Derek Martin
- Acting
- April 11, 1933 · Bow, London, England, UK
- January 10, 2026
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.
Known for
Filmography
- Harry Hill's Tea Time · Charlie Slater
- Celebrity Coach Trip · Self
- EastEnders: Pat and Mo · Charlie Slater
- Celebrity Mastermind
- Little Britain · Self
- Boston Kickout · Ray Saunders
- The Governor · Gary Marshall
- Ready, Steady, Cook · Self
- The Detectives · Groom's Father
- GMTV · Self
- The Cutter
- Eldorado · Alex Morris
- Fiddlers Three · Detective Sergeant Stubbs
- King and Castle · Ronald King
- EastEnders · Charlie Slater
- Dempsey and Makepeace · Scott
- The Bill · Dave Richards
- Big Deal · Phil Graves
- The Hope and the Glory · Club Manager
- The Aerodrome · Provo Sgt. Peters
- Storyboard · Det. Sgt. Ronald King
- Spaghetti House · Commissioner Hutchinson
- Jake's End · Corp
- Ragtime · Waldo's Aide No. 2
- Priest of Love · Police Sergeant
- Six Fifty-Five Special · Self
- Private Schulz · Gruber
- The Chinese Detective · D.C.I. Berwick
- Rifleman · Drill Sergeant
- The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu · Museum Guard
- The Enigma Files · Brewer
- The Gentle Touch
- Dark Water · Security guard
- Minder · Cedric
- Terry and June · Policeman, Mr. Parkins
- Shoestring · Parry
- Hart to Hart · Inspector Drootin
- Print-Out · Colley
- Another Day · Frank
- Adventures of a Plumber's Mate · Motorcycle Dealer
- Law & Order · Fred Pyall
- The Professionals · Renshaw
- Candleshoe · Policeman (uncredited)
- Doctor Who: Image of the Fendahl · David Mitchell
- Target · Taxi Driver, Alan Ziegler
- Bet Your Life · Jimmy
- The Duchess of Duke Street · Ben Smythe, Sergeant
- Angels
- Survivors · Cyril
- You're On Your Own
- Eskimo Nell · Floor Manager (uncredited)
- The Sweeney · Spooner
- Keep It Up, Jack! · Client with Swing (uncredited)
- The Zoo Gang · Gallery Guard
- Playhouse · Reg, Corp
- The Roses of Eyam · William Thornley
- The Sex Thief · Doorman
- New Scotland Yard · Bill
- Upstairs, Downstairs · Heckler
- Elizabeth R · Horseman to Cecil
- Play for Today · Security Guard
- Doctor Who: Inferno · UNIT Soldier
- Paul Temple
- The Big Switch · 1st Heavy
- Softly, Softly
- The Counterfeit Man · Guard
- Londoners · Barry
- The Evil of Frankenstein · Roustabout (uncredited)
- Theatre 625
- Doctor Who · David Mitchell
- Z-Cars
- Maigret · Extra (uncredited)
- No Hiding Place
- Dixon of Dock Green · Len Drake