Derek Martin has been a highly sought-after figure in British acting since the 1970s, renowned for his uncanny ability to bring authenticity to his portrayal of working-class characters, despite never having followed the traditional path of formal actor training or stage performances.
Before embarking on his acting career, Martin served in the Royal Air Force during his National Service and held a diverse range of jobs, including digging roads, working in factories, participating in motor racing, professional gambling, and laboring at Smithfield Meat Market.
Martin's entry into television was as an extra on the groundbreaking series Z Cars in 1962, and he went on to become a stuntman, appearing in numerous Doctor Who serials, particularly during the action-packed era featuring Jon Pertwee in the early 1970s.
Following an injury sustained while working on the television series Elizabeth R in 1971, Martin decided to retire from his career as a stuntman and pursue his lifelong dream of becoming an actor. He subsequently returned to Doctor Who, this time as an actor, in a minor role in the 1977 serial Image of the Fendahl: Part One, starring the iconic Tom Baker as the Doctor.
However, it was his breakthrough role as a corrupt policeman in the controversial television series Law & Order in 1978 that truly cemented his status as a respected actor. His most enduring and iconic role, however, remains that of Charlie Slater, a character he portrayed with remarkable depth and nuance in the long-running British soap opera EastEnders, which premiered in 1985 and remains an integral part of British popular culture to this day.
