In America, Henderson broke into show business, aged 10, when he was offered a role as the son of
Clive Brook and
Diana Wynyard in the
Frank Lloyd film version of
Noël Coward's play,
Cavalcade (1933). He was also in the running for the part of David Copperfield in
George Cukor's
film of the same name, but his father insisted that he decline the part and return to Britain, because he felt Hollywood was not the place for a young boy. Henderson Jr. toured in music halls and appeared in several films with his famous father. Dickie Henderson served in the
Army during the
Second World War, before appearing in revues, pantomimes and occasional films after demobilisation. He began a successful television career in 1953, with
Face the Music, followed by appearing in
Before Your Very Eyes with
Arthur Askey. He compered
Sunday Night at the London Palladium. He starred in his own
ITV television programme:
The Dickie Henderson Half Hour in 1958, the success of which led to a touring stage show with
Anthea Askey who played his wife, and their eventual immortalisation in a comic strip. He then starred in 84 episodes of
The Dickie Henderson Show. Other television work included a series of
A Present for Dickie, several spectaculars and a famous partnership with
Bob Monkhouse in ''I'm Bob, He's Dickie
followed by I'm Dickie – That's Showbusiness
. He went on to make many stage appearances including 20 months in the original London production of Teahouse of the August Moon, followed by When in Rome
, Stand by your Bedouin
and And the Bridge Makes Three''. He also made many working trips abroad to the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa,
Hong Kong and the
Netherlands. ==Other==