[1] Hendrickson was asked to play the role of Hal Munson by then head writer, Susan Bedsow Horgan.
The show dealt with the death off-screen in October 2006 by having the character shot in the line of fire, and his family and friends celebrating his life and years in Oakdale.
"[1] Hal Munson, upon arriving in Oakdale, immediately started investigating James Stenbeck.
Their relationship was strained, though, because of her preoccupation with her son, Paul, so Hal started confiding his problems with his partner, Margo Hughes.
After the divorce, Hal left Oakdale to do some undercover work while Barbara gave birth to a daughter, Jennifer.
A few years later, a lonely Hal found himself attracted to Carly Tenney and impulsively married her.
Later, Hal was shocked to learn that Carly lied about the paternity of her baby and quickly divorced her.
When Jen started dating Bryant Montgomery, Hal vehemently objected and was overprotective of her.
Though he knew she had a tendency to be unethical and manipulative, he found himself intrigued by her sensitive side and asked her to move in with him.
At first appearing as if she'd simply skipped town, that didn't seem right to Hal, especially when he learned that Carly was missing also.
During the course of the investigation to find the missing women, Hal was suddenly kidnapped and drugged by James.
Knowing that he had to protect James, Hal kidnapped him from the hospital, hid him in the basement of the police station, and asked John Dixon to make sure that he lived.
Free of Stenbeck's influence, Hal was deprogrammed at the hospital and, during his recovery, was reunited with Emily who had escaped with Barbara's help.
Over the next few years, Hal found himself caught up in various law enforcement and family matters, which at times coincided.
After hearing her tearful explanation, Hal realized that he hadn't been fair to Emily and forgave her.
He rejoiced when it was discovered that Craig had switched babies and Jen's son, whom she later named Johnny, was alive and being raised by Gwen Norbeck.
Jen was now happily engaged to Dusty Donovan, who adopted Johnny; Will and Gwen had both graduated (or in Will's case, working on his GED) and were now staying at Carly's.
During the course of a robbery, Hal was caught in gunfire and, while heroically saving a fifteen year old kid, was killed instantly.