Henry Beckman

Henry Beckman (26 November 1921 – 17 June 2008) was a Canadian stage, film and television actor known for his versatility and longevity in the industry. He debuted in 1951 and remained active until 2002, appearing in over 100 productions in the United States and Canada. Some of his most notable roles include Commander Paul Richards in the 1954 Flash Gordon space opera television series, Bob Mulligan in the ABC sitcom I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, George Anderson in the television adaptation of Peyton Place, Captain Clancey in the Western comedy-drama Here Come the Brides and Colonel Platt in the 1965 movie McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force, among others. His talent spanned across several decades; he was part of a number of iconic TV series such as The Commish, MacGyver and had a recurring role in The X-Files. Beckman won two Canadian Film Awards for Best Supporting Actor, in 1975 for 'Why Rock the Boat?' and in 1978 for 'Blood and Guts'.

Outside of his acting career, Beckman made substantive contributions to the theater. Together with his first wife, actress Cheryl Maxwell, Beckman founded the Dukes Oak Theater in Cooperstown, New York, and served as the theater company's producer. In addition to his illustrious career in entertainment, Beckman proudly served the Canadian Army during World War II, participating particularly in the D-Day Landings at Juno Beach, Normandy, on 6 June 1944. He enjoyed his life to the fullest until his death in Barcelona, Spain on 17 June 2008.