Dennis From Eastenders

From LoveToKnow Soap-Operas

The role of Dennis from Eastenders was played by the very handsome and very charming actor, Nigel Harman.

About Nigel Harman

Nigel Harman was born in Purley, Surrey, England on August 11, 1973. He doesn't come from a family of actors, but his father did do a bit of amateur acting and that interest was obviously passed on to Nigel. Harman attended the prestigious Rosslyn School of Drama and officially began his career at the age of eight, first in commercials, then moving on to the theater where he was cast in various roles in plays, including:

Mama Mia
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Three Sisters

Interested in making his mark in the entertainment industry, Harman auditioned for a different role, a policeman, on EastEnders but didn't get the part. Not giving up, he later auditioned for the role of a fireman and yet again, was turned down for the part.

In 2003, Harman decided to try his luck again and auditioned for the role of Dennis Rickman, this time, he won the part and made his television debut that same year.

About Dennis from Eastenders

Dennis was the product of a short affair between his mother Paula Rickman and father, "Dirty" Den Watts. In 2003, the character of Paula Rickman died before she told "Dirty" Den Watts that he had a son. As these things go, Den soon discovered he had a son who made a living as a bookie and had brooding and violent tendencies. The relationship between father and son became an extremely popular story line for an already extremely popular show. Not only did Dennis have a volatile, somewhat passive-aggressive relationship with his father, but he also developed a relationship of other sorts, with his adopted sister Sharon.

The Sharon/Dennis Relationship

Before his return to the show, it was believed that Dennis' father was killed by order of rival mob boss Jack Dalton. 14 years had passed (on the show) and Den mysteriously reappeared, sending Dennis into a downward spiral. That night, he and adopted sister Sharon, began a passionate affair. Den found out about the affair between his biological son and adopted daughter and subsequently rejected both of them. Dennis, wanting so badly to have a relationship with his father, broke things off with Sharon. He explained this to his father by claiming that he suspected that he was sexually abused as a child and that was the reason why he became involved in a relationship with his adopted sister.

Dennis later started seeing Zoe Slater, but his relationship with her was no match for the feelings he had with Sharon and the two soon started up their passionate affair again. Zoe, of course, found out and did everything she could in order to hold on to the man she loved.

Zoe's Pregnancy

On the evening that Dennis and Sharon announced their love for each other to everyone, Zoe had some news of her own…she was pregnant. Of course she wasn't, but she was desperate and did everything she could in order to not lose Dennis. He, of course nixed his plans with Sharon to move to the United States, in favor of being present in his child's life. Zoe, in order to cover up her lies, then began sleeping with Den and Dennis eventually caught the two in the act and exposed Zoe's lies.

Dennis and Sharon Marry

After discovering his father with Zoe, Dennis went away for awhile and the character did not return to the show for four months. When he came back, he and Sharon presented a united front against Den, announcing their love for one another and their plans to be married. The couple wed that summer.

The Death of Dennis from Eastenders

On New Years Eve, less then a year after his character married Sharon, Nigel Harman's role of Dennis was killed off the show. On his way to meet his wife to watch the New Years Eve fireworks display, Dennis was stabbed. He died in the arms of his wife who was carrying their baby.

All the fans of Nigel Harman can only hope the he will eventually make a mysterious reappearance to the show just as his father "Dirty" Den Watts did.

Retrieved from "http://soap-operas.lovetoknow.com/Dennis_From_Eastenders"