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James Pendrick is a wealthy inventor who lives in Toronto, first introduced in Season 3 of Murdoch Mysteries, portrayed by Peter Stebbings.

James Pendrick is at first believed to be a criminal mastermind. However, on more than one occasion, it has been proven that he's simply a clever man who is fooled by an even cleverer woman.

Biography

Little is known about his childhood or family. He is American and came to Toronto with his wife Sally (nee Hubbard who is from Albany, NY) not long before he first appears in Season 3. (ep. 306)

James Pendrick played a lacrosse game when attending Yale. The Bulldogs was the team name. He should have won that game but it was the first time his shoulder popped out. Then his fondness for the steeplechase took its toll. A dislocated shoulder never quite does heal. (ep.601

As brilliant an inventor as he is, Pendrick suffers from claustrophobia (ep 905).

Appearances and Mentions

This One Goes to Eleven

  • Pendrick had just completed the Pendrick Building, which he designed. He and his wife held a gathering to display Bathsheba at Her Bath by Rembrandt. The painting was stolen as it was being taken to storage. The painting was recovered, but William Murdoch was suspicious that Pendrick was somehow involved in the complicated theft.

Future Imperfect

  • Murdoch has received a letter from Mrs. Pendrick. Mr. Pendrick has invited doctors and scientists from all over the city to a Eugenics meeting. As Mr. Pendrick's guest, Mr. H.G. Wells comes up to make his speech, a dog brings in a severed hand which then ends the meeting. Mr. Pendrick finds out from the detective that the severed hand was that of Linus Malling, Mr. Pendrick becomes annoyed that Murdoch suspects that he killed Linus. Before Murdoch leaves the Pendrick house, Mrs. Pendrick personally invites him to the rescheduled Eugenic's meeting. At the rescheduled meeting, Mr. Pendrick is seen several times but does not having a speaking part in the scene. Murdoch confronts Pendrick the very next day and tells James he does not like his point of view on Eugenics, but Mr. Pendrick tells Murdoch that he will report Murdoch to his superiors if the detective threatens him again. He returns again that same day to the Pendricks' house, a pollen sample was recovered from Linus' nose and the pollen in his mucus was from the rare Phantom orchid, coincidentally Mr. Pendrick has that flower in his house. Mr. Pendrick is fed up with Murdoch returning and accusing him, and Murdoch has him brought down to the station house for questioning. Mr. Pendrick said that he and Linus had disagreements on Eugenics and that led to Mr. Malling handing in his resignation, that is why he was at Mr. Pendrick's house before the meeting. After that, Mr. Pendrick is relived from suspicion, because Murdoch and Brackenreid realize that beating someone to death is for a personal reason, not some argument over science.

In the Altogether

  • A photo of Sally Pendrick in bed with another man is discovered during the murder investigation of a young girl named Abigail Tunstall. James Pendrick asks him what "fiendish crime" brings Detective Murdoch to his house.

The Tesla Effect

Who Killed the Electric Carriage?

  • When the inventor of a revolutionary new kind of battery is murdered, Murdoch is led to suspect his nemesis, James Pendrick, the eccentric entrepreneur with whom he has crossed swords on several occasions. Pendrick has built an amazing bullet-shaped vehicle which uses another remarkable battery and it doesn't take long to entice Murdoch to give it a test run. It seems that Pendrick may be the killer, but is he?

Murdoch Air

  • Since his last encounter with William Murdoch, Pendrick was on the verge of financial ruin, until he got wind of a contest held by a Samuel Mortimer, who was promising a million dollars to the first man who could attain controlled flight with a 100 pound load before July 1st. With financial backing of a man named Reginald Gleason, Pendrick constructed his flying machine, the Pendrick Arrow, creating two versions, the test craft and the actual machine. His assistant Matthews was assigned to remotely pilot the test craft but he sometime afterward went missing. Murdoch soon turned up with the test craft's wireless receiver and accused Pendrick of recklessly testing above Toronto, resulting in an innocent man's death. Pendrick denies that he nor Matthews would do something so reckless and informs Murdoch that he had just discovered a wire tap, indicating that someone was spying on. Soon after, the barn's alarm bell rang and the two men were tranquilized by Canadian agents, who stole the Pendrick Arrow.
  • Pendrick was later kidnapped by American agents, led by Allen Clegg, who held the pseudonym of Gleason, to question on how to fly the Arrow which they stole from the Canadians, as only Pendrick knew how to operate the tilters to make it turn. Pendrick deduced that Clegg had Matthews killed and refused to cooperate, so Clegg dislocated his left shoulder. Luckily for Pendrick, Murdoch managed to rescue him and they made for Canada on the Arrow. Approaching Niagara Falls, the aircraft started to lose altitude, as Pendrick did not account for two passengers. He proceeded to drain their fuel to lighten their load. Upon landing safely in Canadian territory, their relief is short-lived, as Mortimer, or more accurately, Agent Terrence Meyers, showed up to take possession of the Arrow. Refusing to let his invention be used as a weapon, Pendrick pushes it into the water, where it goes over the falls. He was spared retaliation, as Murdoch reasons to Meyers that Pendrick technically destroyed his own property. Defeated, Meyers spitefully tells Pendrick that he betrayed his country.
  • After Meyers leaves, Murdoch asks Pendrick why he would give up his place in history. He answers that everyone has only one life and boasts that they both know that he was the first man to fly. Murdoch corrects him, stating that technically it was him, to which James Pendrick responds with a "Touché."

The Filmed Adventures of Detective William Murdoch

  • James Pendrick's film-making venture includes the murder of his principal investor. Pendrick accuses his main competitor Thomas Edison who, in turn, accuses Pendrick of stealing his patent.

24 Hours Til Doomsday

Excitable Chap

  • Though revealed to be The Lurker, Pendrick is once again exonerated of the killing and leaves for Panama in pursuit of Ashmi, who’s stolen the inventor’s formula for the fountain of youth, with his partner Tom.

From Murdoch to Eternity

  • According to Brackenreid, James Pendrick was killed by the rare poison polonium while the two were in Panama. Brackenreid states that Pendrick died in his arms. The man believed to be his murderer fled Panama by ship under the alias...P.D. Lion. However, at the end of the episode, the Inspector receives a photo-postcard from Pendrick with the message, "Thank you for saving my life," insinuating that Pendrick is still alive.

F.L.A.S.H.!

  • Pendrick is indeed alive, introducing the revolutionary Pendrick FLASH in front of a large crowd which includes Murdoch, Julia, and Inspector Brackenreid. Unfortunately, Murdoch is here on police business, much to Pendrick's annoyance.
  • It seems Pendrick may have once again been betrayed by a member of his own team.

Staring Blindly into the Future

  • Svetlana Tsiolkovsky presents the James Pendrick Symposium.
  • A rather stiff and formal James Pendrick is first seen in a welcoming film at his Symposium, surprisingly announcing that he will not be joining the participants in person.
  • Upon examining the film, Murdoch, Ogden and Crabtree discover that Pendrick, hardly shy in front of a camera, is performing at gunpoint - by his former wife, a woman with evil ambitions – Sally Pendrick.
  • The fact that Sally Pendrick is involved in the disappearance of James Pendrick makes it a strong possibility that she is behind the kidnapping of all the scientists. But whether or not Pendrick himself is now dead or alive? There is no indication one way or the other, once again!
  • Then in the end, Pendrick makes another film of himself on the coast, holding a glass of champagne, “Hello, friend, let me put your fears to rest – I am alive. But I understand dear Sally did not fare so well. Thank you, Murdoch and all your friends, for saving the world again”.


Trivia

  • According to Executive Producer and Writer Paul Aitken, James Pendrick was introduced in Season 3 "as part of a season long storyline that was ultimately resolved. We brought him back in Season 5 as the inventor of an electric car that ended up being crushed by big oil. It was then that we realized the potential for the character". Aiken compares Pendrick to a saner, nobler Elon Musk who "gets his dreams crushed in every episode, yet rises again with an even bigger plan. I wish I was James Pendrick".


Murdoch Mysteries Recurring Actors and Characters
Daniel Maslany as Detective WattsShanice Banton as Violet HartLachlan Murdoch as Henry HigginsArwen Humphreys as Margaret BrackenreidCharles Vandervaart as John BrackenreidClare McConnell as Effie NewsomeBea Santos as Louise CherryPeter Keleghan as Terrence MeyersPeter Stebbings as James PendrickMatthew Bennett as Allen CleggNigel Bennett as former Chief Constable Giles • Siobhan Murphy as Ruth NewsomeShailene Garnett as Nomi JohnstonStephanie Belding as Nurse SullivanSebastian Pigott as Dr. DixonColin Mochrie as Ralph FellowsJames McGowan as Dr. ForbesPatrick McKenna as Hamish SlorachDmitry Chepovetsky as Nikola TeslaJohn Tench as Alexander Graham BellMartin Moreau as Theodore RooseveltCyrus Lane as Rupert NewsomeCraig Brown as Eddie CrawfordDavid Reale as Mr. ClementsErin Agostino as Nina BloomMouna Traoré as Rebecca JamesJordan Johnson-Hinds as Nate DesmondDylan Neal as Jasper LinneyKristian Bruun as Constable JacksonRichard Clarkin as Chief Constable DavisMichael Seater as James GilliesRothaford Gray as Alderman William Peyton HubbardCyrus Lane as Roger NewsomeGeorgina Reilly as Emily GraceCharlotte Sullivan as Charlotte (formerly Minerva Fairchild)Sean Harraher as Constable WorseleyTamara Hope as Edna Brooks (née Garrison)Giacomo Gianniotti as Leslie GarlandNicole Underhay as Margaret HaileSarah Gadon as Ruby OgdenKate Greenhouse as Sally PendrickStephen McHattie as Harry MurdochGeraint Wyn Davies as Arthur Conan Doyle
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