
Dennis Potter
Personal Info
Known for
Writing
Gender
Male
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.
Acting
(1994)
An Interview with Dennis Potter
as Himself
(1994)
Visions of Heaven and Hell
as Self
Crew
(2003)
The Singing Detective
Screenplay
(1994)
Midnight Movie
Writer
(1994)
Mesmer
Writer
(1994)
Message for Posterity
Writer
(1991)
Secret Friends
Director, Novel, Screenplay
(1988)
Track 29
Writer
(1987)
Brimstone and Treacle
Writer
(1987)
Visitors
Writer
(1985)
Dreamchild
Writer, Executive Producer
(1983)
Gorky Park
Screenplay
(1982)
Brimstone & Treacle
Screenplay, Original Story
(1981)
Pennies from Heaven
Writer
(1980)
Rain on the Roof
Writer
(1980)
Blade on the Feather
Writer
(1980)
Cream in My Coffee
Writer
(1979)
Blue Remembered Hills
Writer
(1976)
Where Adam Stood
Writer
(1976)
Double Dare
Writer
(1974)
Schmoedipus
Writer
(1974)
Joe's Ark
Writer
(1973)
Only Make Believe
Writer
(1972)
(1971)
Paper Roses
Writer
(1971)
Traitor
Writer
(1970)
Lay Down Your Arms
Writer
(1970)
Angels Are So Few
Writer
(1969)
Moonlight on the Highway
Writer
(1969)
Son of Man
Writer
(1968)
A Beast with Two Backs
Writer
(1968)
The Bone Grinder
Writer
(1968)
Shaggy Dog
Writer
(1966)
Where the Buffalo Roam
Writer
(1966)
Emergency Ward 9
Writer
(1965)
(1965)
Stand Up, Nigel Barton
Writer
(1965)
Alice
Screenplay
(1960)
Between Two Rivers
Director