Gordon Henley obit

Star Wars actor once married to Felicity Kendal died 'after choking on fish pie'

Drewe Henley, who was 75, played Red X-Wing Squadron Red Leader Garven Dreis in Star Wars and also appeared in Rogue One

 

He was not on the list.

A Star Wars actor died after choking on a fish pie he was eating for lunch, an inquest has heard.

Gordon "Drewe" Henley played roles in film, television and theatre including as Red X-Wing Squadron Red Leader Garven Dreis in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

A coroner was told the actor, who was previously married to actress Felicity Kendal, and had a long history of mental health illness.

Footage of Mr Henley was used again in the most recent Star Wars film Rogue One.

The 75-year-old, from Axminster, Devon, died on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2016, at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital after choking on his lunch, the Exeter Express and Echo reports.

Henley was incorrectly credited as "Drewe Hemley" in the end credits of A New Hope. Henley was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which forced him to retire from acting after A New Hope. He later ran a bed and breakfast with his wife in Devon, England.

Henley appeared in film, television and theatre productions. These included episodes of Z-Cars, UFO, The Avengers and Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and a three-week run of Henry V in 1968 in which he played the lead role.

Henley used an American accent for the part; the role had limited physical movement as Henley's character remained in the cockpit for much of the film which Henley found difficult. Unlike many of the actors in the first released film in the series, Henley's performance was not dubbed in post-production. Henley interpreted his character as an experienced battle veteran and so opted to play him without any excitement in his voice. Director George Lucas disagreed with this so they compromised so that Red Leader would at first be formal but as the battle progressed become more excited.

He was married to actress Jacqueline Pearce for three and a half years from 1963 until they divorced.

 

Director

Anthony Hopkins in Changes (1965)

Changes

7.3

Short

Director

1965

 

Actor

Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, and Kenny Baker in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

8.6

Red Leader (as Drewe Hemley)

1977

 

Space: 1999 (1975)

Space: 1999

7.3

TV Series

Joe Ehrlich

1977

2 episodes

 

Alan Arkin, Robert Duvall, Vanessa Redgrave, and Nicol Williamson in The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976)

The Seven-Per-Cent Solution

6.6

(uncredited)

1976

 

Barry Sinclair in Hogg's Back (1975)

Hogg's Back

5.5

TV Series

Weight-lifter

1975

1 episode

 

Robert Vaughn, Tony Anholt, and Nyree Dawn Porter in The Protectors (1972)

The Protectors

6.6

TV Series

Clarke

1974

1 episode

 

Michael Gothard, Oliver Tobias, and Jack Watson in Arthur of the Britons (1972)

Arthur of the Britons

7.5

TV Series

Herrick (as Drew Henley)

1973

1 episode

 

Fulton Mackay, Patrick Mower, Derren Nesbitt, Wensley Pithey, and George Sewell in Special Branch (1969)

Special Branch

7.4

TV Series

1973

1 episode

 

Anna Massey in Frenzy (1972)

Frenzy

7.4

Forensics Technician (uncredited)

1972

 

Shirley Dixon and Denis Lill in The Regiment (1972)

The Regiment

8.4

TV Series

Pte. Harris

1972

1 episode

 

Quest for Love (1971)

Quest for Love

6.6

Man

1971

 

Puppet on a Chain (1971)

Puppet on a Chain

6.0

Jimmy Duclos

1971

 

The Doctors (1969)

The Doctors

6.8

TV Series

Dr. David Owens

1970–1971

45 episodes

 

When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970)

When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth

5.2

Khaku

1970

 

Ed Bishop in UFO (1970)

UFO

7.9

TV Series

Maddox

1970

1 episode

 

Hell Boats (1970)

Hell Boats

5.5

Sub. Lt. Johnson, R.N.

1970

 

Kenneth Cope in My Partner the Ghost (1969)

My Partner the Ghost

7.7

TV Series

Tony

1970

1 episode

 

Jill St. John and Robert Horton in Foreign Exchange (1970)

Foreign Exchange

6.5

TV Movie

Barker (uncredited)

1970

 

Z Cars (1962)

Z Cars

7.1

TV Series

Sgt. WalkerSteve Ritchie

1968–1969

3 episodes

 

Detective (1964)

Detective

7.3

TV Series

Edward Meyer

1968

1 episode

 

Thora Hird in The First Lady (1968)

The First Lady

7.9

TV Series

Peter Barraclough

1968

1 episode

 

Man in a Suitcase (1967)

Man in a Suitcase

7.5

TV Series

Bernard Duzac

1968

1 episode

 

Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter (1968)

Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter

4.7

Clive

1968

 

BBC Play of the Month (1965)

BBC Play of the Month

6.7

TV Series

Klaus

1968

1 episode

 

Timothy Dalton, Tara Fitzgerald, Rupert Graves, Zelah Clarke, Ian McShane, Angela Scoular, and Toby Stephens in Wuthering Heights (1967)

Wuthering Heights

6.5

TV Series

Edgar Linton

1967

3 episodes

 

Half Hour Story (1967)

Half Hour Story

7.6

TV Series

Robin

1967

1 episode

 

The Avengers (1961)

The Avengers

8.3

TV Series

Groom

1967

1 episode

 

Anthony Quinn and Virna Lisi in The 25th Hour (1967)

The 25th Hour

7.4

Capt. Brunner (uncredited)

1967

 

A Man for All Seasons (1966)

A Man for All Seasons

7.7

(uncredited)

1966

 

In Separation

Short

1965

 

Anita Ekberg, Robert Morley, and Tony Randall in The Alphabet Murders (1965)

The Alphabet Murders

5.3

Bowling Alley Attendant (uncredited)

1965

 

Present Laughter

TV Movie

Fred

1965

 

Sophia Loren, George Peppard, and John Mills in Operation Crossbow (1965)

Operation Crossbow

6.6

Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)

1965

 

633 Squadron (1964)

633 Squadron

6.4

Thor (uncredited)

1964

 

ITV Play of the Week (1955)

ITV Play of the Week

6.7

TV Series

Bas

1964

1 episode

 

Nothing But the Best (1964)

Nothing But the Best

6.5

Denis

1964

 

Keith Barron and William Mervyn in It's Dark Outside (1964)

It's Dark Outside

8.0

TV Series

Joseph

1964

1 episode

 

ITV Television Playhouse (1955)

ITV Television Playhouse

8.1

TV Series

German

1963

1 episode

 

Peter Sellers, Ian Carmichael, Irene Handl, Isabel Jeans, Bernard Miles, Cecil Parker, and Eric Sykes in Heavens Above! (1963)

Heavens Above!

6.7

Doris' Boy Friend (uncredited)

1963

 

Suspense (1962)

Suspense

5.9

TV Series

Fred

1963

1 episode

 

The Badger Game

TV Movie

Kid Powell

1962

 

The Rocking Horse (1962)

The Rocking Horse

4.5

Short

1962

 

Second Unit or Assistant Director

The Rocking Horse (1962)

The Rocking Horse

4.5

Short

co-director

1962

 

Soundtrack

The Avengers (1961)

The Avengers

8.3

TV Series

performer: "The Bridal Chorus" (uncredited)

1967

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

James Earl Jones, Forest Whitaker, Wen Jiang, Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Daniel Naprous, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Spencer Wilding, and Riz Ahmed in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

7.8

Red Leader (archive footage)

2016

 

Gabriel Fernández-Gil, Juan Pérez, David Díaz, Luis Rodrigo, FJ García, Iñaki Reyna, Alvar Gordejuela, and Jon Koldo Etxebarria in Special Collector's Edition (2010)

Special Collector's Edition

7.0

TV Series

Red Leader (archive footage)

2014

1 episode

 

Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope - Deleted Scenes (2011)

Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope - Deleted Scenes

8.5

Video

Red Leader (archive footage)

2011

 

Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, and Catherine Schell in Destination Moonbase-Alpha (1978)

Destination Moonbase-Alpha

6.3

TV Movie

Joe Ehrlich (archive footage)

1978