‘This Is Spinal Tap’ actor Tony Hendra dies, aged 79
National Lampoon and film This Is Spinal Tap, has died aged 79.As the New York Times reports, Hendra died on Thursday (March 4) from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which he was diagnosed with back in 2019.Hendra began writing and performing comedy while studying at Cambridge University. There, he joined the Cambridge Footlights theatrical group, doing comic routines at the annual revue alongside a cast that included Monty Python founders John Cleese and Graham Chapman, as well as Tim Brooke-Taylor.He ended up moving to the US with his comedy partner Nick Ullett, trying their hand in the New York scene.