Personal life and death
Waterman was married four times:
Penny Dixon (1967–1976)
Patricia Maynard (1977–1987), an actress with whom he had two daughters, one of whom, Hannah Waterman, is also an actress. Hannah is best known for playing Laura Beale in the BBC1 soap opera EastEnders, and later appeared in New Tricks alongside Waterman as his character's daughter.
Rula Lenska (1987–1998) Waterman's marriage to Lenska ended because of his violent behaviour towards her. In March 2012, he caused controversy with some comments on this issue: "It's not difficult for a woman to make a man hit her. She certainly wasn't a beaten wife, she was hit and that's different." Lenska said there was a "violent, abusive pattern"; Waterman himself admitted he might have "drunk too much" to remember details. The interview was broadcast in full on Piers Morgan's Life Stories on ITV in May 2012.
Pam Flint (November 2011–2022)
Waterman emigrated to Spain with his wife Pam in 2015 after New Tricks ended, living at a villa in La Manga, and playing golf at the La Manga Club.
Waterman was banned from driving for three years in January 1991, following his second drink driving conviction in four years. He was a fan of Chelsea F.C. His love of football was reflected in him being chosen to present Match of the Seventies from 1995 to 1996, a nostalgic BBC show celebrating the best football matches from the 1970s.
In 2015, his friend of many years, George Cole, who had played Arthur Daley in Minder, died aged 90. Waterman delivered the eulogy at Cole's funeral on 12 August.
On 8 May 2022, Waterman died from lung cancer at his home on La Manga, Spain, aged 74.
