Dennis Potter
Writing
1935-05-17 · Berry Hill, UK
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.
Filmography
Drama Out of a Crisis: A Celebration of Play for Today
2020 · Movie
The Singing Detective
2003 · Movie
The Bittersweet
2000 · Movie
Cold Lazarus
1996 · Series
Karaoke
1996 · Series
Midnight Movie
1994 · Movie
An Interview with Dennis Potter
1994 · Movie
Message for Posterity
1994 · Movie
Mesmer
1994 · Movie
Visions of Heaven and Hell
1994 · Movie
Lipstick on Your Collar
1993 · Series
Performance
1991 · Series
Secret Friends
1991 · Movie
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
1991 · Movie
Blackeyes
1989 · Series
Christabel
1988 · Series
Track 29
1988 · Movie
Visitors
1987 · Movie
The Singing Detective
1986 · Series
Dreamchild
1985 · Movie
Tender Is the Night
1985 · Series
Television
1985 · Series
Screen Two
1985 · Series
Gorky Park
1983 · Movie
Brimstone & Treacle
1982 · Movie
Pennies from Heaven
1981 · Movie
Cream in My Coffee
1980 · Movie
Rain on the Roof
1980 · Movie
Blade on the Feather
1980 · Movie
Blue Remembered Hills
1979 · Movie
Pennies from Heaven
1978 · Series
The Mayor of Casterbridge
1978 · Series
The South Bank Show
1978 · Series
Where Adam Stood
1976 · Movie
Double Dare
1976 · Movie
Brimstone and Treacle
1976 · Movie
Late Call
1975 · Series
Schmoedipus
1974 · Movie
Joe's Ark
1974 · Movie
Wessex Tales
1973 · Series
Only Make Believe
1973 · Movie
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
1972 · Movie
The Sextet
1972 · Series
Casanova
1971 · Series
Traitor
1971 · Movie
Paper Roses
1971 · Movie
Angels Are So Few
1970 · Movie
Play for Today
1970 · Series
Lay Down Your Arms
1970 · Movie
Son of Man
1969 · Movie
Moonlight on the Highway
1969 · Movie
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
1969 · Series
A Beast with Two Backs
1968 · Movie
Shaggy Dog
1968 · Movie
The Company of Five
1968 · Series
The Bone Grinder
1968 · Movie
ITV Playhouse
1967 · Series
Where the Buffalo Roam
1966 · Movie
Emergency Ward 9
1966 · Movie
VOTE, VOTE, VOTE for Nigel Barton
1965 · Movie
Stand Up, Nigel Barton
1965 · Movie
Alice
1965 · Movie
Thirty-Minute Theatre
1965 · Series
Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life
1964 · Series
The Wednesday Play
1964 · Series
That Was the Week That Was
1962 · Series
Between Two Rivers
1960 · Movie