Derek Martin
Born: 1933-04-11 in Bow, London, England, UK
Died: 2026-01-10
Known For: Acting
Biography
Derek Martin was one of the most authentic working class voices in British film and television since the 1970s. Born Derek William Rapp in 1933, Martin was in the RAF for his National Service and took up a series of jobs including road worker, Smithfield Meat Market porter, and professional gambler, before entering showbusiness as an extra and stunt performer in a variety of programmes including Doctor Who. He retired from stunt work following an injury on Elizabeth I in 1971 and moved into acting. His most famous break out role was as the corrupt detective Fred Pyle in GF Newman's controversial 1978 drama Law & Order. In the following decade Martin had major roles in TV dramas such as The Chinese Detective and King & Castle, and played James Cagney's aide in milos Forman's epic 1981 film Ragtime. In 2000, Martin joined the cast of EastEnders as Charlie, the patriarch of the Slater family, a role he continued to play on and off for sixteen years.
Filmography
2016
- Harry Hill's Tea Time as Charlie Slater
2010
- Celebrity Coach Trip as Self
2004
- EastEnders: Pat and Mo as Charlie Slater
2003
- Little Britain as Self
- Celebrity Mastermind
1995
- Boston Kickout as Ray Saunders
1994
- Ready, Steady, Cook as Self - Guest
1993
- GMTV as Self
- The Detectives as Groom's Father
1992
- Eldorado as Alex Morris
- The Cutter
1991
- Fiddlers Three as Detective Sergeant Stubbs
1986
- King and Castle as Ronald King
1985
- EastEnders as Charlie Slater
- Dempsey and Makepeace as Scott
1984
- Big Deal as Phil Graves
- The Hope and the Glory as Club Manager
1983
- The Aerodrome as Provo Sgt. Peters
1982
- Spaghetti House as Commissioner Hutchinson
- Jake's End as Corp
1981
- The Chinese Detective as D.C.I. Berwick
- Private Schulz as Gruber
- Ragtime as Waldo's Aide No. 2
- Six Fifty-Five Special as Self
- Priest of Love as Police Sergeant
1980
- The Gentle Touch
- The Enigma Files as Brewer
- The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu as Museum Guard
- Dark Water as Security guard
- Rifleman as Drill Sergeant
1979
- Minder as Cedric
- Hart to Hart as Inspector Drootin
- Terry and June as Policeman
- Shoestring as Parry
- Print-Out as Colley
1978
- Law & Order as Fred Pyall
- Adventures of a Plumber's Mate as Motorcycle Dealer
- Another Day as Frank
1977
- The Professionals as Renshaw
- Target as Taxi Driver
- Candleshoe as Policeman (uncredited)
- Doctor Who: Image of the Fendahl as David Mitchell
1976
- The Duchess of Duke Street as Ben Smythe
- Bet Your Life as Jimmy
- Diversions as Escort
1975
- The Sweeney as Spooner
- Survivors as Cyril
- Angels
- Eskimo Nell as Floor Manager (uncredited)
- You're On Your Own
1974
- Playhouse as Reg
- The Zoo Gang as Gallery Guard
- Keep It Up, Jack! as Client with Swing (uncredited)
1973
- The Sex Thief as Doorman
1972
- New Scotland Yard as Bill
1971
- Upstairs, Downstairs as Heckler
- Elizabeth R as Horseman to Cecil
1970
- Play for Today as Security Guard
- Doctor Who: Inferno as UNIT Soldier
1969
1968
- The Big Switch as 1st Heavy
1966
1965
- Londoners as Barry
- The Counterfeit Man as Guard
1964
- Theatre 625
- The Evil of Frankenstein as Roustabout (uncredited)
1963
- Doctor Who as David Mitchell
1962
1960
- Maigret as Extra (uncredited)
1959
1955
- Dixon of Dock Green as Len Drake