Basil Henson was a prominent stage actor in Britain for over 40 years. His love of theatre began at the age of 12 while playing "Portia" at St. Cuthbert's Prep School. After World War II broke out, he joined the Indian Army and was a Major with the Royal Gharwal Rifles. His professional stage debut was in 1946 at the London Casino, where he played a chorus boy in "The Dancing Years", by Ivor Novello. His long list of his stage credits included "Malvolio" in "Twelfth Night", opposite Vivien Leigh in the Old Vic tour of Australia, New Zealand and South America, and "The Duke of Venice" in the London and New York productions of "Merchant of Venice", with Dustin Hoffman.