Derek Martin profile
Actor profile

Derek Martin

11th April 1933 Bow, London, England, UK Acting

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.

26 Movies 45 TV Shows 71 Credits
Filmography

Movies & TV Shows

Ragtime poster
Ragtime 20th November 1981 as Waldo's Aide No. 2
Rifleman poster
Rifleman 27th October 1980 as Drill Sergeant
Candleshoe poster
Candleshoe 16th December 1977 as Policeman (uncredited)
Eskimo Nell poster
Eskimo Nell 17th January 1975 as Floor Manager (uncredited)
GMTV poster
GMTV 1st January 1993 as Self
Minder poster
Minder 29th October 1979 as Cedric
Target poster
Target 9th September 1977 as Alan Ziegler
Maigret poster
Maigret 31st October 1960 as Extra (uncredited)