Derek Martin, actor best known as EastEnders icon Charlie Slater, dies aged 92

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Actor Derek Martin has died at the age of 92.

The actor, originally from East London, was most famous for playing the friendly taxi driver and devoted father, Charlie Slater, on the soap opera EastEnders. He was a regular cast member from 2000 to 2011 and made guest appearances in 2013 and 2016.

The team at EastEnders shared a message on social media expressing their sadness at the death of Derek Martin.

Derek immediately won over viewers with his performance as Charlie Slater, becoming a beloved figure and the patriarch of one of EastEnders’ most famous families.

Charlie is incredibly devoted to his family, and Derek was just the same – always putting others first. Everyone at EastEnders who worked with Derek loved him and will cherish his memory. We’re sending all our love and support to his family and friends during this difficult time.

Martin started his career doing stunts on shows like Doctor Who before transitioning to acting in television and movies.

As a big fan of classic British TV, I always find it interesting to see actors pop up in different shows. Before he was known for everything else, I discovered Martin Shaw playing Detective Inspector Fred Pyall way back in 1978, alongside Peter Dean in ‘Law & Order’. He clearly had a knack for playing police roles! He continued that trend, taking on the part of Det. Insp. Berwick in ‘The Chinese Detective’, and later, a really memorable role as ex-policeman Ronald King in ‘King and Castle’ – a show created by the same guy who brought us ‘The Sweeney’! I remember watching that one from 1985 to 1988 – a great run!

I remember seeing Martin pop up in so many classic shows back in the day! He was a familiar face on everything from the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs to the sci-fi adventures of Doctor Who, and even the gritty police procedural, The Bill. He really worked the TV circuit!

Martin was cast as Charlie Slater in 2000. He had previously tried out for the parts of Den Watts and Frank Butcher before finally being chosen to play the head of the Slater family.

For more than ten years on the BBC One soap opera, Charlie guided his family through many dramatic storylines. One notable plot twist revealed that his daughter, Zoe Slater, was actually his granddaughter – the result of a difficult situation involving his daughter Kat and his brother Harry.

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Charlie helped his daughter, Lynne, through a difficult divorce, supported his daughter Mo after she experienced domestic abuse and a sexual assault, and was there for his niece Stacey when she received a bipolar disorder diagnosis.

The character briefly dated both Brenda Boyle, a member of the Salvation Army (played by Carmel Cryan), and a Russian fraudster named Orlenda, portrayed by Mary Tamm, who previously appeared in Doctor Who.

In 2011, the character Charlie Slater was removed from the soap opera due to the dramatic ‘Baby Swap’ storyline, overseen by executive producer Bryan Kirkwood. The story revolved around Kat believing Charlie hadn’t properly watched her newborn son, Tommy Moon, while babysitting on New Year’s Eve in 2010, leading to the appearance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Following this heartbreaking event, Charlie left Walford with an emotional farewell at the train platform.

The character reappeared briefly in April to wrap up the storyline and allow Kat to make peace with the truth: Tommy was alive, but had been kidnapped by Ronnie Branning (Samantha Womack), who had switched him with her own stillborn baby, James.

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With Dominic Treadwell Collins as executive producer, Martin returned to the role on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 2013, when his character, Charlie, spent the holidays with the Moon-Slater family.

In 2016, Charlie briefly reappeared after Stacey gave birth to her son, Arthur Fowler. Around the same time, Kat learned a surprising family secret: when she had her daughter Zoe as a teenager, she’d actually given birth to twins, and had unknowingly been keeping a son hidden from her all these years.

The family’s difficult situation caused Charlie to have a deadly heart attack. This happened after he told Kat he loved her, and the stress contributed to his death.

After his character’s death aired on Lorraine, Martin revealed he’d spoken with the executive producer, Dominic Treadwell Collins, who promised him a fitting farewell.

It feels good to have finished after eleven years – that’s a long run for an actor. I only had a few small parts in the last couple of years.

Authors

Lewis KnightNews and Trends Editor

Lewis heads up news and trending content at TopMob, making sure we cover what our audience wants and needs. He’s a huge TV and movie buff, especially a fan of Nicole Kidman, but also loves sci-fi, independent films, and the newest shows on HBO. With a background in Psychology and a Masters in Film Studies, Lewis previously worked in advertising before spending three years at The Mirror, where he focused on community engagement, SEO, and reporting on showbiz, film, and television.

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2026-01-11 19:35