Minder and The Sweeney actor Dennis Waterman dies aged 74

Algerian actor Ahmed Benaissa died today following a lengthy illness and just hours before his film Sons of Ramses is scheduled for a Critics’ Week screening at the Cannes Film Festival. He was 78.

Dennis Waterman’s second wife Patricia Maynard has paid tribute to the actor after he died on Sunday, aged 74, after a a secret two-year battle with lung cancer. Patricia, who was married to Dennis for ten years, from 1977 to 1897, and is mother to his two daughters, Hannah and Julia, has spoken out about her ex-husband's death. She said to MailOnline: ”I'm terribly sad that he's gone but I'm really pleased that he did not suffer and died peacefully.

BBC actor Reiss Jarvis tragically died aged 21 in November in a speeding car accident, an inquest has heard.The young actor, best known for his roles in One-in-a-Million and Murdered for Being Different was killed after a speeding driver ‘lost control’ and smashed into a tree in Delph, Oldham. He was in the front passenger seat of a Mazda 3 when it swerved off the country road and hit a tree before plunging down an embankment. Reiss reportedly suffered multiple “unsurvivable” injuries as a result of the tragic crash, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dennis Waterman's daughter Hannah has shared a heart-wrenching tribute in honour of her late father, who sadly died over the weekend. The former EastEnders actress, 46, who played Ian Beale's wife Laura Beale on the BBC One soap, posted a previously unseen snap of them together when she was a little girl. The black and white image featured Dennis, who died at the age of 74, wearing a 1970s style cream polo neck jumper and his hair in a mid-length bob.

Amanda Redman has told fans she is unable to speak about the death of her New Tricks co-star Dennis Waterman, because the grief is too personal.The actress’s daughter used her mum's Twitter account to share the pain she is going through following Dennis's sad death. The death of Dennis, who was best known for his part in The Sweeney and Minder, was announced by his family yesterday. The 74-year-old actor passed away peacefully in hospital in Spain.

Dennis Waterman, star of Minder, The Sweeney and New Tricks, has died, aged 74. The news was announced by the actor’s family, who revealed in a statement that he died on Sunday (8 May) with his wife Pam by his side. “We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved Dennis passed away very peacefully in hospital in Spain.

READ MORE: ITV Britain's Got Talent faces fresh fix claims as magician makes fourth appearance Stars who worked alongside Waterman took to social media to pay tribute to the actor. Comedian and Bake Off host Matt Lucas wrote: "I grew up watching Dennis Waterman's iconic performances in The Sweeney and Minder. His guest appearance in our Little Britain Live show at Hammersmith Apollo - in which he hilariously duetted with David's absurd impersonation of him - remains the absolute highlight of my career.

Matt Lucas and Paddy McGuinness are leading the tributes to legendary actor Dennis Waterman, whose death was announced today. A statement confirmed that the Minder and New Tricks star died aged 74 on Sunday, with wife Pam by his side. The family have asked for privacy as their grieve, revealing that the ‘beloved’ star ‘passed away very peacefully in hospital in Spain.

Actor Dennis Waterman has died at the age of 74, with the sad news being announced in a statement. It read: "We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved Dennis passed away very peacefully at his home in Spain." Dennis was renowned for his roles in Minder, The Sweeney and New Tricks, and he is reported to have died with his wife by his side. Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter The actor was married three times - to Penny Dixon from 1967 until 1976, Patricia Maynard for ten years from 1977 and Rula Lenska, from 1987 until 1998.