Dennis Waterman

***Dennis Waterman*** (born February 24, 1948) is an English actor and singer, best known for his tough-guy roles in television series including *The Sweeney*, *Minder* and *New Tricks*.

His acting career spans over 50 years, starting with childhood roles in film and theatre, and including adult roles in film, television, and West End theatre. He is notable for the range of roles he has played, including horror (*Scars of Dracula*), adventure (*Colditz*), comedy (*Fair Exchange*), comedy-drama (*Minder*), musical (*Windy City*) and sports (*The World Cup: A Captain's Tale*), as well as police TV series like *The Sweeney*. He has appeared in 27 films.

Waterman has been married four times. Most notably to actress Rula Lenska (1987-1998), and Patricia Maynard (1977–1987), an actress with whom he has two daughters, one of whom, Hannah Waterman, is also an actress. Hannah is best known for playing Laura Beale in the BBC1 soap opera EastEnders, and later appeared in New Tricks alongside Waterman as his character's daughter.

Waterman has sung the theme tunes for at least four of the programmes in which he has starred: Minder, New Tricks, On the Up and Stay Lucky.

### Career Highlights

#### March 16, 1961: The Music Man (stage musical)

The first UK production opened at Bristol Hippodrome, transferring to London's West End at the Adelphi Theatre on March 16, 1961, starring Van Johnson. It ran for 395 performances at the Adelphi.

#### May 26, 1962 - June 30, 1962: William (TV series)

Waterman starred as William Brown in the first of two series of BBC TV's *William* based on the Just William books of Richmal Crompton. He was replaced in series two by Denis Gilmore.

#### January 25, 1968: Up the Junction (film)

***Up the Junction*** is a British film starring Dennis Waterman, Suzy Kendall, Adrienne Posta, Maureen Lipman and Liz Fraser, and based on the 1963 book of the same name by Nell Dunn.

#### November 8, 1970: Scars of Dracula (film)

Waterman played the brother of a victim of Count Dracula (Christopher Lee) in the Hammer film ***Scars of Dracula***.

#### June 4, 1974: Regan (part of the Armchair Cinema TV series)

A feature-length pilot episode for The Sweeney entitled "Regan", was made as part of the Armchair Cinema series and introduced the characters of Jack Regan (John Thaw) and George Carter (Waterman).

#### January 2, 1975 - December 28, 1978: The Sweeney (TV series)

Wateman became well known and something of a pin-up as DS George Carter in *The Sweeney* during the 1970s.

#### January, 1977: Sweeney! (film)

The Sweeney was so successful that a made for cinema spinoff, *Sweeney!* was released.

#### April, 1978: Sweeney 2 (film)

Sweeney! did well enough at the box office for a sequel, *Sweeney 2*.

#### October 29, 1979 - February 6, 1989: Minder (TV series)

Waterman starred as Terry McCann alongside George Cole' Arthur Daley in the comedy-drama about the London criminal underworld, ***Minder***. He starred in series 1-7. In the final two series, Terry was replaced by Arthur's nephew, Ray (played by Gary Webster).

#### September 1, 1980: "I Could Be So Good For You"

The theme tune for Minder, "I Could Be So Good for You", was released as a single and reached No.3 in the UK charts, achieving Silver status, and led Waterman to tour as a singer.

#### June 14, 1982: The World Cup: A Captain's Tale (TV movie)

Waterman starred in a television film made by Tyne Tees Television based on the true story of West Auckland F.C., a part-time side who won the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy, sometimes described as the 'First World Cup'. Waterman played the part of Bob Jones, the club captain. It cost £1.5 million to make of which was mostly funded by Waterman. Shooting took place in the North East and in Turin in Italy. Scenes were shot in County Durham pit villages and in Ashington, Northumberland where goal posts and a grandstand were erected in a public park with a colliery headframe in the background. Local players took part, donning long pants and high-sided boots of the day, and even suffering "short back and sides" haircuts.

The production boasted several comedy sequences, including a meeting of the club committee and a meeting of the Football Association Council when the suggestion of an English team participating in the new competition received a lukewarm and cynical response from the members. Also on the agenda was the F.A. Cup draw performed in the conventional manner and immediately dispatched direct from the council chamber to the clubs "by carrier pigeons" released out of the windows.

**Notable Cast**

* Andrew Keir as Sir Thomas Lipton
* Richard Griffiths as Sidney Barron
* Dennis Waterman as Bob Jones
* Nigel Hawthorne as John Westwood
* Dai Bradley (Billy in Kes) as Ticer Thomas
* Tim Healy as Charlie Hogg

#### 1983: "What Are We Gonna Get 'Er Indoors"

George Cole and Dennis Waterman, as their characters from Minder, released a Christmas record which reached No. 21 in the charts. The duo performed it on Top of the Pops on December 22, 1983.

#### December 25, 1985: Minder on the Orient Express (TV movie)

***Minder on the Orient Express*** is a comedy/thriller television film made as a spin-off from the successful television series Minder. It was first broadcast on Christmas Day 1985, as the highlight of that year's ITV Christmas schedule.

#### October 8, 1986: The Life and Loves of a She-Devil (TV mini-series)

Waterman took the lead male rôle in the BAFTA Award-winning BBC adaptation of Fay Weldon's ***The Life and Loves of a She-Devil***.

#### December 8, 1989 - August 6, 1993: Stay Lucky (TV series)

***Stay Lucky*** is a British television comedy-drama series starring Jan Francis and Dennis Waterman. Waterman plays a small-time gangster who becomes involved in a series of misadventures with a recently widowed, self-sufficient business woman (Francis). Waterman sang the theme tune.

#### September 4, 1990 - November 2, 1992: On The Up (TV series)

On the Up is a British situation comedy written by Bob Larbey. Running for three series, it starred Waterman as Tony Carpenter, a self-made millionaire who turns his South London minicab firm into a successful chauffeur-driven car service. It also starred Sam Kelly and Joan Sims. Waterman sang the song heard during the end credits.

#### April 20 - May 11, 1997: The Knock (TV series)

Waterman appeared as John Danson (the Head of the largest UK smuggling Network) in four episodes of Series 3 of the UK TV drama ***The Knock***.