-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CyBSxxilXj7DDsHEINbaQi8ADna3R0zEjXmyysMSfNVLagPxlcslWIjwZuB1QB84
 tq2+CC55IRPlryjrh5TWrQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000897069-04-001920.txt : 20041105
<SEC-HEADER>0000897069-04-001920.hdr.sgml : 20041105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041105192149
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000897069-04-001920
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041105

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HENNESSY ADVISORS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001145255
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INVESTMENT ADVICE [6282]
		IRS NUMBER:				680176227

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		750 GRANT AVENUE SUITE 100
		CITY:			NOVATO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94945

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		750 GRANT AVENUE SUITE 100
		CITY:			NOVATO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94945

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HENNESSY BRIAN A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001165100

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-49872
		FILM NUMBER:		041123986

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		16 DEER CREEK COURT
		CITY:			FAIRFAX
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94930
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4154533842

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		750 GRANT AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			NOVATO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94945

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HENNESSEY BRIAN A
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020114
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>dkm383_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001145255</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HENNESSY ADVISORS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HNNA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001165100</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HENNESSY BRIAN A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>16 DEER CREEK COURT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FAIRFAX</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94930</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to acquire)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-11-03</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-11-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Linda Y. Kelso, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----