Dennis Potter

Personal Info

Known For:
Writing

Birthday:
May 17, 1935

Place of Birth:
Berry Hill, UK

Social Media

Dennis Potter

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

Filmography

Year Movie Role
2020 Drama Out of a Crisis: A Celebration of Play for Today Self – Writer (archive footage, 1973 & 1977)
1994 An Interview with Dennis Potter Himself
1994 Visions of Heaven and Hell Self
1979 Blue Remembered Hills Narrator (voice, uncredited)
1960 Between Two Rivers Narrator
Year TV Show Role
1989 Blackeyes Narrator (voice, uncredited)