Dennis Waterman Wiki
Dennis Waterman Biography
Who was Dennis Waterman ?
Legendary television actor Dennis Waterman has died at the age of 74, his family announced.
Waterman was one of the most popular television actors of the 1970s in the 1980s. He played bodyguard Terry McCann on Minder after first finding fame as tough-crazy cop George Carter on The Sweeney.
In more recent years, he played Gerry Standing on the BBC’s New Tricks and, throughout his career, other television roles included ITV’s Where The Heart Is, The Canterbury Tales and Moses Jones, both for the BBC. .
In a statement, his family said he died today in Spain with his wife Pam by his side.
They stated: ‘We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved Dennis passed away peacefully at his home in Spain. The family kindly asks that our privacy be respected at this very difficult time.”
Death
Tributes have flooded in when news of Waterman’s death broke.
Producer Jonathan Sothcott tweeted: “Dennis Waterman was one of our biggest TV stars during the ’70s and ’80s, a stock figure who felt like one of us. A nuanced, naturalistic actor.
Fantastic on The Sweeney, unforgettable on Minder (great song too, parody aside). They don’t make them like that anymore.
Actor Stuart Anthony said: ‘Dennis Waterman has left us. What a fantastic talent and lovely man. Such a huge loss for the industry. RIP.’
Newscaster Kay Burley posted: “A brilliant actor who was a staple on our screens during the ’70s and ’80s.” I loved the Sweeney. He loved Minder more.
DIY SOS host Nick Knowles today also recalled a charity golf trip he took with Waterman.
Knowles tweeted: “Played golf on tour to Bermuda with Dennis Waterman, I’m not much of a golfer, he was, but it was the time spent with him between rounds that was worth the trip.” A really lovely guy. RIP.’
And host and comedian Paddy McGuinness said that he had always wanted to be the character of Terry McCann from Waterman.
In a tweet, he wrote: ‘Me and my Phoenix Nights cast mates used to sing Minder’s theme song on tour and at karaoke!
Career
‘Gutted, I never got to know him, I always wanted to be Terry McCann. Another icon of my childhood disappeared. RIP Dennis Waterman.
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Journalist John Sweeney tweeted: ‘RIP Dennis Waterman. The Sweeney was everything a great television drama should be: gritty, honest, true.’
Actor and writer Reece Shearsmith added: ‘RIP Dennis Waterman. When I worked with him on “New Tricks” he made me the best cups of tea.
“And of course I spent time grilling him about ‘The Scars of Dracula.’”
Former Eastenders and Rise of the Footsoldier actor Craig Fairbrass said: “Truly upset and heartbroken to hear this news.” I loved it, my days will never be the same watching ITV4 Sweeney & Minder. Quality classic television. RIP Dennis x’
Waterman was caricatured in Little Britain by actor David Walliams and made a surprising guest appearance with Walliams and co-star Matt Lucas at Comic Relief in 2006.
And Lucas was one of many who shared tributes to the actor today, tweeting: “I grew up watching Dennis Waterman’s iconic performances in The Sweeney and Minder.
“His appearance as a guest on our Little Britain Live show at Hammersmith Apollo, in which he did a hilarious duet with the absurd impersonation of David, remains the absolute highlight of my career.”
Born in London, Waterman was educated at Corona Theater School and began his career in show business at a young age.
After a role for the Children’s Film Foundation, he was invited to join the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford.
He followed up with a role in the BBC adaptation of the Just William books and the actor, in his later years, would reflect on some of the different roles he took on.
In 2009, he starred in the BBC’s hard-hitting drama Moses Jones, a role he said he enjoyed at the time because it cast him in a different light.
He added: “I really enjoyed it, because he was a very different kind of character, and that’s important.
“On television in Britain, I’m kind of a cheeky guy, everybody’s sidekick, but I’ve never played anything like that on stage. It’s weird that you get cast as different things in different parts of the media.’
His role in the 2003 drama New Tricks marked his return to a long-running show for the first time in a decade and saw him star alongside acting stalwarts James Bolam and Alun Armstrong. He initially joined the show in 2003 and appeared in the role for 11 years until 2014.
Dennis Waterman Quick and Facts
- Minder star Dennis Waterman has died at the age of 74, his family has confirmed in a statement today
- Waterman was one of the most popular television actors of 1970s and 1980s as tributes flood in for the actor
- In more recent years, he starred as Gerry Standing in the BBC’s New Tricks alongside Amanda Redman
- He ‘passed away very peacefully’ at hospital in Spain this afternoon with his wife Pam by his side, family says
Source: https://wikisoon.com/
