The tough cop becomes the tough crook

Press, 28 August 1979, Page 15

The tough cop becomes the tough crook

From KEN COATES in London Dennis Waterman, who plays the tough cop, George Carter, with John Thaw in “The Sweeney” is now in television on the wrong side of the law. He will star in a new Thames Television actioncomedy series called “Inder.” Set in London, it is about a former jail bird named Terry (that’s Waterman) who goes into the protection racket and is manipulated by a smoothy called Arthur. For Waterman it is another taxing, physical Cockney role. The actor was reared on council estates and flats in Clapham and Putney, and ' iiad the ordinary amount of fights at school.” Playing a tough guy on the screen can bring its problems —• some men cannot resist having a go at the actor, as several — including Gareth Hunt of “The Avengers” ■ — have found out. But Dennis Waterman says this did not happen

in the two and a half years he and John Thaw were together for “The Sweeney.” This was because peope identified with the characters they were playing as someone they knew. Waterman acted in a variety of roles from the age of 11. His sister, Norma, paid for him to go to acting school as a child. At 14 he was sent off (o Hollvwood to appear in a TV series, “Fair Exchange,” with Judy Carne, who played his sister. Waterman was the first “Just William” and made a huge impact in the film “Up the Junction” with Suzy Kendall. Later he played the title role in “Alfie” and appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Dennis Waterman has earned as much as $20,000 for one day’s work on an Oxo commercial. He’s in keen demand for commercials for the same reason that he delights million of British viewers — many people can identify with him easily.