‘The grief is too personal and private’: Dennis Waterman’s New Tricks co-star Amanda Redman is unable to speak on the TV star’s death
Legendary TV actor Dennis Waterman has died at the age of 74, his family has announced.
And his New Trick’s co-star Amanda Redman is unable to publicly speak on the TV star’s death due to the grief being ‘too personal’.
The 63-year-old actress’ daughter Emily took to Twitter on her mother’s behalf to thank fans for their support during the difficult time but revealed she won’t be able to respond.
Difficult: New Trick’s star Amanda Redman is unable to publicly speak on her co-star Dennis Waterman’s death due to the grief being ‘too personal’
She wrote: ‘Hi everyone, it’s Emily (Amanda’s daughter). She has seen and is grateful for your messages but can’t respond – the grief is too personal and private. Thank you for understanding. E x’
Amanda starred alongside Waterman in the long-running BBC police drama for 10 years, as Sandra Pullman, detective superintendent to his hero Gerry Standing.
Waterman was one of the most popular television actors of the 1970s and 80s. He starred as bodyguard Terry McCann in Minder after first finding fame as tough nut cop George Carter in The Sweeney.
Tragic: Legendary TV actor Dennis died at the age of 74 on Sunday his family has announced
Upset: The 63-year-old actress’ daughter Emily took to Twitter on her mother’s behalf to thank fans for their support during the difficult time but revealed she won’t be able to respond
In more recent years, he starred as Gerry Standing in the BBC’s New Tricks, and throughout his career other TV 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 at his side.
They stated: ‘We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved Dennis passed away very peacefully at his home in Spain. The family kindly ask that our privacy is respected at this very difficult time.’
Tributes have flooded in as news broke of Waterman’s death.
Legend: Waterman was one of the most popular television actors of the 1970s and 80s. He starred as bodyguard Terry McCann in Minder after first finding fame as tough nut cop George Carter in The Sweeney (Amanda and Dennis pictured in 2007)
Producer Jonathan Sothcott tweeted: ‘Dennis Waterman was one of our biggest TV stars throughout the 70s and 80s, an everyman figure who felt like one of us. A naturalistic, nuanced actor.
‘Terrific in The Sweeney, unforgettable in Minder (helluva song too, lampoonery aside). They don’t make ‘em like that anymore.’
Actor Stuart Anthony said: ‘Dennis Waterman has left us. What a fantastic talent and lovely man. Such a loss to the industry. RIP.’
She wrote: ‘Hi everyone, it’s Emily (Amanda’s daughter). She has seen and is grateful for your messages but can’t respond – the grief is too personal and private. Thank you for understanding. E x’ (Amanda, Dennis and Diane Langton pictured left to right in 1982)
Friends: Amanda starred alongside Waterman in the long-running BBC police drama for 10 years, as Sandra Pullman, detective superintendent to his hero Gerry Standing
Newsreader Kay Burley posted: ‘A brilliant actor who was a staple on our screens throughout the 70s and 80s. Loved The Sweeney. Loved Minder more.’
DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles also today reminisced about a charity golf trip he took alongside Waterman.
Knowles tweeted: ‘I played golf on a tour to Bermuda with Dennis Waterman – I’m not much of a golfer – he was – but it was time spent with him between rounds that were well worth the trip. A genuinely lovely guy. RIP.’
Difficult time: Dennis (right) was one of the most popular television actors of the 70s and 80s (pictured with Minder co-star George Cole)
And presenter and comedian Paddy McGuinness said he had always wanted to be the character of Waterman’s Terry McCann.
In a tweet, he wrote: ‘Myself and my Phoenix Nights cast mates used to sing the theme tune to Minder on tour and on the Karaoke!
‘Gutted I never got to meet him, always wanted to be Terry McCann. Another icon from my childhood gone. RIP Dennis Waterman.’
Journalist John Sweeney tweeted: ‘RIP Dennis Waterman. The Sweeney was everything great TV 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 just spent the time grilling him about “Scars of Dracula”.’
Former Eastenders and Rise of the Footsoldier actor Craig Fairbrass said: ‘Truly upset & gutted hearing this news. I loved him – my days will never be the same watching ITV4 Sweeney & Minder. Quality classic TV. RIP Dennis x’
Dennis Waterman: An actor and singer whose career spanned more than six decades
Dennis Waterman was a familiar face on British television for more than six decades.
From tough cop George Carter in The Sweeney to good-hearted detective sergeant Gerry Standing in New Tricks, he was known for playing action-packed characters who had more than meets the eye.
Not one to focus on a single role, Waterman was also an accomplished singer, stage actor and film star.
Born in 1948 in Clapham, south-west London, as the youngest of nine children, he was surrounded by arts at a young age thanks to his older sister Joy, who ran her own amateur dramatics society and encouraged the rest of the Waterman children to join.
His mother also dabbled in music by playing the piano in a way which Waterman once described as an ‘East End knees-up job’.
Waterman joined the Corona Theatre School in 1959 following a suggestion from another one of his sisters and soon got work in the industry.
Dennis Waterman, whose acting and singing career spanned six decades, has died aged 74
His film debut came in 1960 in the Night Train For Inverness.
Also at the age of 12, Waterman was invited to join the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon.
He followed with the television series Just William, and spent a year in the West End playing Winthrop Parroo in The Music Man.
At 16, he starred on the West End in Carving A Statue, which marked the beginning of a recording career and a three-year engagement at the Royal Court.
During that time, his versatility as an actor was stretched in productions ranging from Edward Bond’s Saved, through to Twelfth Night and Sergeant Musgrave’s Dance.
Further stints on television and in the theatre led to him landing a role in Nell Dunn’s Up The Junction in 1967, playing Pete, a man from his native Clapham, who meets an upper class girl from Chelsea, west London, and begins dating her.
Waterman became a household name after playing the role of DS George Carter in crime series The Sweeney, in which he co-starred with John Thaw. The worldwide popularity led to two film box office smashes, Sweeney I and Sweeney II.
He later reflected fondly on his time in the show, stating in his Life And Times documentary: ‘We knew we were doing something really quite special and very different from British television.
‘There was no worry then, which I think was a help. There was no great panic about whether it was going to be a success in the ratings.
‘We just knew we had very good scripts, we had great directors, and we thought we weren’t that shabby. John [Thaw] and I were great mates and, it sounds horrible, but it was just a joy to go to work every day.’
His Sweeney success was later topped with critically acclaimed television series The Minder, where Waterman played bodyguard, or ‘minder’, Terry McCann for 10 years from 1979. He demonstrated his vocal talents by singing the theme song, I Could Be So Good for You, which peaked at number three in the UK charts in 1980.
His passion for singing led Waterman to release music with record companies EMI and DJM.
He released three albums – Down Wind Of Angels, Waterman and So Good For You – in the 1970s and 1980s and performed around the UK on a tour, dubbed Friends On Tour, with Sheena Easton and Gerard Kenny.
Waterman pictured on set for The Sweeney, in which he first found fame playing the role of tough nut cop George Carter. The series launched his career on British television
Waterman pictured during filming for Piers Morgan’s Life Stories. He is urvived by his wife, Pam, and two daughters, Julia and Hannah
Echoing the success of Sweeney, Minder was adapted into a film based on the TV series entitled Minder On The Orient Express, which was broadcast on Christmas Day in 1985.
After leaving Minder, Waterman returned to the stage for several years, starring in shows including Jeffrey Bernard in Unwell in Australia, Ireland and the UK, and My Fair Lady in the West End.
In the latter part of his career, he played Gerry Standing in the show New Tricks from 2003 to 2014.
Afterwards he semi-retired, splitting his time between his homes in Berkshire and Spain. His final film role was in the Australian comedy drama Never Too Late in 2020.
Waterman is survived by his wife, Pam, and two daughters, Julia and Hannah, who were born following his marriage to actress Patricia Maynard.
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