Early lifeMr. Henderling was born D.W. Terrance Henderling on August 30, 1941 in Burlington, Vermont. He grew up in Hartford, Connecticut.
Blackburn said that Mr. Henderling's family was poor and that he had difficulty growing up because of his effeminacy."Terry was never butch — that's putting it mildly," Blackburn recalled. "He never fit traditional masculine roles, and of course his famous, and one-and-only laugh (high-pitch cackle) was world-renowned.
When he was amused, his cackle could be heard for a vast distance!"Mr. Henderling served in the Navy but received an undesirable discharge because he was gay, Gordon stated, adding that his discharge was later upgraded to at least general.