About Ray Henwood
Lived 1937 – 2019 (aged 82). Ray Henwood was a New Zealand and British actor, toxicologist and television actor.
Charles Raymond Henwood (15 January 1937 – 26 August 2019) was a Welsh-born New Zealand actor. He was married to district court judge Carolyn Henwood, and was the father of New Zealand comedian Dai Henwood.
Born in Swansea, Wales, on 15 January 1937, Henwood emigrated to New Zealand at the age of 25, and became a naturalised New Zealander in 1977. In 1971, he published a book on drug use in New Zealand, A Turned On World, that was critical of the Narcotics Act (1965), describing the Act as "using a cannon to kill flies".
Henwood was one of the founding members of Circa Theatre and kept contributing to Circa until his death. In the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours, Henwood was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to film and the theatre.
Henwood died in Wellington on 26 August 2019, aged 82.
Selected filmography Opening Night (1977, TV Movie) – Clem Smith The John Sullivan Story (1979, TV Movie) – Colonel Smythe Should I Be Good? (1985) – Peter Chartwell Hot Target (1985) – Douglas Maxwell The End of the Golden Weather (1991) – Reverend Thirle Heavenly Creatures (1994) – Professor The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) – Council Man (uncredited) Second Hand Wedding (2008) – Desmond Daney Separation City (2009) – Registrar The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) – Old Fisherman Xena: Warrior Princess (1995) - Secrus
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Important facts
People in Ray Henwood's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Ray Henwood's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Ray Henwood?
New Zealand actor (1937-2019)
When was Ray Henwood born?
Ray Henwood was born on 19 January 1937 in Swansea.
When did Ray Henwood die?
Ray Henwood died on 26 August 2019 in Wellington.
What was Ray Henwood's occupation?
Ray Henwood was an actor, toxicologist and television actor.
What nationality was Ray Henwood?
Ray Henwood was New Zealand and British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ray Henwood. https://biography.guide/ray-henwood/
MLA: "Ray Henwood." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ray-henwood/.
Chicago: "Ray Henwood." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ray-henwood/.
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