Dennis Waterman was an English actor and singer, born on February 24, 1948, in Clapham, London, England, and died on May 8, 2022, in La Manga, Murcia, Spain.
He was best known for his tough-guy leading roles in television series including The Sweeney, Minder and New Tricks, as well as singing the theme tunes of the latter two.
Waterman had a long and successful career in the entertainment industry, with his work spanning over six decades, from 1960 to 2020.
He was also a fanatical supporter of Chelsea FC and had a home in Spain, where he spent his retirement years playing golf.
Dennis Waterman early life
Waterman was born in Clapham, south-west London, England, as the youngest of nine children to Rose Juliana and Harry Frank Waterman.
His father was a ticket collector for British Railways, and his mother made curtains and soft furnishings.
Waterman’s siblings included Ken, Peter, a welterweight boxing champion, Stella, Norma and Myrna.
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, and his father made all of his sons box.
His older brother Ken first took Dennis boxing when he was three years old, 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, South-West London, followed by Corona Stage School, an independent school at Ravenscourt Park in Hammersmith in West London.
Dennis Waterman cause of death
Waterman died on May 8, 2022, at his home in La Manga, Spain, at the age of 74.
According to his second wife, Patricia Maynard, he died after a two-year battle with lung cancer.
She confirmed that he had been battling cancer secretly for two years and was ‘quite poorly for the last couple of years’.
Maynard also stated that Waterman did not suffer and died peacefully with his fourth wife, Pam Flint, by his side.
A statement from Waterman’s family said that he passed away very peacefully in the hospital in Spain.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs.
It occurs when cells in the lungs grow abnormally and form a mass or tumor.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, accounting for more deaths than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined.
There are two main types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
NSCLC is the most common type, accounting for about 85% of all lung cancers, while SCLC accounts for the remaining 15%.
The most common cause of lung cancer is smoking, but other factors such as exposure to radon, air pollution, and secondhand smoke can also increase the risk of developing lung cancer.
Symptoms of lung cancer may include coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue and weight loss.
Treatment options for lung cancer depend on the type and stage of the cancer, but may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
Early detection and treatment can improve the chances of survival for people with lung cancer.
Dennis Waterman career
Waterman had a long and successful career in the entertainment industry, spanning over six decades, from 1960 to 2020.
He was best known for his tough-guy leading roles in television series including The Sweeney, Minder and New Tricks, as well as singing the theme tunes of the latter two.
Waterman began his entertainment career as a 13-year-old child actor and landed roles in various films and television shows throughout his career.
He was also a singer and had a briefly successful singing career in the early 80s, recording his first two albums in 1980 and 1981.
Waterman was a fanatical supporter of Chelsea FC and had a home in Spain, where he spent his retirement years playing golf.
