Dennis Waterman died after a two-year battle with lung cancer, his ex-wife Patricia Maynard has revealed.
The veteran actor, star of shows such as Minder, The Sweeney and New Tricks, died at the age of 74 at his home in Spain on Saturday with his wife Pam by his side.
Talking to the Daily Mail, Maynard, who had two children with Waterman, said: "I'm terribly sad that he's gone but I'm really pleased that he did not suffer and died peacefully.
"He had lung cancer and was really quite poorly for the last couple of years. The girls are very upset."
She continued: "The years that Dennis and I were together were happy. Obviously, it didn't work out but lots of marriages don't work out for whatever reason.
"But I'm so glad he had found the right woman at the end. I think he was very happy with Pam and she was with him when he passed."
News of Waterman's illness was not widely known prior to his death.
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