Actor Derek Martin Dies at 92 After Five-Decade Television Career

The character actor who brought authenticity and warmth to five decades of British drama, most memorably as Charlie Slater in EastEnders, has died following a distinguished career that spanned over 150 television and film appearances.

Derek Martin, the acclaimed British actor whose portrayal of the lovable rogue Charlie Slater made him a household name during his decade-long tenure on the BBC’s EastEnders, has died at the age of 92. His family confirmed his passing on 8 January 2026, marking the end of a remarkable five-decade career that encompassed some of British television’s most beloved programmes.

Martin’s journey from East London manual labourer to one of the nation’s most recognisable character actors embodied a defining strand of British television history—one where authentic working-class voices found space on screen, and where talent mattered more than formal training, as reported by The London Magazine.

Who Was Derek Martin?

Born Derek Rapp on 11 April 1933 in Bow, East London, Martin epitomised the working-class character actor who became a fixture of British television from the 1970s onwards. Over a career spanning more than 50 years, he amassed approximately 160 screen credits, appearing in virtually every major British crime drama and soap opera of his era.

Though he became a household name relatively late in life—joining EastEnders at 67—Martin had already established himself as one of British television’s most dependable supporting actors. His face was familiar to millions long before Charlie Slater made him a star, having appeared in landmark productions that defined British broadcasting across three decades.

Unusually for actors of his generation, Martin came to the profession without formal training, transitioning from stunt work and manual labour into acting in his mid-thirties. This unconventional path gave him an authenticity that became his trademark—he didn’t play working-class characters; he understood them intimately.

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A Career Spanning British Television’s Golden Age

Though best known for his 2000–2011 run as the quick-witted Charlie Slater, Martin’s career stretched far beyond Albert Square. He appeared in virtually every cornerstone of British crime and drama television: ITV’s The Sweeney, BBC’s Z-Cars, ITV’s The Bill, Thames Television’s Minder, and ITV’s Law & Order: UK. His 1970 appearance in BBC’s Doctor Who serial “The Ambassadors of Death” made him part of the programme’s enduring legacy, whilst film roles included Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998).

Martin also appeared in The Krays (1990), playing alongside Gary and Martin Kemp, and had roles in British cinema staples, including Rancid Aluminium (2000). His television work extended to Grange Hill, Bergerac, Juliet Bravo, and Waking the Dead, showcasing a versatility that kept him employed across changing television landscapes.

What distinguished Martin’s work was his absolute believability. Whether playing villains, coppers, or cabbies, he possessed an unshowy authenticity that directors valued and audiences trusted. His characters felt lived-in, shaped by the streets and estates he himself had known.

The Legacy of Charlie Slater

Martin joined EastEnders in 2000, at the age of 68, when many actors consider retirement. Instead, he created one of the soap’s most enduring characters. Charlie Slater—devoted grandfather, taxi driver, eternal optimist—became the emotional anchor of the Slater family during some of the programme’s most-watched storylines.

Over 11 years, Martin appeared in more than 800 episodes, making him one of the BBC soap’s longest-serving cast members. His relationship with on-screen wife Mo, played by Laila Morse (sister of actor Gary Oldman), provided both humour and heart. The Slater clan, which included on-screen daughters Kat (Jessie Wallace), Lynne (Elaine Lordan), Little Mo (Kacey Ainsworth), and Zoe (Michelle Ryan), became one of EastEnders’ most popular families.

The character’s gentle decency offered a counterpoint to EastEnders’ darker narratives, proving that soap opera could accommodate complexity and warmth alongside conflict. Charlie’s storylines tackled dementia, family loyalty, and the challenges of ageing with sensitivity that earned praise from charities including Age UK and the Alzheimer’s Society.

At its peak, Martin’s episodes regularly drew audiences of 10-12 million viewers, with the Slater family’s Christmas Day appearances becoming appointment television for millions of British households.

“Derek was the perfect embodiment of what British television does best,” said a representative from the BBC. “He made the ordinary extraordinary. He reminded us why we watch.”

An Authentic Working-Class Voice

Martin’s contribution to British television extended beyond individual performances. He represented a generation of actors who brought genuine working-class experience to their craft, at a time when such voices were finding new prominence on screen through programmes produced by the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4.

Raised in Bow, East London, during the Depression era, Martin worked as a van driver and stuntman before transitioning to acting in his thirties—a trajectory almost unthinkable in today’s professionally trained industry dominated by drama school graduates from RADA, Central School of Speech and Drama, and LAMDA. His lack of formal training became an asset; he understood instinctively the characters he played because he had lived alongside their real-world counterparts.

This authenticity resonated across generations. Younger viewers knew him as Grandad Charlie; older audiences recognised him from decades of supporting roles that had quietly shaped British television’s landscape. His work reminded audiences that character actors form the backbone of enduring drama.

Tributes and Remembrance

Martin’s family released a statement expressing their profound sadness while celebrating “a life fully lived in service of his craft and his family.” They requested privacy whilst acknowledging the outpouring of affection from former colleagues and viewers.

A spokesperson for EastEnders said: “Derek was not only a wonderfully talented actor but a true gentleman who brought joy to everyone around him. His contribution to EastEnders and British television will never be forgotten.”

Jessie Wallace, who played his on-screen granddaughter Kat Slater, posted a heartfelt tribute on social media, calling Martin “a true professional and the kindest soul.” Former executive producer John Yorke described him as “irreplaceable” and praised his commitment to making every scene count.

Social media tributes from fellow actors emphasised Martin’s professionalism, generosity, and the quiet dignity he brought to every production. Fans shared their favourite Charlie Slater moments, with clips from classic episodes trending across Twitter and Facebook.

A Life in Performance

Martin’s path to acting was unconventional. After years in manual work and stunt coordination—where he developed the physical fearlessness that served him throughout his career—he began taking small roles in his mid-thirties. Persistence, rather than privilege, opened doors.

He worked steadily through the 1970s and 1980s, building a reputation as a reliable, instinctive performer who elevated every script. Directors knew that casting Derek Martin meant casting someone who would arrive prepared, deliver professionally, and make everyone else’s work better.

His later years in EastEnders brought the recognition his earlier work had earned but never quite achieved. He embraced it with characteristic good humour, understanding that Charlie Slater had given audiences something they valued: a reminder that decency and dignity could coexist with struggle.

Martin left EastEnders in 2011 but returned for brief appearances in 2013 and 2016, delighting long-time viewers. He remained active in his later years, attending fan conventions and remaining connected to the EastEnders community.

A Lasting Contribution

Derek Martin leaves behind a body of work that documents five decades of British television history. From gritty 1970s crime dramas to the nation’s most-watched soap opera, he inhabited worlds that millions of viewers recognised as their own.

His career demonstrated that great acting need not announce itself loudly. Sometimes the most memorable performances are those that feel utterly unremarkable—until you realise how difficult it is to make the ordinary so completely convincing.

Colleagues remember him as generous, professional, and unfailingly kind. Audiences remember Charlie Slater’s warmth and humour. Both memories honour the same truth: Derek Martin understood that acting, at its best, is an act of empathy—a willingness to inhabit other lives with honesty and respect.

British television has lost one of its most authentic voices, and countless viewers have lost a familiar, reassuring presence. His legacy endures in every actor who proves that talent, persistence, and authenticity matter more than pedigree—and in every character who reminds us that ordinary lives contain extraordinary stories.

Derek Martin is survived by his family, who have asked that his memory be honoured through the work he loved and the characters he brought to life across 92 remarkable years.