Paul Henry (actor)

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For other people named Paul Henry, see Paul Henry (disambiguation).
Paul Henry
Born1947 (age 73–74)
Aston, Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
EducationBirmingham School of Speech and Drama, Birmingham Rep
OccupationActor

Paul Henry (born 1947) is an English actor, best known for his role as Benny Hawkins in the soap opera Crossroads.

Career[]

Born in Aston, Birmingham,[1] Henry attended the city's Alderlea Boys School in Shard End with Jeff Lynne. Henry trained at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama, which was followed by eight years at the Birmingham Rep.[1] Between 1975 and 1988, he played his best-known role of Benny Hawkins, a handyman in Crossroads. British Forces in the Falklands Island called the local islanders Bennys, after Henry's character, as many of them wore Benny-style woolly hats. When the Islanders found out who Benny was they complained to the commanding officer, who issued a general order forbidding the men from using the expression. A couple of weeks later an officer overheard his men referring to the Islanders as "Stills". When he asked why, he was told "because they're still Benny's" .

In 1977, Henry recorded "Benny's Theme" with the Mayson Glen Orchestra, on Pye Records. It peaked at no. 39 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1978.[2] He was in character as Benny in the song, but spoke rather than sang.

Henry made a guest appearance on the Central Television game show Bullseye, presented by Jim Bowen, on 11 February, 1985. He scored 215 and raised £215 for charity.

His country-boy style gained him the part of Peter Stevens in The Archers for a time. Henry's post-Crossroads career included minor stage roles and the running of a nightclub in Whitchurch, Shropshire, but, in 1994, he returned to television briefly in a tribute to Crossroads, called 30 Years On. In a 2002 interview, Henry declared that the public still loved Benny and that during a shopping trip, he returned to his car to find someone had left a piece of paper on it saying "Benny, we miss you".[3]

Henry appeared in the episode "Stoppo Driver" in The Sweeney playing a gangster.

In 2004, he returned to acting on TV in an episode of the British medical soap opera Doctors. He then played regular character Frank, a baker's delivery man and later attempted rapist, in the final series of the ITV1 prison drama Bad Girls.

Returning to the stage, in 2009, he appeared in a touring version of Run for Your Wife and the following year portrayed Tony Hancock in the play .[1]

The slang phrase throwing a benny refers to someone having a temper tantrum and may originate from Henry's Crossroads character.[4]

Comic actor Ronnie Barker revealed in his later years that he had suggested Henry for casting as his cellmate Lennie Godber in the sitcom Porridge, but Richard Beckinsale was chosen instead.[5]

In October 2017, Henry appeared on Celebrity Pointless alongside Shaun Williamson. They won the jackpot.

Personal life[]

Henry and his wife Sheila had a son, Anthony, and a daughter, Justine, who died as a result of a traffic collision at the age of 19.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Paul Henry talks about Benny, Hancock and his own family tragedy". Sunday Mercury. 2010-06-20. Retrieved 2012-10-13.
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 251. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ Paul Henry interview Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine for the Crossroads Appreciation Society.
  4. ^ "h2g2 - UK slang "Throwing a Benny" -". Stripes.com. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  5. ^ "h2g2 - 'Porridge' - the TV Series - A713882". BBC. Retrieved 2012-10-13.

External links[]

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