Derek Martin
Acting • Born 1933-04-11 – Died 2026-01-10
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
74 credits
Dark Water
Movie • 1980
Security guard
Keep It Up, Jack!
Movie • 1974
Client with Swing (uncredited)
The Hope and the Glory
Movie • 1984
Club Manager
Priest of Love
Movie • 1981
Police Sergeant
The Cutter
Movie • 1992
Doctor Who: Inferno
Movie • 1970
UNIT Soldier
EastEnders: Pat and Mo
Movie • 2004
Charlie Slater
The Aerodrome
Movie • 1983
Provo Sgt. Peters
The Counterfeit Man
Movie • 1965
Guard
Boston Kickout
Movie • 1995
Ray Saunders
The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu
Movie • 1980
Museum Guard
Adventures of a Plumber's Mate
Movie • 1978
Motorcycle Dealer
Diversions
Movie • 1976
Escort
Spaghetti House
Movie • 1982
Commissioner Hutchinson
Doctor Who: Image of the Fendahl
Movie • 1977
David Mitchell
Bet Your Life
Movie • 1976
Jimmy
The Big Switch
Movie • 1968
1st Heavy
Ragtime
Movie • 1981
Waldo's Aide No. 2
Rifleman
Movie • 1980
Drill Sergeant
Jake's End
Movie • 1982
Corp
Another Day
Movie • 1978
Frank
The Sex Thief
Movie • 1973
Doorman
Candleshoe
Movie • 1977
Policeman (uncredited)
Eskimo Nell
Movie • 1975
Floor Manager (uncredited)
Print-Out
Movie • 1979
Colley
The Evil of Frankenstein
Movie • 1964
Roustabout (uncredited)
Little Britain
TV • 2003
Self
Elizabeth R
TV • 1971
Horseman to Cecil
EastEnders
TV • 1985
Charlie Slater
Softly, Softly
TV • 1966
The Gentle Touch
TV • 1980
Z-Cars
TV • 1962
Minder
TV • 1979
Cedric
The Chinese Detective
TV • 1981
D.C.I. Berwick
The Sweeney
TV • 1975
Spooner
Eldorado
TV • 1992
Alex Morris
Survivors
TV • 1975
Cyril
Dixon of Dock Green
TV • 1955
Len Drake
The Enigma Files
TV • 1980
Brewer
Angels
TV • 1975
No Hiding Place
TV • 1959
Play for Today
TV • 1970
Security Guard
Law & Order
TV • 1978
Fred Pyall
Celebrity Mastermind
TV • 2003
GMTV
TV • 1993
Self
Six Fifty-Five Special
TV • 1981
Self
You're On Your Own
TV • 1975
Paul Temple
TV • 1969
King and Castle
TV • 1986
Ronald King
Doctor Who
TV • 1963
David Mitchell
The Zoo Gang
TV • 1974
Gallery Guard
Upstairs, Downstairs
TV • 1971
Heckler
The Detectives
TV • 1993
Groom's Father
Terry and June
TV • 1979
Policeman
Fiddlers Three
TV • 1991
Detective Sergeant Stubbs
Terry and June
TV • 1979
Mr. Parkins
Big Deal
TV • 1984
Phil Graves
Hart to Hart
TV • 1979
Inspector Drootin
Ready, Steady, Cook
TV • 1994
Self - Guest
Dempsey and Makepeace
TV • 1985
Scott
The Professionals
TV • 1977
Renshaw
Playhouse
TV • 1974
Reg
Playhouse
TV • 1974
Corp
Londoners
TV • 1965
Barry
Maigret
TV • 1960
Extra (uncredited)
Target
TV • 1977
Taxi Driver
Target
TV • 1977
Alan Ziegler
Celebrity Coach Trip
TV • 2010
Self
Theatre 625
TV • 1964
Harry Hill's Tea Time
TV • 2016
Charlie Slater
Private Schulz
TV • 1981
Gruber
Shoestring
TV • 1979
Parry
The Duchess of Duke Street
TV • 1976
Ben Smythe
The Duchess of Duke Street
TV • 1976
Sergeant