Dennis Waterman’s heartbroken daughter Julia has shared details about the chaotic childhood she endured as her father moved between women and homes.
The 43-year-old is one of two daughters of the later Minder actor – who passed away in May at the age of 74 and after a short battle against lung cancer.
He had been diagnosed with the condition three months before his death – but Julia says she was grateful to have time to properly reconcile with her father.
Julia explained that she was distressed when Dennis – who was married four times – left her mother, the actress Patricia Maynard, 80, and then married 74-year-old Rula Leska when she was seven.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Julia paints a difficult and chaotic sounding childhood under her father’s care.
She explained: “Being at Dad and Rula’s was this Technicolor whirlwind of an experience with mad screaming fights. If you’re a kid, they’re amazingly unsettling.
“I’d hear Dad and Rula shouting at each other. Rula would be going on a lot and he’d be saying: ‘Just stop it. Shut up. I don’t want to hear this.’ Then he’d leave the house.
“He’d probably go to the golf course or wherever. She hated that. Then there’d be slammed doors in the early hours and music would play very loudly.”
She went on to explain that she took an immediate dislike of her step mother – and bit her one evening while she was reading a bedtime story to her.
Julia recalled: “It went off. I just remember Dad standing in front of me, saying ‘Why did you do it?’ I said: ‘I don’t like her.’ I never regretted it. I really, really hated her.”
Julia – herself a failed actress who began a career in financial services instead – explained that she ‘drank heavily’ while studying at university and as her father and Rula divorced.
She told a friend at the time that: “I felt I’d had my childhood stolen” – but was later encouraged when Dennis married fourth wife, Pam Flint, who he remained married to until his death last month.
Julia went on to explain that she was able to reconcile with Dennis following his diagnosis earlier in the year.
Dennis’s death was reported on 8 Mat, with statement from his family said: "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."
A string of stars paid tribute to the actor, with Matt Lucas writing online: "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."
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