Derek Martin, the beloved actor who starred as doting father and taxi driver Charlie Slater in EastEnders, has died aged 92.
The former East End butcher, who launched himself into the world of acting without ever training or performing on stage, is understood to have passed away in hospital last night.
Tributes have poured in for the late actor, who has been described as a ‘truly amazing person who was very talented in the filming industry and many other things’.
Martin starred in various roles over more than five decades, but he was best known for playing the beloved Charlie Slater on EastEnders for 15 years.
His character was a taxi driver who first arrived in Walford in 2000 with his mother-in-law Mo Harris and his four daughters Lynne, Kat, Little Mo and Zoe.
The mild-mannered cabbie was loved for his role as the devoted, protective patriarch of the predominantly female Slater family.
Martin, who was born in Bow, east London, in April 1933 left the soap when his character suffered a fatal heart attack in 2016.
He previously revealed how he launched his acting career after leaving his job at Smithfield Meat Market in 1962. He also did National Service in the Royal Air Force and worked a host of jobs including digging roads, working in factories, motor racing and professional gambling.
But he later ended up doing the job he dreamed of, revealing: ‘I had always been a big film fan for as long as I can remember. Where I grew up, in the East End, there were dozens of cinemas and some of my earliest memories are of going off to the cinema. When I was a young man I would go at least 3 times a week.’
EastEnders star Derek Martin, who thrilled soap fans as devoted father Charlie Slater, has died aged 92
Charlie Slater was loved for his role as the devoted, protective patriarch of the predominantly female Slater family. Pictured left to right: Gary (Ricky Groves), Lynne (Elaine Lordan), Charlie (Derek Martin), Zoe (Michelle Ryan), Maureen (Kacey Ainsworth) and Kat (Jessie Wallace)
Charlie arrived in Walford with his four daughters, Kat (pictured), Lynne, Little Mo and Zoe as well as his mother-in-law Big Mo Harris
The late actor said he found himself an agent by going to a café in Soho where he knew actors frequented.
Martin began his acting career as a stuntman, appearing in several episodes of Doctor Who. But after breaking his collar bone while filming the drama Elizabeth R in 1971, he moved into acting.
Over the following decades, Martin became a familiar face on TV, appearing in shows such as Z-Cars, Softly Softly, The Sweeney, Minder, Bergerac, The Bill and even Little Britain – as himself.
He said the role that launched his career was when he played Detective Inspector Fred Pyle in Law and Order in 1977. The series highlighted the injustices caused by police corruption.
He also went onto play Ronald King in King and Castle and Gary Marshall in The Governor, but his best-known role was as Charlie Slater in EastEnders which he took on in 2000.
Away from the screen, Martin had a passion for golf and football and he was a member of the Grand Order of Water Rats – an entertainment charity and fraternity which was founded in 1889.
Fellow members of the Grand Order of Water Rats today spoke fondly of Martin, who held the role of ‘King Rat’ from 2010 to 2011.
They will be paying their respects to him at a meeting today as is custom when one of their members passes away. Those who knew Martin will pay tribute to him as they bid farewell to the ‘distinguished’ actor.
Ian Richards, also a former King Rat, wrote on Facebook today: ‘So very sad to hear of the passing of PKR Derek Martin, “king of the eggs “, if you know, you know.
‘A genuinely warm and funny man who’s company always had me rolling in laughter, his massive charity work, largely unreported, but never dismissed by those who knew him well. RIP Derek the world is a sadder place without you.’
Steve Hewlett, a ventriloquist and member of the Water Rats, said: ‘Derek Martin will be truly missed. He made my Water Rats visits magical and hilarious. RIP sir.’
And Ian Henry, another fellow Water Rat, penned: ‘It was a joy to be in his company. He had so many stories and was a very funny man. He achieved so much in his long and distinguished career, not least his iconic portrayal of Charlie Slater in Eastenders for so many years. His presence will be sorely missed.’
Martin was married twice to Christine Rigg and Gloria Mitchell, but both ended in divorce. He had two sons, Jonathan and David.
During his 15 years on EastEnders, Charlie Slater became one of the soap’s most loved characters and was involved in many family scandals.
After arriving on the soap following the death of his wife Viv, Charlie had a brief fling with landlady Peggy Mitchell before dating Brenda Boyle.
He served a three-month prison sentence for attacking Little Mo’s rapist Graham Foster (Alex McSweeney) in The Queen Victoria pub in 2004.
The taxi driver was also pivotal in the controversial 2011 storyline which saw Kat and Ronnie Branning’s newborn babies swapped around after the barmaid’s little one died of cot death.
Charlie departed the square after being blamed by Kat for the incident as he left Tommy alone while he went out drinking.
He made brief guest appearances afterwards in between 2011 and 2013, before returning full time shortly before his off-screen death in 2016.
Derek celebrated his 90th birthday in 2023 and rang in the milestone with his two sons, David and Jonathan.
The actor has spoke openly about his own son David’s battle with depression in the past as his character dealt with a similar situation onscreen.
Back in 2016 in Walford, his great-niece Stacey Branning suffered from postpartrum psychosis and depression.
‘At work I had the Stacey storyline. Then, I got home and there was my son, who I’d been worried about during the day, suffering from severe depression,’ he previously told The Sun.
In 2022, Derek stated the ‘miserable’ soap needs to bring back its humorous side.
Derek Martin is pictured in 1980s police drama The Gentle Touch
Derek Martin stars alongside Christopher Fulford in King and Castle in 1988
Derek Martin starred as Ronald King in King and Castle
Charlie Slater was last seen on EastEnders in 2016 when the beloved cab driver passed away after suffering from a heart attack off-screen
During his 15-years on EastEnders he became one of the soaps most loved characters and was involved in many family scandals
The actor said the series needs to stop focusing on appealing to younger viewers, and bring back some of its old scriptwriters.
Speaking to The Sun, Derek admitted the show has lost its focus on the key families, such as the Slaters, Mitchells and Fowlers.
He added the show has became centred on appealing to younger viewers, and no longer includes lighter elements in favour of ‘affairs and beating people up.’
Derek said: ‘You’ve got to have humour because there’s always something to laugh about in life.
‘You used to have Charlie, Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker) and Jim Branning (John Bardon) sitting at the allotments with a few beers, just talking about silly things. That’s what happens in real life. You need that on EastEnders.
‘I’ve nothing against youngsters. They’re the future, but it’s like the BBC is trying to turn EastEnders into Hollyoaks with so many youngsters, and everyone’s having affairs and beating people up.’
Outside of EastEnders he starred on Celebrity Coach Trip in 2012 with his co-star John Altman.