Dennis 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.

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.

Early life and education

Waterman was born on 24 February 1948, as the youngest of nine children to Rose Juliana (née Saunders) and Harry Frank Waterman in Clapham,Waterman and Arlon. – p.7. then in the County of London. The family, which included siblings Ken, Peter, a welterweight boxing champion, Stella, Norma, and Myrna, lived at 2 Elms Road, Clapham Common South Side. Harry Waterman was a ticket collector for British Railways. 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.

Boxing was a big part of Waterman's childhood. His father had been an amateur boxer and made all of his sons box.Waterman and Arlon. – p.13-14. His older brother Ken first took Dennis boxing when he was three years old,Waterman and Arlon. – p.18. and when he was ten Dennis joined Caius Boxing Club.

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.

Life and career

1960s

Waterman's acting career began in childhood. His first role was in ''Night Train for Inverness'' (1960). He appeared in two small stage roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company's 1960 season. In 1961, at the age of 13, he played the part of Winthrop Paroo in the Adelphi Theatre production of ''The Music Man''. A year later, he starred as William Brown in the BBC TV series ''William'' based on the ''Just William'' books of Richmal Crompton.
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. Waterman was a series regular in the 1962 CBS comedy '' Fair Exchange'', playing teenager Neville Finch. In 1963, he took a "starring" role in the Children's Film Foundation film ''Go Kart Go''.

He later appeared in the premier of Carving a Statue, produced by Peter Wood on 17 September 1964 at the Haymarket Theatre, London. The cast consisted of; Ralph Richardson as The Father, Dennis Waterman as His Son, Barbara Ferris as The First Girl, Jane Birkin as The Second Girl and Roland Culver as Dr Parker.

Waterman was in the original cast of '' Saved'', the play written by Edward Bond, and first produced at the Royal Court Theatre in November 1965. 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).

1970s

In the early 1970s, Waterman appeared in the BBC
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