The entertainment world is mourning the loss of actor Derek Martin, who has died at the age of 92 following a short illness. Martin was best known to millions as the level-headed London cabbie and family patriarch Charlie Slater in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, a role he played for over a decade.
From Albert Square Patriarch to TV Tough Guy
Derek Martin first arrived in Walford's Albert Square in the year 2000, bringing with him the formidable Slater clan. His character, the widowed taxi driver Charlie, was the anchor for his four daughters – Lynne, Kat, Little Mo (Maureen), and Zoe – and his mother-in-law, Mo Harris. While often mild-mannered, Charlie's fierce devotion to his family occasionally erupted in explosive anger, creating some of the soap's most memorable moments.
These included a violent confrontation in the Queen Vic pub after he discovered his daughter Kat (Jessie Wallace) was actually the biological mother of Zoe, having been raped by his brother Harry as a teenager. He also served a three-month prison sentence after snapping twice in defence of his vulnerable daughter, Little Mo (Kacey Ainsworth). Martin drew parallels between himself and his character, once telling The Sun: "We're both easygoing family men. But if anyone upsets me or mine I could be your worst nightmare."
Charlie Slater was written out of EastEnders in 2011, but Martin returned for several guest stints before his character's story concluded with a fatal heart attack in 2016. Interestingly, producers had previously considered him for the iconic roles of Den Watts and Frank Butcher, but he was committed to other projects.
A Real East End Life Before Acting
Born Derek William Rapp in Bow, east London in 1933, Martin's early life was far removed from the world of acting. After leaving school, he worked as an apprentice surveyor and held a string of jobs where he was no stranger to violence, including a stint as a club bouncer where he was stabbed in the leg. He even temporarily minded guns for Charlie Kray, elder brother of the infamous twins.
Following National Service in the RAF Police, he worked for the Port of London Authority police and as a meat porter at Smithfield market. An acquittal at the Old Bailey on a charge of stealing meat proved a turning point. He later said: "When I got away with that, I realised I could act, and turned my back on crime." Adopting 'Martin' as his stage name, he bluffed his way into work as a TV extra, launching a new career.
A Prolific Career on Screen
After working as an extra and stunt performer, Martin's breakthrough came with the starring role of corrupt Detective Inspector Fred Pyall in the groundbreaking 1978 drama series Law & Order. He told TV Times in 1986: "I've known a few coppers and villains over the years, and the dividing line is very fine."
His notable TV credits included playing Detective Chief Inspector Berwick in The Chinese Detective (1981-82) and the lead role of bent ex-copper Ronald King in the ITV drama King & Castle (1986-88) alongside Nigel Planer. He also appeared in the short-lived BBC soap Eldorado (1993) and the prison drama The Governor (1995-96). In a career highlight, he played one of James Cagney's sidekicks during the UK filming of the movie Ragtime in 1981.
Derek Martin was married twice, first to Gloria Mitchell and then to Christine Rigg. He is survived by his twin sons, David and Jonathan, from his second marriage. His autobiography, An East End Life: My Story, was published in 2010, chronicling a remarkable journey from the streets of Bow to the heart of Britain's most famous television square.
