(1939)
Headwaiter (uncredited)
Frontier Marshal
(1939)
Dave Hall
Love Affair
(1939)
Cafe Manager (uncredited)
The Chump Takes a Bump
(1939)
Elias J. Smart
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
(1940)
Minor Role (uncredited)
Stranger on the Third Floor
(1940)
Detective (uncredited)
Millionaires in Prison
(1940)
Dell, Deputy Taking Vander to Prison (uncredited)
Young People
(1940)
Eddie's Father
You Can't Fool Your Wife
(1940)
Ritz Amsterdam Manager
Little Orvie
(1940)
Mr. Brown
The Major and the Minor
(1942)
Doorman (uncredited)
Arizona Terrors
(1942)
President McKinley
Once Upon a Honeymoon
(1942)
American Attaché (uncredited)
Slightly Dangerous
(1943)
Doorman (uncredited)
Du Barry was a Lady
(1943)
Flunky
The Missing Juror
(1944)
Train Conductor (Uncredited)
The Great Morgan
(1945)
Film Character (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
(1945)
Benson (uncredited)
Main Street After Dark
(1945)
Plainclothesman (uncredited)
Undercurrent
(1946)
Party Guest (uncredited)
Once More, My Darling
(1949)
Hotel Clerk
Writing
Directing
The Fickle Spaniard
(1912)
Director
Getting Rid of Trouble
(1912)
Director
Mr. Grouch at the Seashore
(1912)
Director
Black and White
(1913)
Director
Father's Chicken Dinner
(1913)
Director
A Woman in the Ultimate
(1913)
Director
A Modest Hero
(1913)
Director
Those Little Flowers
(1913)
Director
What Is the Use of Repining?
(1913)
Director
For the Son of the House
(1913)
Director
Highbrow Love
(1913)
Director
The Power of the Camera
(1913)
Director
Red Hicks Defies the World
(1913)
Director
Pa Says
(1913)
Director
The Suffragette Minstrels
(1913)
Director
Almost a Wild Man
(1913)
Director
The Widow's Kids
(1913)
Director
Papa's Baby
(1913)
Director
The Lady in Black
(1913)
Director
'Curses!' They Remarked
(1914)
Director
The Plumber
(1914)
Director
Gussle, the Golfer
(1914)
Director
Bertha, the Buttonhole-Maker
(1914)
Director
Liberty Belles
(1914)
Director
Those Bitter Sweets
(1915)
Director
Ambrose's Nasty Temper
(1915)
Director
Merely A Married Man
(1915)
Director
Ambrose's Fury
(1915)
Director
For Better - But Worse
(1915)
Director
A Bear Affair
(1915)
Director
Wife and Auto Trouble
(1916)
Director
Because He Loved Her
(1916)
Director
A Coney Island Princess
(1916)
Director
A Girl Like That
(1917)
Director
Please Help Emily
(1917)
Director
The Beloved Blackmailer
(1918)
Director
Who Loved Him Best?
(1918)
Director
The Road to France
(1918)
Director
Love in a Hurry
(1919)
Director
The Dead Line
(1920)
Director
Dynamite Allen
(1921)
Director
Gambling Wives
(1924)
Director
One Law for the Woman
(1924)
Director
Battling Brewster
(1924)
Director
Accused
(1925)
Director
The Bad Lands
(1925)
Director
The Rambling Ranger
(1927)
Director
Data provided by TMDB