Dennis Potter
Writing
Born: May 17, 1935 · Berry Hill, UK
Died: June 7, 1994 (aged 59)
Highest Rated
Biography
Dennis Christopher George Potter (17 May 1935 – 7 June 1994) was an English television dramatist, screenwriter and journalist. He is best known for his BBC TV serials Pennies from Heaven (1978), The Singing Detective (1986), and the television plays Blue Remembered Hills (1979) and Brimstone and Treacle (1976). His television dramas mixed fantasy and reality, the personal and the social, and often used themes and images from popular culture. Potter is widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative dramatists to have worked in British television. Born in Gloucestershire and graduating from Oxford University, Potter initially worked in journalism. After standing for parliament as a Labour candidate at the 1964 general election, his health was affected by the onset of psoriatic arthropathy which necessitated Potter changing careers and led to him becoming a television dramatist. His new career began with contributions to the BBC's Wednesday Play anthology series in 1965, and he continued to work in the medium for the rest of his life. He also wrote screenplay adaptations for the Hollywood studios. He died of pancreatic cancer in 1994.
Known for
Gorky Park
1983
The Singing Detective
2003
Pennies from Heaven
1981
Track 29
1988
The Singing Detective
1986
Dreamchild
1985
Brimstone & Treacle
1982
Lipstick on Your Collar
1993
Karaoke
1996
Cold Lazarus
1996
Mesmer
1994
Photos (1)
Movies (2)
TV Shows (2)
Self / Appearances (3)
Directing (3)
Writing (59)
Play for Today
Writer
The Wednesday Play
Writer
Screen Two
Writer
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
Writer
ITV Playhouse
Writer
Thirty-Minute Theatre
Writer
Performance
Writer
Karaoke
Writer
Gorky Park
Screenplay
Tender Is the Night
Writer
The Singing Detective
Screenplay
The Sextet
Writer
That Was The Week That Was
Writer
The Singing Detective
Writer
Cold Lazarus
Writer
Lipstick on Your Collar
Writer
Pennies from Heaven
Writer
Dreamchild
Writer
The Company of Five
Writer
Pennies from Heaven
Writer
The Mayor of Casterbridge
Writer
The Mayor of Casterbridge
Screenplay
Blackeyes
Novel
Blackeyes
Writer
Wessex Tales
Writer
Schmoedipus
Writer
Visitors
Writer
Track 29
Writer
Secret Friends
Novel
Secret Friends
Screenplay
Cream in My Coffee
Writer
Casanova
Writer
Brimstone & Treacle
Screenplay
Brimstone & Treacle
Original Story
Blue Remembered Hills
Writer
Only Make Believe
Writer
Midnight Movie
Writer
Blade on the Feather
Writer
Mesmer
Writer
Late Call
Writer
Shaggy Dog
Writer
Brimstone and Treacle
Writer
Son of Man
Writer
Moonlight on the Highway
Writer
Where Adam Stood
Writer
Rain on the Roof
Writer
Paper Roses
Writer
A Beast with Two Backs
Writer
Joe's Ark
Writer
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
Writer
Lay Down Your Arms
Writer
Stand Up, Nigel Barton
Writer
Angels Are So Few
Writer
Double Dare
Writer
Message for Posterity
Writer
The Bone Grinder
Writer
Alice
Screenplay
Between Two Rivers
Writer
VOTE, VOTE, VOTE for Nigel Barton
Writer
Producing (3)
Other Crew (11)
Karaoke
Creator
Tender Is the Night
Creator
The Singing Detective
Creator
Cold Lazarus
Creator
Lipstick on Your Collar
Creator
Pennies from Heaven
Creator
The Mayor of Casterbridge
Creator
The Mayor of Casterbridge
Creator
Blackeyes
Creator
Casanova
Creator
Late Call
Creator