Dennis Waterman

(Redirected from Denis Waterman)

Dennis Waterman (24 February 1948 – 8 May 2022) was an English actor and singer. He was best known for his tough-guy leading roles in television series including The Sweeney, Minder and New Tricks, singing the theme tunes of the latter two.

Dennis Waterman
Waterman in 2012
Born(1948-02-24)24 February 1948
Clapham, London, England
Died8 May 2022(2022-05-08) (aged 74)
La Manga, Murcia, Spain
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1960–2020
Spouses
  • Penny Dixon
    (m. 1967; div. 1976)
  • (m. 1977; div. 1987)
  • (m. 1987; div. 1998)
  • Pam Flint
    (m. 2011)
Children2, including Hannah

Waterman's acting career spanned 60 years, starting with his childhood roles in film and theatre, and adult roles in film, television and West End theatre. He was known for the range of roles he played, including drama (Up the Junction), horror (Scars of Dracula), adventure (Colditz), comedy (Fair Exchange), comedy-drama (Minder), musical (Windy City) and sport (The World Cup: A Captain's Tale). He appeared in 29 films, the last being released in 2020.[1]

Early life and education

edit

Waterman was born on 24 February 1948,[2] as the youngest of nine children to Rose Juliana (née Saunders) and Harry Frank Waterman in Clapham,[3][4][5] south west London. The family, which included siblings Ken, Peter, a welterweight boxing champion,[5] Stella, Norma, and Myrna, lived at 2 Elms Road, Clapham Common South Side.[3] Harry Waterman was a ticket collector for British Railways.[5] Two older sisters, Joy and Vera, had already left home by the time Dennis was born, and another brother, Allen, had died as a young child.[3]

Boxing was a big part of Waterman's childhood. His father had been an amateur boxer and made all of his sons box.[6] His older brother Ken first took Dennis boxing when he was three years old,[7] and when he was ten Dennis joined Caius Boxing Club.[6]

Waterman was educated at the Granard Primary School, a state primary school on the Ashburton Estate in Putney, southwest London, followed by Corona Stage School, an independent school at Ravenscourt Park in Hammersmith, West London.[5]

Career

edit

1960s

edit

Waterman's acting career began in childhood. His first role was in Night Train for Inverness (1960) and also Snowball (1960 film) with Gordon Jackson.[5] He appeared in two small stage roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company's 1960 season.[8] In 1961, at the age of 13, he played the part of Winthrop Paroo in the Adelphi Theatre production of The Music Man.[9] A year later, he starred as William Brown in the BBC TV series William based on the Just William books of Richmal Crompton.[10] Waterman played the role of Oliver Twist in the production of the Lionel Bart musical Oliver! staged at the Mermaid Theatre, London, in the early 1960s, and appeared on the cast recording released in 1961.[11] Waterman was a series regular in the 1962 CBS comedy Fair Exchange, playing teenager Neville Finch.[12] In 1963, he took a "starring" role in the Children's Film Foundation film Go Kart Go.[13]

He later appeared in the premier of Carving a Statue, produced by Peter Wood on 17 September 1964 at the Haymarket Theatre, London. Waterman played His Son, with Ralph Richardson as The Father.

Waterman was also in the original cast of Saved, the play written by Edward Bond, and first produced at the Royal Court Theatre in November 1965.[14] He had a major role in the feature film version of Up the Junction (1968) in which he played Peter, boyfriend to Polly (Suzy Kendall).[15]

1970s

edit

In the early 1970s, Waterman appeared in the BBC television series Colditz as a young Gestapo officer.[16] He played the brother of a victim of Count Dracula (Christopher Lee) in the Hammer film Scars of Dracula (1970),[17] and the boyfriend of Susan George in Fright (1971).[18] He appeared alongside Richard Harris and John Huston in a Hollywood western, Man in the Wilderness (1971).[19] Waterman appears on this episode BBC2 TV French farce Ooh La La! (1973). He was a member of the company of actors who featured in The Sextet (1972), a BBC 2 series which included the Dennis Potter drama Follow the Yellow Brick Road,[20] and Waterman later appeared in the same dramatist's Joe's Ark (Play for Today, 1974).[21] Also in 1974, Waterman appeared in episode 4 of the second series of the comedy programme Man About the House entitled "Did You Ever Meet Rommel", in which he played a friend of Robin, a German student by the name of Franz Wasserman.[22] Waterman guest starred in a 1974 Special Branch episode entitled "Stand and Deliver"

He became a household name as DS George Carter in The Sweeney during the 1970s.[23] As well as starring as Terry McCann in Minder, Waterman sang the theme song, "I Could Be So Good for You",[10] which was a top three UK hit in 1980 and a top ten hit in Australia.[24][25] It was written by his then-wife Patricia along with Gerard Kenny. Waterman also wrote and recorded a song with George Cole: "What Are We Gonna Get For 'Er Indoors?".[10] Based on their 'Minder' characters, it reached No. 21 in the UK charts at Christmas 1983.

In 1976, Waterman released his first album, Downwind of Angels,[26] arranged and produced by Brian Bennett.[27] A single, "I Will Glide", was released from the album.[28]

In 1978, Waterman returned to the RSC to play Sackett in Bronson Howard's comedy Saratoga.[29][30]

1980s

edit

Waterman starred in a television film made by Tyne Tees Television entitled The World Cup: A Captain's Tale (1982).[31] It was the true story of West Auckland Town F.C., a part-time side who won the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy, sometimes described as the 'First World Cup', in 1909 and 1911. Waterman played the part of Bob Jones, the club captain.[32][33] It cost £1.5 million to make, most of which was funded by Waterman. Shooting took place in the North East and in Turin in Italy.[34] Scenes were shot in County Durham pit villages and in Ashington, Northumberland, where goalposts and a grandstand were erected in a public park with a colliery headframe in the background.[35]

In 1982, Waterman starred in the musical Windy City.[36] A relatively short-lived production. The cast included Amanda Redman, with whom Waterman had an eighteen-month affair during the run of the musical and with whom he later went on to star in the TV series New Tricks.[37][38] Windy City closed after 250 performances.[39] Waterman took the lead male role in the BAFTA Award-winning BBC adaptation of Fay Weldon's The Life and Loves of a She-Devil (1986).[40]

In an Australian television film, The First Kangaroos (1988), Waterman's depiction of the rugby player Albert Goldthorpe[41] drew formal complaints from Goldthorpe's granddaughter.[42]

In 1988, Waterman voiced Vernon's sidekick Toaster in the children's animated series Tube Mice, which also starred George Cole.[43]

1990s

edit

After leaving Minder, Waterman appeared as Thomas Gynn in the comedy drama Stay Lucky (1989–93),[44] with Jan Francis and Emma Wray; self made millionaire Tony Carpenter in the sitcom On the Up (1990–92)[45] and John Neil in the mini series Circles of Deceit (1995–96).[46] Between 1997 and 1999, he appeared in series 3 and 4 of the crime drama The Knock.[47]

2000s

edit
 
Waterman filming New Tricks in 2012

He was a regular cast member in every season of New Tricks, from 2003 to 2014, and also sang the theme song.[48][49] Waterman appeared on stage in Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell by Keith Waterhouse[50] and as Alfred P. Doolittle in the 2001 London revival of My Fair Lady.[51] In 2005-06 he was the voice of Walter Thompson in Churchill's Bodyguard for the 13-part TV documentary based on Thompson's journals.[52][53] Waterman narrated the reality-format television programme Bad Lads' Army and appeared in the 2009 BBC2 miniseries Moses Jones.[54][55]

2020s

edit

In 2020, Waterman starred in the Australian drama-comedy film Never Too Late which had been filmed in Adelaide, Australia, the previous year.[56] The Minder Podcast revealed that Waterman was semi-retired and living in Spain. The podcast referred to Waterman as "a truly underrated actor" and following Waterman's death pledged to go off air for seven weeks, one for each series of Minder he had appeared in, in commemoration.[57][58] An audio tribute episode was released after seven weeks.[59] In May 2023 the show broadcast a second tribute, Revisiting Reminder.[60]

Personal life

edit

Waterman was married four times:

Waterman's marriage to Lenska ended because of his violent behaviour towards her. In March 2012, he caused controversy with some comments on this issue: "It's not difficult for a woman to make a man hit her. She certainly wasn't a beaten wife, she was hit and that's different."[62][63] The interview was broadcast in full on Piers Morgan's Life Stories on ITV in May 2012.[64]

Waterman immigrated to Spain with his wife Pam in 2015 after New Tricks ended, living at a villa in La Manga, and playing golf at the La Manga Club.[65]

Waterman was banned from driving for three years in January 1991, following his second drink-driving conviction in four years.[66] He was a fan of Chelsea F.C.[67] His love of football was reflected in his being chosen to present Match of the Seventies from 1995 to 1996, a nostalgic BBC show celebrating the best football matches from the 1970s.[68]

In 2015, his friend of many years, George Cole, who had played Arthur Daley in Minder, died aged 90. Waterman delivered the eulogy at Cole's funeral on 12 August.[69]

Death

edit

Waterman died from lung cancer[70] at his home in La Manga, Spain on 8 May 2022 at the age of 74.[71]

edit

Little Britain

edit

Waterman was caricatured by David Walliams in the radio and TV comedy series Little Britain, in sketches where he visits his agent, Jeremy Rent (played by Matt Lucas) looking for parts. Most of the jokes in these sketches feature Waterman being extremely small, with common objects being made to appear massive in comparison. The Waterman caricature is offered, but always declines, respectable parts because he is not allowed to "write the theme tune, sing the theme tune" (rendered as "write da feem toon, sing da feem toon") of the particular production.[72] This running joke is based on Waterman having sung the theme tunes for at least four of the programmes in which he starred, namely for Minder, Stay Lucky,[73] On the Up and New Tricks. In November 2006, Waterman made a guest appearance in Comic Relief Does Little Britain Live, alongside the comedy character version of himself.[74]

Bibliography

edit
  • 2000: Waterman, Dennis; and Jill Arlon. – ReMinder. – London: Hutchinson. – ISBN 978-0-09-180108-3.

Filmography

edit

Discography

edit

Albums

edit
Year Title AUS Chart[90] Label Cat. No.
1976 Down Wind of Angels - DJM DJF 20483
1977 Waterman - DJM DJF 20513
1980 So Good For You 59 EMI EMC 3349

Singles

edit
Date A-Side B-Side Label Chart (UK)[91] Chart (AUS)[90]
12 March 1976 "For Their Pleasure" "You're A Part of Me" DJM
8 October 1976 "I Will Glide" "Snakes And Ladders" DJM
21 January 1977 "Hooray for Curly Woolf" "Don't Say No" DJM
Sep 1977 "It Ain't Easy" "Rock 'N' Roll Sunshine Lady" DJM
Aug 1979 "Love's Left Me Bleeding" "Nothing at All" EMI
Oct 1980 "I Could Be So Good for You" "Nothing at All" EMI 3 9
Jun 1980 "Holding On to Love" "Gone Wrong Song" EMI
Jan 1981 "Wasn't Love Strong Enough" "Gone Wrong Song" EMI
May 1981 "Come Away with Me" "If Only" EMI
Mar 1982 "We Don't Make Love on Sundays" "Indian Silk" C&D
Jul 1982 "Shake the City" "Wait Till I Get You on Your Own Tonight" EMI
Dec 1983 "What Are We Gonna Get 'Er Indoors?" "Quids and Quavers" EMI 21

References

edit
  1. ^ "Dennis Waterman". TV Guide. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  2. ^ Waterman, Dennis; Jill Arlon (2000), ReMinder, Hutchinson, p. 1, ISBN 978-0-09-180108-3
  3. ^ a b c Waterman and Arlon. – p.7.
  4. ^ Parker, John (1972), Who's Who in the Theatre: A Biographical Record of the Contemporary Stage, vol. 15, Pitman, p. 1531, ISBN 978-0-273-31528-5
  5. ^ a b c d e "Youngster Has Keaton's Knack", Lewiston Evening Journal, p. 4-A, 10 November 1962
  6. ^ a b Waterman and Arlon. – p.13-14.
  7. ^ Waterman and Arlon. – p.18.
  8. ^ "Performance database". Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  9. ^ "Show Music". M.O. Preeo. 9 May 1994 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ a b c Beresford, Trilby (9 May 2022). "Dennis Waterman, 'The Sweeney' Actor and 'I Could Be So Good For You' Singer, Dies at 74". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Theater Week". That New Magazine, Incorporated. 9 May 1993 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ Leszczak, Bob (2 November 2012). Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-6812-6 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ Brown, Noel (9 May 2022). The Oxford Handbook of Children's Film. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-093935-9 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ Hirst, David L. (18 October 1985). Edward Bond. Macmillan International Higher Education. ISBN 978-1-349-17983-1 – via Google Books.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ Wilson, Nicola (9 March 2016). Home in British Working-Class Fiction. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-12136-7 – via Google Books.
  16. ^ Rowlands, Robert (9 May 2022). "Tributes pour in as Minder and New Tricks star Dennis Waterman dies". CoventryLive.
  17. ^ "Dennis Waterman, Minder and New Tricks star, dies aged 74". The Guardian. 8 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Cinefantastique". F.S. Clarke. 9 May 1972 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ John Willis' Screen World. Crown. 9 May 1972. ISBN 978-0-517-50128-3 – via Google Books.
  20. ^ Creeber, Glen (20 May 1998). Dennis Potter: Between Two Worlds: A Critical Reassessment. Springer. ISBN 978-0-230-37465-2 – via Google Books.
  21. ^ Gilbert, W. Stephen (1 January 2002). The Life and Work of Dennis Potter. ABRAMS. ISBN 978-1-4683-0561-6 – via Google Books.
  22. ^ Stubbs, David (9 May 2015). Future Days: Krautrock and the Birth of a Revolutionary New Music. Melville House. ISBN 978-1-61219-474-5 – via Google Books.
  23. ^ "Dennis Waterman's family releases statement on actor's death". www.thenews.com.pk.
  24. ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 5 March 1983. pp. 56. ISSN-00062510.
  25. ^ "Forum - One Hit Wonders (General: Music/Charts related)". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  26. ^ Beresford, Trilby (8 May 2022). "Dennis Waterman, Actor in 'The Sweeney' and 'Minder' Dies at 74". The Hollywood Reporter.
  27. ^ Larkin, Colin (9 May 2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. MUZE. ISBN 978-0-19-531373-4 – via Google Books.
  28. ^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (9 May 1977). "Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series" – via Google Books.
  29. ^ "Performance database". Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  30. ^ Obituaries, Telegraph (8 May 2022). "Dennis Waterman, television tough-guy star of the Sweeney, Minder and New Tricks – obituary". The Telegraph.
  31. ^ "Dennis Waterman, star of Minder, The Sweeney and New Tricks, dies aged 74". 9 June 2023 – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  32. ^ Mitten, Andy (1 September 2010). The Rough Guide to Cult Football. Penguin. ISBN 978-1-4053-8798-9 – via Google Books.
  33. ^ Whitfield, Graeme (8 May 2022). "Tributes paid to actor Dennis Waterman after death at age of 74". ChronicleLive.
  34. ^ Leggott, James (28 June 2021). The North East of England on Film and Television. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-03-069146-2 – via Google Books.
  35. ^ Lloyd, Chris (26 September 2020). "The gritty realism of a Durham street's outside netties that turned it into a filmstar". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  36. ^ Fells, Maurice (6 July 2015). Little Book of Bristol. The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7509-6543-9 – via Google Books.
  37. ^ Romanko, Karen A. (24 February 2016). Television's Female Spies and Crimefighters: 600 Characters and Shows, 1950s to the Present. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-9637-2 – via Google Books.
  38. ^ Cooke, Lez (9 April 2015). British Television Drama: A History. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84457-896-2 – via Google Books.
  39. ^ "Theater Week". That New Magazine, Incorporated. 9 May 1994 – via Google Books.
  40. ^ Brabon, B.; Genz, S. (31 January 2007). Postfeminist Gothic: Critical Interventions in Contemporary Culture. Springer. ISBN 978-0-230-80130-1 – via Google Books.
  41. ^ Murray, Scott (9 May 1996). Australia on the Small Screen, 1970-1995: The Complete Guide to Tele-features and Mini-series. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-553949-3 – via Google Books.
  42. ^ Robinson, John; Garrett Jones (8 June 1988), "Family fights to clear League Hero's Name", The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 74, retrieved 20 February 2011
  43. ^ Long, David (26 December 2010). Little Book of London Underground. The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-6236-3 – via Google Books.
  44. ^ Leafe, David (1 December 1992). British Film Institute Film and Television Handbook 1993. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-0-85170-344-2 – via Google Books.
  45. ^ Film and Television Handbook. The Institute. 9 May 1992. ISBN 978-0-85170-317-6 – via Google Books.
  46. ^ Whaley, George (9 May 2009). Leo 'Rumpole' McKern: The Accidental Actor. UNSW Press. ISBN 978-1-921410-89-5 – via Google Books.
  47. ^ "Dennis Waterman, star of The Sweeney, Minder and New Tricks, has died aged 74". The Independent. 9 May 2022.
  48. ^ "DRAMA". drama.uktv.co.uk/. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  49. ^ Rippon, Anton (11 April 2006). Derbyshire's Own. The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7509-5324-5 – via Google Books.
  50. ^ "The Stage Review". Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  51. ^ Dietz, Dan (6 April 2017). The Complete Book of 2000s Broadway Musicals. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-7801-1 – via Google Books.
  52. ^ Martin, Jonathan; Nugus, Philip (20 February 2006). "Churchill's Bodyguard - Apple TV (UK)". Apple TV. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  53. ^ Churchill's Bodyguard (TV Series 2005– ) ⭐ 8.0 | Documentary, retrieved 19 December 2023
  54. ^ Hargreaves, Ellie (29 July 2005). "Bad Lads' Army has changed my life". Westmorland Gazette. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  55. ^ "Bad Lads' Army[08/07/2004] (2004)". BFI. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022.
  56. ^ Maddox, Garry (16 April 2019) Life is still busy over 70 for stars of new 'triumph over ageing' film, The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  57. ^ "The Minder Podcast Episode 2, George Layton Interview". Minderpodcast.co.uk. 25 July 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  58. ^ "Dennis Waterman 1948–2022 – THE MINDER PODCAST". Minderpodcast.co.uk. 9 May 2022.
  59. ^ "Episode 14 – Dennis Waterman Tribute - THE MINDER PODCAST". 25 June 2022.
  60. ^ "Episode 22 – Revisiting Reminder (Dennis Waterman Autobiography) - THE MINDER PODCAST". 3 May 2023.
  61. ^ a b c d "Dennis Waterman obituary". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  62. ^ Naomi McAuliffe "Dennis Waterman and the 'problem with strong, intelligent women'", The Guardian, 20 March 2012
  63. ^ Joan Smith "Blame the victim – a classic with wife-beaters", The Independent, 21 March 2012
  64. ^ Murray Wardrop "Dennis Waterman admits punching ex-wife but insists she was 'not a beaten woman'", The Daily Telegraph, 20 March 2012
  65. ^ "La Manga Based Minder Star Dennis Waterman Spent His Retirement Years Playing Golf in the Region of Murcia". Spanish News Today. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  66. ^ ITN News at Ten, 2 January 1991
  67. ^ www.chelseafc.com Celebrities
  68. ^ "Dennis Waterman". BBC Drama. March 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  69. ^ Press Association (13 August 2015). "Dennis Waterman pays tribute to George Cole at his funeral". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  70. ^ Rodger, James (11 May 2022). "Dennis Waterman cause of death revealed by devastated partner". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  71. ^ "Dennis Waterman: Minder and New Tricks". BBC News. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  72. ^ Horton, Tom (16 April 2020). "A look back at some of Little Britain's most memorable sketches". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  73. ^ "WATERMAN, DENNIS – The Museum of Broadcast Communications". Museum.tv. 24 February 1948. Archived from the original on 28 April 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  74. ^ Hughes, Lorna (8 May 2022). "Dennis Waterman dead: Minder and New Tricks star dies at 74". Wales Online. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  75. ^ Clinton, Franz Antony (27 October 2020). British Thrillers, 1950-1979: 845 Films of Suspense, Mystery, Murder and Espionage. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1032-3 – via Google Books.
  76. ^ a b c d Holmstrom, John (9 May 1996). The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995. Michael Russell. ISBN 978-0-85955-178-6 – via Google Books.
  77. ^ "Film Bulletin". Wax Publications. 9 May 1968 – via Google Books.
  78. ^ Nash, Jay Robert; Ross, Stanley Ralph (1985). The Motion Picture Guide. Cinebooks. ISBN 978-0-933997-07-3 – via books.google.com.
  79. ^ Allon, Yoram; Cullen, Del; Patterson, Hannah (9 May 2001). Contemporary British and Irish Film Directors: A Wallflower Critical Guide. Wallflower Press. ISBN 978-1-903364-21-5 – via Google Books.
  80. ^ Hallet, Marion (24 March 2022). Romy Schneider: A Star Across Europe. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 978-1-5013-7884-3 – via Google Books.
  81. ^ Chq, Leon Hunt Unpr; Hunt, Leon (18 October 2013). British Low Culture: From Safari Suits to Sexploitation. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-18936-4 – via Google Books.
  82. ^ Young, R. G. (9 May 2000). The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film: Ali Baba to Zombies. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-1-55783-269-6 – via Google Books.
  83. ^ Gifford, Denis (24 October 2018). The British Film Catalogue: The Fiction Film. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-83702-2 – via Google Books.
  84. ^ "Photoplay Movies & Video". Photoplay/M.A.P. Limited. 9 May 1985 – via Google Books.
  85. ^ Film Review. W.H. Allen. 1991. ISBN 978-1-85227-318-7 – via books.google.com.
  86. ^ BFI Film and Television Handbook. British Film Institute. 1998. ISBN 978-0-85170-652-8 – via books.google.com.
  87. ^ Halliwell's Film, Video & DVD Guide. HarperPerennial. 9 May 2008. ISBN 978-0-00-726080-5 – via Google Books.
  88. ^ "Sight and Sound". 2007 – via books.google.com.
  89. ^ "Plays International". Chancery Publications Limited. 9 May 1993 – via Google Books.
  90. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 333. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  91. ^ "Dennis Waterman". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
edit