Waterman made name in ‘The Sweeney’, ‘Minder’
LONDON: British actor Dennis Waterman, who starred in TV shows Minder, The Sweeney and New Tricks, has died at the age of 74.
Waterman starred as bodyguard Terry McCann in Minder and he first found fame as tough cop George Carter in The Sweeney opposite John Thaw.
A statement from his family said: ‘‘We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved Dennis passed away very peacefully in hospital in Spain, on Sunday afternoon, with [wife] Pam by his side.’’
Waterman played Gerry Standing in the BBC’s New Tricks, and other TV roles included Where The Heart Is, The
Canterbury Tales and Moses
Jones.
He became wellknown for singing the theme song for many of his shows, and was caricatured by David Walliams in the comedy series Little Britain as a result.
His last film role was in Never Too Late in 2020, which was filmed in Australia.
Born in London, he was educated at the Corona Theatre School, and began his showbusiness career at a young age.
After a role for the Children’s Film Foundation he was invited to join the Royal Shakespeare Company.
A role in the BBC’s adaptation of the Just William books followed, and the actor would, in his later years, reflect on some of his different roles.
In 2009, he starred in the BBC’s hardhitting drama Moses Jones, a role which he said at the time he enjoyed because it cast him in a different light.
‘‘I really enjoyed it, because it was a very different kind of character — and that’s important.
‘‘On television in Britain, I’m sort of the cheeky chappie, everybody’s mate, but I’ve never played anything like that in the theatre.’’
He had been married several times, including to the actor Rula Lenska until 1998, and his daughter Hannah also became a TV star, landing a role in EastEnders.
‘‘We are incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Dennis Waterman, an unforgettable actor who will be missed by us all,’’ the BBC said.
Waterman starred in productions of Twelfth Night, Edward Bond’s Saved at the Royal Court Theatre and Sergeant Musgrave’s Dance.
He had a keen interest in music, recording albums and singles, including songs which charted in Australia, New Zealand and Britain. He was part of the popular music tour, Friends On Tour, in which he took to the road alongside Sheena Easton and Gerard Kenny. — BPA