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Post by ripper on May 9, 2022 9:17:35 GMT
I was sad to hear that Dennis Waterman had passed away at the age of 74. For horror fans, he will be remembered for his role in Scars of Dracula. He was also in the low-budget thriller Fright with Susan George and George Cole, who would go on to be his co-star in the popular TV series Minder. It was, however, his role in The Sweeney that really propelled him to fame in the mid-1970s. He and John Thaw worked so well together as DS Carter and DI Regan, and if you were a lad growing up at that time then The Sweeney was a must watch, and I remember re-creating with my schoolmates in the playground what we had watched the previous night--minus the car chases, hard drinking and womanising, of course! When he was married to Rula Lenska I recall they would often turn up together in various game shows, such as Give Us A Clue. RIP.
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Post by Swampirella on May 9, 2022 11:18:11 GMT
I heard about it yesterday & was very sad to hear the news. As far as I know, "The Sweeney" was never shown in Canada, or at least not in my area, but my mom & I loved "Minder" and later on I love(d) "New Tricks".
Rest in peace, dear Dennis.
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Post by andydecker on May 9, 2022 13:34:59 GMT
This is sad and 74 is not exactly old.
I never was a fan of Scars of Dracula, but I remember Waterman in the role. The Sweeney was shown in the 80s for a short time on tv, later the movies for a while. But it was was never re-run. I bought one of the DVD editions a few years ago after watching the complete Morse and reading so much about the series, and he had a great chemistry with Thaw. While a lot of those old tv series have become hard to watch - the pacing of Simon Templar is glacial, for instance - I liked The Sweeney. Waterman was great as the leash which kept barking Thaw from crossing the line.
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Post by Shrink Proof on May 9, 2022 20:19:34 GMT
This is sad and 74 is not exactly old.
Right on both counts. Another piece of my youth disappears over the horizon.
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Post by johnnymains on May 10, 2022 10:22:01 GMT
"The problem with strong, intelligent women is that they can argue well. And if there is a time where you can't get a word in…I lashed out. I must have punched her one time because she did have a black eye. She certainly wasn't a beaten wife, she was hit and that's different."
Charming words from Dennis about the time he terrified his wife, Rula Lenska...
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Post by David A. Riley on May 10, 2022 11:31:21 GMT
"The problem with strong, intelligent women is that they can argue well. And if there is a time where you can't get a word in…I lashed out. I must have punched her one time because she did have a black eye. She certainly wasn't a beaten wife, she was hit and that's different." Charming words from Dennis about the time he terrified his wife, Rula Lenska... Strangely inappropriate time to bring this up.
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Post by Swampirella on May 10, 2022 11:45:15 GMT
I presume because we've all been singing his praises. I'd forgotten reading about that incident, to be honest.
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Post by helrunar on May 10, 2022 14:18:12 GMT
I think they divorced in 1998. I love Rula in everything. A memorable performance was as Morgwyn of Ravenscar, Mother Superior to one of the greatest convents in England and, in secret, High Priestess of Satan Himself. She played that with such total commitment. And with truly spectacular flaming red hair.
A cult performance was in something called Rock Follies which a friend of mine adores--very few in either the UK or the US seem to recall that one.
I barely remember Dennis Waterman in Scars of Dracula. I haven't seen the shows everybody knows him from. May his spirit know peace.
H.
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Post by Dr Strange on May 10, 2022 15:21:52 GMT
Unfortunately she will now forever be remembered in the UK for her stint on Celebrity Big Brother and that creepy "role-play" she did with "Gorgeous George" Galloway.
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Post by helrunar on May 10, 2022 15:57:08 GMT
In America, Ms Lenska is remembered--if at all--for a series of shampoo commercials she did in the late 1970s. The commercials would begin with her dramatically announcing, "I'm Rula Lenska." A popular chat show host named Johnny Carson made fun of her because nobody had ever heard of her here, yet she made the announcement of her name with a great sense of import and presence.
H.
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